Enrollment
294
New Hampshire · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Salem, NH
William E. Lancaster School
Federal NCES profile for William E. Lancaster School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 330606000403
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
William E. Lancaster School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of New Hampshire schools.
- #4 of 6
- elementary schools in Salem · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- large classes for New Hampshire
- 13.7%
- free-lunch eligible
William E. Lancaster School has class sizes larger than 89% of New Hampshire schools. Computed live against every New Hampshire school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, William E. Lancaster School ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Salem, NH.
School address
District: Salem School District · New Hampshire
NCES ID 330606000403 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
21.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14:1
vs 11.3:1 New Hampshire avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
13.7%
vs 21.5% New Hampshire avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How William E. Lancaster School compares with New Hampshire and U.S. medians
What stands out at William E. Lancaster School
William E. Lancaster School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Salem, New Hampshire, enrolling 294 students.
Class loads run heavy: 14:1 is larger than about 89% of New Hampshire schools and 24% above the 11.3:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 13.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 294 students, its enrollment sits close to the New Hampshire median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 500 scored New Hampshire schools.
Among 141 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need New Hampshire schools statewide, it ranks #109, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (78%) and Hispanic or Latino (11%) (diversity index 37/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 294 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 27.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Salem School District spends $19,382 per pupil, 32% below the New Hampshire average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Salem's elementary schools, it stands alongside William T. Barron Elementary School (377 students): William E. Lancaster School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14:1 vs 14.5:1).
Salem School District also operates Salem High School (1,116 students) and Woodbury School (762 students) alongside William E. Lancaster School.
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 William E. Lancaster School compares
William E. Lancaster School on the metrics families compare, against New Hampshire and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs New Hampshire | New Hampshire avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14:1 | ▲ 24% | 11.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.7% | ▼ 36% | 21.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 294 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
294
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
13.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below the New Hampshire average of 21.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 89% in New Hampshire - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
27.9%
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
$19,382
per pupil, district-wide
- below New Hampshire avg of $28,358
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 294 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 77.9%
Hispanic or Latino 11.2%
Two or More 7.5%
African American 2.4%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 77.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.4, William E. Lancaster School is more mixed than the New Hampshire school average of 24.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Salem School District, which includes William E. Lancaster School.
$19,382
Per student
-32%
vs New Hampshire
Avg $28,358
+17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 63.7%
State 30.4%
Federal 5.9%
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 William E. Lancaster School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salem High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Woodbury School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William T. Barron Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Salem Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mary a. Fisk Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to William E. Lancaster School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,116
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 762
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 353
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 272
- Students per teacher
- 11.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Salem
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
William T. Barron Elementary School
Standard public school
377 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
North Salem Elementary School
Standard public school
353 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
The Birches Academy of Academics - Art a Public Charter Sch
Standard public school
286 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Mary a. Fisk Elementary School
Standard public school
272 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Dr. L. F. Soule School
Standard public school
270 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of New Hampshire, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~294 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on William E. Lancaster School's federal record.
- Compare William E. Lancaster School against another school. Compare schools
- Salem School District'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 William E. Lancaster School
How many students attend William E. Lancaster School?
William E. Lancaster School has 294 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Salem, NH.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William E. Lancaster School?
The student-teacher ratio at William E. Lancaster School is 14:1, which is 24% higher than the New Hampshire average of 11.3:1 and 11% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at William E. Lancaster School?
13.7% of students at William E. Lancaster School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the New Hampshire average of 21.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of William E. Lancaster School?
The largest demographic group at William E. Lancaster School is White at 77.9% of enrollment, in Salem, NH.
What is the Resource Investment Index for William E. Lancaster School?
William E. Lancaster School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does William E. Lancaster School rank among elementary schools in Salem?
By Resource Investment Index, William E. Lancaster School ranks #4 of 6 elementary schools in Salem, NH. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Salem on the city page.
Is William E. Lancaster School a good school?
William E. Lancaster School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of New Hampshire 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 Salem School District?
Besides William E. Lancaster School, Salem School District also operates Salem High School (1,116 students), Woodbury School (762 students), and William T. Barron Elementary School (377 students). See the Salem School District 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.