Enrollment
554
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
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 →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.9%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Valley Mills Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Valley Mills Elementary School
Valley Mills Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 554 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 72.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 554 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 336 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #167.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and African American (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 40.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Indianapolis's elementary schools, it stands alongside Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate (1,365 students): Valley Mills Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 21:1).
Msd Decatur Township also operates Decatur Central High School (1,974 students) and Decatur Middle School (1,000 students) alongside Valley Mills Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Valley Mills Elementary School compares
Valley Mills Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against 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 (what these measure)
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
$12,052
per pupil, district-wide
- below Indiana avg of $12,079
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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
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
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Msd Decatur Township, which includes Valley Mills Elementary School.
$12,052
Per student
0%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.4%
State 57.1%
Federal 12.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
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
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- 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
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Indiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~554 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Valley Mills Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Valley Mills Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Msd Decatur Township's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
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.
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, attendance rates. 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.
Is Valley Mills Elementary School a good school?
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. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
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.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.