Enrollment
367
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Indianapolis, IN
William Penn School 49
Federal NCES profile for William Penn School 49, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 180477000904
👥 S:T ratio 61
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
William Penn School 49 earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 96% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #63 of 90
- schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 9.7:1
- small classes for Indiana
- 77.2%
- free-lunch eligible
William Penn School 49 has class sizes smaller than 96% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, William Penn School 49 ranks #63 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Indianapolis Public Schools · Indiana
NCES ID 180477000904 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
9.7:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
-39% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
77.2%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+56% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How William Penn School 49 compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at William Penn School 49
William Penn School 49 is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 367 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 9.7:1, William Penn School 49 is leaner than roughly 96% of Indiana schools and 39% under the state's 15.9:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 77.2% of students qualify for free meals, 56% above the Indiana average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 367 puts it in the smaller third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 1,862 Indiana schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 266 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Indiana schools statewide, it ranks #215, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (43%) and White (26%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 367 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 61.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Indianapolis Public Schools spends $19,511 per pupil, 62% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Indianapolis's public schools, it stands alongside Indiana Connections Academy (5,376 students): William Penn School 49 is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (9.7:1 vs 36.6:1).
Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students) and Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students) alongside William Penn School 49.
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 Penn School 49 compares
William Penn School 49 on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.7:1 | ▼ 39% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.2% | ▲ 56% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 367 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.7:1
Leaner classes than 90% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
367
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
77.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.7:1
students per teacher
- 39% below state mean
Top 4% in Indiana - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
61.0%
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
$19,511
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 367 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 39 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.1 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
Hispanic or Latino 42.5%
White 25.6%
African American 23.2%
Two or More 8.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.3, William Penn School 49 is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Indianapolis Public Schools, which includes William Penn School 49.
$19,511
Per student
+62%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
+18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 34.1%
State 53.5%
Federal 12.3%
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 Penn School 49 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arsenal Technical High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crispus Attucks High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shortridge High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George Washington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwest Community Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to William Penn School 49's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,360
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,269
- Students per teacher
- 21.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 623
- Students per teacher
- 26:1
- Resource Index
- 8/100
Similar other schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Indiana Connections Academy
Standard public school
5,376 students 36.6:1 students per teacher
Hoosier College and Career Academy
Standard public school
1,484 students 57.1:1 students per teacher
Early Learning Center
Standard public school
1,313 students 24.3:1 students per teacher
Victory College Prep Academy
Standard public school
1,058 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Forest Glen Elementary School
Standard public school
971 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Indiana Connections Career Academy
Standard public school
942 students 49.6:1 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 (~367 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on William Penn School 49's federal record.
- Compare William Penn School 49 against another school. Compare schools
- Indianapolis Public 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 William Penn School 49
How many students attend William Penn School 49?
William Penn School 49 has 367 students enrolled. It is a public school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at William Penn School 49?
The student-teacher ratio at William Penn School 49 is 9.7:1, which is 39% lower than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 38% 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 William Penn School 49?
77.2% of students at William Penn School 49 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of William Penn School 49?
The largest demographic group at William Penn School 49 is Hispanic or Latino at 42.5% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for William Penn School 49?
William Penn School 49 has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Penn School 49 rank among schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, William Penn School 49 ranks #63 of 90 schools in Indianapolis, IN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is William Penn School 49 a good school?
William Penn School 49 earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 96% 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 Indianapolis Public Schools?
Besides William Penn School 49, Indianapolis Public Schools also operates Arsenal Technical High School (2,360 students), Crispus Attucks High School (1,269 students), and Shortridge High School (1,206 students). See the Indianapolis Public 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.