- Enrollment
- 2,371
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Little Rock, AR
Watson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Watson Elementary 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 050900001474
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watson Elementary School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Arkansas schools.
- #25 of 28
- elementary schools in Little Rock · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.1:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 88.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Watson Elementary School has class sizes larger than 92% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watson Elementary School ranks #25 of 28 elementary schools in Little Rock, AR.
School address
District: Little Rock School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050900001474 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Watson Elementary School held near 417 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 20.5 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 050900001474 · Little Rock, AR Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
383 enr · 19.1:1 · 88.7% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School (2,371 students)
Watson Elementary School held near 417 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 20.5 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Watson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High S
Central High School
2,371 students
- Little Rock So
Little Rock Southwest High School
2,045 students
- Parkview Magne
Parkview Magnet High School
1,072 students
- Don Roberts El
Don Roberts Elementary School
1,035 students
- Chicot Element 897
Chicot Elementary School
897 students
- This school 383
Watson Elementary School
383 students
What this shows Watson Elementary School reports 383 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watson Elementary School compares
Watson Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.1:1 | ▲ 40% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.7% | ▲ 50% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 383 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.1:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
383
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
88.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.1:1
students per teacher
- 40% above state mean
Top 92% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
77.5%
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
$15,959
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arkansas avg of $12,818
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 383 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.4%
African American 42.8%
White 3.7%
Two or More 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.1, Watson Elementary School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Little Rock School District reports $15,959 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Little Rock Southwest High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Parkview Magnet High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Don Roberts Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chicot Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,045
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,072
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,035
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 897
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
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 (~383 students)
Frequently asked questions about Watson Elementary School
How many students attend Watson Elementary School?
Watson Elementary School has 383 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Little Rock, AR. CCD year-over-year: 416 (2022-23) → 417 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watson Elementary School is 19.1:1, which is 40% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Watson Elementary School?
88.7% of students at Watson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Watson Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 51.4% of enrollment, in Little Rock, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watson Elementary School?
Watson Elementary 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 Watson Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Little Rock?
By Resource Investment Index, Watson Elementary School ranks #25 of 28 elementary schools in Little Rock, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Little Rock on the city page.
What other schools are in Little Rock School District?
Besides Watson Elementary School, Little Rock School District also operates Central High School (2,371 students), Little Rock Southwest High School (2,045 students), and Parkview Magnet High School (1,072 students). See the Little Rock School District district page for the complete list.