Enrollment
512
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mishawaka, IN
Walt Disney Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Walt Disney Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 180876001454
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walt Disney Elementary School earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Indiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #2 of 7
- elementary schools in Mishawaka · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.5:1
- students per teacher
- 53.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Walt Disney Elementary School has class sizes near the Indiana median. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walt Disney Elementary School ranks #2 of 7 elementary schools in Mishawaka, IN.
School address
District: Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp · Indiana
NCES ID 180876001454 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.5:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
53.2%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Walt Disney Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Walt Disney Elementary School
Walt Disney Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Mishawaka, Indiana, enrolling 512 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 53.2% lands close to the Indiana typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 512 students, its enrollment sits close to the Indiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Among 527 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #36, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (38%) and African American (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
11.7% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Mishawaka's elementary schools, it stands alongside Liberty Elementary School (446 students): Walt Disney Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.5:1 vs 16.5:1).
Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp also operates Penn High School (3,687 students) and Schmucker Middle School (1,041 students) alongside Walt Disney 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 Walt Disney Elementary School compares
Walt Disney 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 | 16.5:1 | ▲ 4% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.2% | ▲ 7% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 512 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.5:1
Leaner classes than 34% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
512
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
53.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
16.5:1
students per teacher
- 4% above state mean
Top 65% in Indiana - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
11.7%
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
$10,274
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 + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.0 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 38.1%
African American 30.9%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
Two or More 8.8%
Asian 7.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 38.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.7, Walt Disney 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 Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp, which includes Walt Disney Elementary School.
$10,274
Per student
-15%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-38%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.8%
State 64.9%
Federal 9.3%
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 Walt Disney Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Penn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Schmucker Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Discovery Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Virgil I Grissom Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walt Disney Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,687
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,041
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 941
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 679
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar elementary schools in Mishawaka
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Liberty Elementary School
Standard public school
446 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Emmons Elementary School
Standard public school
422 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Meadow's Edge Elementary School
Standard public school
382 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Fred J Hums Elementary School
Standard public school
327 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Twin Branch Elementary School
Standard public school
300 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Battell Elementary School
Standard public school
291 students 14.6:1 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 (~512 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Walt Disney Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Walt Disney Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Penn-Harris-Madison 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 Walt Disney Elementary School
How many students attend Walt Disney Elementary School?
Walt Disney Elementary School has 512 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mishawaka, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walt Disney Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walt Disney Elementary School is 16.5:1, which is 4% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 5% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Walt Disney Elementary School?
53.2% of students at Walt Disney Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walt Disney Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Walt Disney Elementary School is White at 38.1% of enrollment, in Mishawaka, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walt Disney Elementary School?
Walt Disney Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 Walt Disney Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Mishawaka?
By Resource Investment Index, Walt Disney Elementary School ranks #2 of 7 elementary schools in Mishawaka, 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 Mishawaka on the city page.
Is Walt Disney Elementary School a good school?
Walt Disney Elementary School earns 58/100 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 Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp?
Besides Walt Disney Elementary School, Penn-Harris-Madison School Corp also operates Penn High School (3,687 students), Schmucker Middle School (1,041 students), and Discovery Middle School (941 students). See the Penn-Harris-Madison 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.