- Enrollment
- 2,148
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Louisville, KY
Watterson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Watterson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 210299000666
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watterson Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kentucky median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kentucky schools.
- #31 of 51
- elementary schools in Louisville · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 68.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Watterson Elementary has class sizes near the Kentucky median. Computed live against every Kentucky school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watterson Elementary ranks #31 of 51 elementary schools in Louisville, KY.
School address
District: Jefferson County · Kentucky
NCES ID 210299000666 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Watterson Elementary held near 484 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.4 → 34.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 210299000666 · Louisville, KY Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
454 enr · 14.2:1 · 68.0% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Ballard High (2,148 students)
Watterson Elementary held near 484 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.4 → 34.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kentucky schools → · Find another →
Watterson Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ballard High
Ballard High
2,148 students
- Dupont Manual
Dupont Manual High
1,899 students
- Marion C. Moor
Marion C. Moore School
1,892 students
- Eastern High
Eastern High
1,790 students
- Pleasure Ridge
Pleasure Ridge Park High
1,777 students
- This school 454
Watterson Elementary
454 students
What this shows Watterson Elementary reports 454 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watterson Elementary compares
Watterson Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kentucky and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kentucky | Kentucky avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.0% | ▲ 15% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 454 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
454
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% above the Kentucky average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 38% in Kentucky - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.7%
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
$18,189
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kentucky avg of $14,362
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 454 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
28
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 39.9%
White 29.1%
Hispanic or Latino 19.4%
Two or More 6.4%
Asian 5.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 39.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.2, Watterson Elementary is more mixed than the Kentucky school average of 34.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Jefferson County reports $18,189 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watterson Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ballard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dupont Manual High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Marion C. Moore School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastern High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pleasure Ridge Park High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watterson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,892
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,790
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,777
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar elementary schools in Louisville
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Fern Creek Elementary
Standard public school
744 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Bowen Elementary
Standard public school
729 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
Norton Elementary
Standard public school
716 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Goldsmith Elementary
Standard public school
651 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Indian Trail Elementary
Standard public school
649 students 18:1 students per teacher
Wheeler Elementary
Standard public school
626 students 17.9:1 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 (~454 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Watterson Elementary
How many students attend Watterson Elementary?
Watterson Elementary has 454 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Louisville, KY. CCD year-over-year: 494 (2022-23) → 484 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watterson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Watterson Elementary is 14.2:1, which is 7% lower than the Kentucky average of 15.2:1 and 10% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Watterson Elementary?
68.0% of students at Watterson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kentucky average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watterson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Watterson Elementary is African American at 39.9% of enrollment, in Louisville, KY. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watterson Elementary?
Watterson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Watterson Elementary rank among elementary schools in Louisville?
By Resource Investment Index, Watterson Elementary ranks #31 of 51 elementary schools in Louisville, KY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Louisville on the city page.
What other schools are in Jefferson County?
Besides Watterson Elementary, Jefferson County also operates Ballard High (2,148 students), Dupont Manual High (1,899 students), and Marion C. Moore School (1,892 students). See the Jefferson County district page for the complete list.