- Enrollment
- 1,856
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Plainfield, IN
Van Buren Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Van Buren Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180897001495
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Van Buren Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median.
- #5 of 5
- elementary schools in Plainfield · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.6:1
- students per teacher
- 30.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Van Buren Elementary School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Van Buren Elementary School ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Plainfield, IN.
School address
District: Plainfield Community School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180897001495 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Van Buren Elementary School shrank from 532 students in 2022-23 to 500 in 2023-24 (-6.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 31.1 → 29.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 180897001495 · Plainfield, IN Elementary · MID · TRAD
514 enr · 16.6:1 · 30.8% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Plainfield High School (1,856 students)
Van Buren Elementary School shrank from 532 students in 2022-23 to 500 in 2023-24 (-6.0%). Teacher FTE lost 31.1 → 29.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Indiana schools → · Find another →
Van Buren Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Plainfield Hig
Plainfield High School
1,856 students
- Plainfield Com
Plainfield Community Middle School
1,378 students
- Central Elemen 549
Central Elementary School
549 students
- Clarks Creek E 544
Clarks Creek Elementary
544 students
- This school 514
Van Buren Elementary School
514 students
- Guilford Eleme 434
Guilford Elementary
434 students
What this shows Van Buren Elementary School reports 514 students on the CCD universe file.
How Van Buren Elementary School compares
Van Buren 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 | 16.6:1 | ▲ 4% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.8% | ▼ 38% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 514 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.6:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
514
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% below the Indiana average of 49.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.6:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 66% in Indiana - lower ratio than 34% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$9,973
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 514 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Two or More 6.4%
African American 2.5%
Asian 1.2%
Largest group: White at 80.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.6, Van Buren Elementary School is less mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Plainfield Community School Corp reports $9,973 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Van Buren Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainfield High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plainfield Community Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Clarks Creek Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Guilford Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Van Buren Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,378
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 549
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 544
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 434
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Plainfield
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Central Elementary School
Standard public school
549 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Clarks Creek Elementary
Standard public school
544 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Guilford Elementary
Standard public school
434 students 15:1 students per teacher
Brentwood Elementary School
Standard public school
420 students 16.2:1 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 (~514 students)
Frequently asked questions about Van Buren Elementary School
How many students attend Van Buren Elementary School?
Van Buren Elementary School has 514 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Plainfield, IN. CCD year-over-year: 532 (2022-23) → 500 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Van Buren Elementary School is 16.6:1, which is 4% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 6% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Van Buren Elementary School?
30.8% of students at Van Buren Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Van Buren Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Van Buren Elementary School is White at 80.7% of enrollment, in Plainfield, IN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Van Buren Elementary School?
Van Buren Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Van Buren Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Plainfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Van Buren Elementary School ranks #5 of 5 elementary schools in Plainfield, 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 Plainfield on the city page.
What other schools are in Plainfield Community School Corp?
Besides Van Buren Elementary School, Plainfield Community School Corp also operates Plainfield High School (1,856 students), Plainfield Community Middle School (1,378 students), and Central Elementary School (549 students). See the Plainfield Community School Corp district page for the complete list.