Enrollment
610
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbus, IN
W D Richards Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for W D Richards Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180036000082
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 76
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W D Richards Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Indiana schools.
- #5 of 10
- schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.7:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 34.6%
- free-lunch eligible
W D Richards Elementary School has class sizes larger than 90% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W D Richards Elementary School ranks #5 of 10 schools in Columbus, IN.
School address
District: Bartholomew Con School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180036000082 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.7:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
34.6%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
-30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How W D Richards Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at W D Richards Elementary School
W D Richards Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Columbus, Indiana, enrolling 610 students.
Class loads run heavy: 19.7:1 is larger than about 90% of Indiana schools and 24% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 34.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 610 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 489 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #351, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%) (diversity index 55/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 610 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 9.5% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Among Columbus's public schools, it stands alongside Southside Elementary School (891 students): W D Richards Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.7:1 vs 18.6:1).
Bartholomew Con School Corp also operates Columbus North High School (2,360 students) and Columbus East High School (1,452 students) alongside W D Richards 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 W D Richards Elementary School compares
W D Richards 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 | 19.7:1 | ▲ 24% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.6% | ▼ 30% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 610 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
610
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
34.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 90% in Indiana - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
9.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,632
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 610 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 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 62.3%
Hispanic or Latino 22.8%
Two or More 5.7%
Asian 5.4%
African American 3.8%
Largest group: White at 62.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.2, W D Richards 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 Bartholomew Con School Corp, which includes W D Richards Elementary School.
$11,632
Per student
-4%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.5%
State 52.0%
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 W D Richards Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbus North High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbus East High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northside Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southside Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W D Richards Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,452
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 908
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 891
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 790
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools in Columbus
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Southside Elementary School
Standard public school
891 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Parkside Elementary School
Standard public school
733 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Clifty Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
705 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Lillian Schmitt Elementary School
Standard public school
704 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
L F Smith Elementary
Standard public school
420 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Mount Healthy Elementary School
Standard public school
365 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~610 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on W D Richards Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare W D Richards Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Bartholomew Con School Corp'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 W D Richards Elementary School
How many students attend W D Richards Elementary School?
W D Richards Elementary School has 610 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbus, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W D Richards Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at W D Richards Elementary School is 19.7:1, which is 24% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W D Richards Elementary School?
34.6% of students at W D Richards Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W D Richards Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at W D Richards Elementary School is White at 62.3% of enrollment, in Columbus, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W D Richards Elementary School?
W D Richards Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does W D Richards Elementary School rank among schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, W D Richards Elementary School ranks #5 of 10 schools in Columbus, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbus on the city page.
Is W D Richards Elementary School a good school?
W D Richards Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of 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 Bartholomew Con School Corp?
Besides W D Richards Elementary School, Bartholomew Con School Corp also operates Columbus North High School (2,360 students), Columbus East High School (1,452 students), and Northside Middle School (908 students). See the Bartholomew Con School Corp 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.