- Enrollment
- 1,960
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · La Plata, MD
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240027000609
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Maryland schools.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in La Plata · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17:1
- large classes for Maryland
- 28.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School has class sizes larger than 81% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in La Plata, MD.
School address
District: Charles County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240027000609 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School shrank from 637 students in 2022-23 to 605 in 2023-24 (-5.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 36.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 240027000609 · La Plata, MD Other · MID · TRAD
663 enr · 17:1 · 28.9% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: North Point High School (1,960 students)
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School shrank from 637 students in 2022-23 to 605 in 2023-24 (-5.0%). Teacher FTE lost 39.0 → 36.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- North Point Hi
North Point High School
1,960 students
- St. Charles Hi
St. Charles High School
1,617 students
- Thomas Stone H
Thomas Stone High School
1,230 students
- La Plata High
La Plata High School
1,217 students
- Westlake High
Westlake High School
1,216 students
- This school 663
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School
663 students
What this shows Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School reports 663 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School compares
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17:1 | ▲ 17% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.9% | ▼ 41% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 663 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
663
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Maryland average of 49.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 81% in Maryland - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.4%
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
$17,415
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $18,753
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 663 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 51.3%
African American 24.3%
Hispanic or Latino 11.9%
Two or More 10.7%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 51.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.2, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Charles County Public Schools reports $17,415 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Point High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| St. Charles High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Thomas Stone High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| La Plata High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westlake High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,617
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,230
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,217
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,216
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in La Plata
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~663 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School
How many students attend Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School?
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School has 663 students enrolled. It is a public school in La Plata, MD. CCD year-over-year: 637 (2022-23) → 605 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School is 17:1, which is 17% higher than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School?
28.9% of students at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School is White at 51.3% of enrollment, in La Plata, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School?
Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School rank among public schools in La Plata?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in La Plata, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Charles County Public Schools?
Besides Walter J. Mitchell Elementary School, Charles County Public Schools also operates North Point High School (1,960 students), St. Charles High School (1,617 students), and Thomas Stone High School (1,230 students). See the Charles County Public Schools district page for the complete list.