- Enrollment
- 4,604
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chicago, IL
Waters Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Waters Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 170993001147
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waters Elem School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Illinois schools.
- #52 of 102
- elementary schools in Chicago · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.6:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 702
- students enrolled
Waters Elem School has class sizes larger than 90% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waters Elem School ranks #52 of 102 elementary schools in Chicago, IL.
School address
District: City of Chicago Sd 299 · Illinois
NCES ID 170993001147 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+32 students YoY
Waters Elem School grew from 627 students in 2022-23 to 659 in 2023-24 (+5.1%).
Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 43.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+32 students YoY 170993001147 · Chicago, IL Elementary · MID · TRAD
702 enr · 17.6:1 · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Lane Technical High School (4,604 students)
Waters Elem School grew from 627 students in 2022-23 to 659 in 2023-24 (+5.1%). Teacher FTE added 40.0 → 43.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Waters 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 702
Waters Elem School
702 students
What this shows Waters Elem School reports 702 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waters Elem School compares
Waters Elem School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 26% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 702 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
702
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 90% in Illinois - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 702 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 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
White 60.1%
Hispanic or Latino 23.5%
Two or More 9.6%
Asian 5.0%
African American 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 60.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.2, Waters 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 Waters Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lane Technical High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Taft High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Curie Metropolitan High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kenwood Academy High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Young Magnet High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waters 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 elementary schools in Chicago
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Mount Greenwood Elem School
Standard public school
1,182 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Eberhart Elem School
Standard public school
1,011 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Kipp One Academy
Standard public school
996 students 10.9:1 students per teacher
Lyon Elem School
Standard public school
988 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Kipp Chicago Chrtrs Bloom Campus
Standard public school
921 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
Bell Elem School
Standard public school
902 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~702 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waters Elem School
How many students attend Waters Elem School?
Waters Elem School has 702 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chicago, IL. CCD year-over-year: 627 (2022-23) → 659 (2023-24), up 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waters Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waters Elem School is 17.6:1, which is 26% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waters Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Waters Elem School is White at 60.1% of enrollment, in Chicago, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waters Elem School?
Waters Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Waters Elem School rank among elementary schools in Chicago?
By Resource Investment Index, Waters Elem School ranks #52 of 102 elementary 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 elementary schools in Chicago on the city page.
What other schools are in City of Chicago Sd 299?
Besides Waters 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.