- Enrollment
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Indianapolis, IN
Valley Mills Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Valley Mills Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180264002271
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Valley Mills Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #41 of 89
- elementary schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 72.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Valley Mills Elementary School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Valley Mills Elementary School ranks #41 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Msd Decatur Township · Indiana
NCES ID 180264002271 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-73 students YoY
Valley Mills Elementary School shrank from 654 students in 2022-23 to 581 in 2023-24 (-11.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 39.8 → 38.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-73 students YoY 180264002271 · Indianapolis, IN Elementary · MID · TRAD
554 enr · 14.2:1 · 72.9% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Decatur Central High School (1,974 students)
Valley Mills Elementary School shrank from 654 students in 2022-23 to 581 in 2023-24 (-11.2%). Teacher FTE lost 39.8 → 38.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Valley Mills Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Decatur Centra
Decatur Central High School
1,974 students
- Decatur Middle
Decatur Middle School
1,000 students
- Blue Academy 687
Blue Academy
687 students
- Lynwood Elemen 583
Lynwood Elementary
583 students
- West Newton El 559
West Newton Elementary School
559 students
- This school 554
Valley Mills Elementary School
554 students
What this shows Valley Mills Elementary School reports 554 students on the CCD universe file.
How Valley Mills Elementary School compares
Valley Mills Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 11% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.9% | ▲ 47% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 554 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
554
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 36% in Indiana - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
40.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$12,193
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,921
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 52.2%
African American 24.5%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
Two or More 7.8%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 52.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.2, Valley Mills Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Msd Decatur Township reports $12,193 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Valley Mills Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Decatur Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Decatur Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Blue Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lynwood Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Newton Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Valley Mills Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,000
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 687
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 559
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar elementary schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate
Standard public school
1,365 students 21:1 students per teacher
Edgewood Intermediate School
Standard public school
1,300 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Creston Intermediate & Middle Schl
Standard public school
1,106 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Raymond Park Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,079 students 14:1 students per teacher
Stonybrook Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,043 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Paramount Brookside
Standard public school
843 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~554 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Valley Mills Elementary School
How many students attend Valley Mills Elementary School?
Valley Mills Elementary School has 554 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Indianapolis, IN. CCD year-over-year: 654 (2022-23) → 581 (2023-24), down 73.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Mills Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Mills Elementary School is 14.2:1, which is 11% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Valley Mills Elementary School?
72.9% of students at Valley Mills Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Valley Mills Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Valley Mills Elementary School is White at 52.2% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Valley Mills Elementary School?
Valley Mills Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Valley Mills Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Valley Mills Elementary School ranks #41 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
What other schools are in Msd Decatur Township?
Besides Valley Mills Elementary School, Msd Decatur Township also operates Decatur Central High School (1,974 students), Decatur Middle School (1,000 students), and Blue Academy (687 students). See the Msd Decatur Township district page for the complete list.