Enrollment
553
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Wayne, IN
Washington Center Elementary Sch
Federal NCES profile for Washington Center Elementary Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180363000566
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Washington Center Elementary Sch earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #23 of 32
- schools in Fort Wayne · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.4:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 57.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Washington Center Elementary Sch has class sizes larger than 83% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Washington Center Elementary Sch ranks #23 of 32 schools in Fort Wayne, IN.
School address
District: Fort Wayne Community Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180363000566 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.4:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
57.8%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Washington Center Elementary Sch compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Washington Center Elementary Sch
Washington Center Elementary Sch is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Fort Wayne, Indiana, enrolling 553 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.4:1 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 57.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 553 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.
Against 474 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #216.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and African American (16%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 62/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Fort Wayne's public schools, it stands alongside Southwick Elementary School (724 students): Washington Center Elementary Sch is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.4:1 vs 16.8:1).
Fort Wayne Community Schools also operates Northrop High School (2,145 students) and R Nelson Snider High School (1,927 students) alongside Washington Center Elementary Sch.
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 Washington Center Elementary Sch compares
Washington Center Elementary Sch on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.4:1 | ▲ 16% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.8% | ▲ 17% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 553 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.4:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
553
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
57.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
18.4:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 83% in Indiana - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.2%
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
$13,247
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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
22
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.8 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 56.8%
African American 15.6%
Hispanic or Latino 14.6%
Two or More 7.1%
Asian 5.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 56.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.4, Washington Center Elementary Sch is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Fort Wayne Community Schools, which includes Washington Center Elementary Sch.
$13,247
Per student
+10%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.4%
State 56.6%
Federal 21.1%
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 Washington Center Elementary Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northrop High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| R Nelson Snider High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Side High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wayne High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Side High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Washington Center Elementary Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,927
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,398
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,383
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Fort Wayne
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Southwick Elementary School
Standard public school
724 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Harrison Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
612 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
J Wilbur Haley Elementary School
Standard public school
583 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Forest Park Elementary School
Standard public school
558 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Northcrest Elementary School
Standard public school
536 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Whispering Meadow Elementary Sch
Standard public school
535 students 14.9:1 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 (~553 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Washington Center Elementary Sch's federal record.
- Compare Washington Center Elementary Sch against another school. Compare schools
- Fort Wayne Community Schools'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 Washington Center Elementary Sch
How many students attend Washington Center Elementary Sch?
Washington Center Elementary Sch has 553 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fort Wayne, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Washington Center Elementary Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Washington Center Elementary Sch is 18.4:1, which is 16% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Washington Center Elementary Sch?
57.8% of students at Washington Center Elementary Sch are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Washington Center Elementary Sch?
The largest demographic group at Washington Center Elementary Sch is White at 56.8% of enrollment, in Fort Wayne, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Washington Center Elementary Sch?
Washington Center Elementary Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical 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 Washington Center Elementary Sch rank among schools in Fort Wayne?
By Resource Investment Index, Washington Center Elementary Sch ranks #23 of 32 schools in Fort Wayne, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fort Wayne on the city page.
Is Washington Center Elementary Sch a good school?
Washington Center Elementary Sch earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Indiana schools. 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 Fort Wayne Community Schools?
Besides Washington Center Elementary Sch, Fort Wayne Community Schools also operates Northrop High School (2,145 students), R Nelson Snider High School (1,927 students), and South Side High School (1,405 students). See the Fort Wayne Community Schools 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.