- Enrollment
- 4,604
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chicago, IL
Ward L Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Ward L Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 170993001212
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 72
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ward L Elem School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Illinois schools.
- #38 of 394
- schools in Chicago · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10:1
- small classes for Illinois
- 279
- students enrolled
Ward L Elem School has class sizes smaller than 90% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ward L Elem School ranks #38 of 394 schools in Chicago, IL.
School address
District: City of Chicago Sd 299 · Illinois
NCES ID 170993001212 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Ward L Elem School held near 259 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 170993001212 · Chicago, IL Other · SMALL · TRAD
279 enr · 10:1 · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Lane Technical High School (4,604 students)
Ward L Elem School held near 259 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 23.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Ward L Elem School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lane Technical
Lane Technical High School
4,604 students
- Taft High Scho
Taft High School
4,487 students
- Curie Metropol
Curie Metropolitan High School
3,099 students
- Kenwood Academ
Kenwood Academy High School
2,268 students
- Young Magnet H
Young Magnet High School
2,223 students
- This school 279
Ward L Elem School
279 students
What this shows Ward L Elem School reports 279 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ward L Elem School compares
Ward L Elem School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10:1 | ▼ 29% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 279 | top 68% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
279
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
10:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 10% in Illinois - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
58.8%
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
$22,699
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 140 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 65.9%
Hispanic or Latino 33.0%
White 1.1%
Largest group: African American at 65.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.7, Ward L Elem School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
District finance for City of Chicago Sd 299 reports $22,699 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ward L Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Technical High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Taft High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Curie Metropolitan High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kenwood Academy High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Young Magnet High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ward L Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4,487
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 3,099
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 2,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,223
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Chicago
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Lane Technical High School
Standard public school
4,604 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Taft High School
Standard public school
4,487 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Kenwood Academy High School
Standard public school
2,268 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Young Magnet High School
Standard public school
2,223 students 17.5:1 students per teacher
Disney Elem Magnet School
Standard public school
1,384 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Morgan Park High School
Standard public school
1,349 students 19:1 students per teacher
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 (~279 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ward L Elem School
How many students attend Ward L Elem School?
Ward L Elem School has 279 students enrolled. It is a public school in Chicago, IL. CCD year-over-year: 247 (2022-23) → 259 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward L Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ward L Elem School is 10:1, which is 29% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 36% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ward L Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Ward L Elem School is African American at 65.9% of enrollment, in Chicago, IL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ward L Elem School?
Ward L Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Ward L Elem School rank among schools in Chicago?
By Resource Investment Index, Ward L Elem School ranks #38 of 394 schools in Chicago, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Chicago on the city page.
What other schools are in City of Chicago Sd 299?
Besides Ward L Elem School, City of Chicago Sd 299 also operates Lane Technical High School (4,604 students), Taft High School (4,487 students), and Curie Metropolitan High School (3,099 students). See the City of Chicago Sd 299 district page for the complete list.