Enrollment
739
Indiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Indianapolis, IN
Willow Lake Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Willow Lake Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 181272002647
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Willow Lake Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Indiana schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Indiana schools.
- #18 of 89
- elementary schools in Indianapolis · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.9:1
- large classes for Indiana
- 70.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Willow Lake Elementary School has class sizes larger than 86% of Indiana schools. Computed live against every Indiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Willow Lake Elementary School ranks #18 of 89 elementary schools in Indianapolis, IN.
School address
District: Msd Washington Township · Indiana
NCES ID 181272002647 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.9:1
vs 15.9:1 Indiana avg
+19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.1%
vs 49.5% Indiana avg
+42% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Willow Lake Elementary School compares with Indiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Willow Lake Elementary School
Willow Lake Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Indianapolis, Indiana, enrolling 739 students.
Class loads run heavy: 18.9:1 is larger than about 86% of Indiana schools and 19% above the 15.9:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 70.1% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 739 puts it in the larger third of Indiana schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,862 scored Indiana schools.
Against 254 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #69.
Its student body is led by African American (44%) and Hispanic or Latino (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 67/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Msd Washington Township spends $14,632 per pupil, 21% above the Indiana average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Indianapolis's elementary schools, it stands alongside Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate (1,365 students): Willow Lake Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.9:1 vs 21:1).
Msd Washington Township also operates North Central High School (3,682 students) and Northview Middle School (1,019 students) alongside Willow Lake Elementary 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 Willow Lake Elementary School compares
Willow Lake Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Indiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Indiana | Indiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.9:1 | ▲ 19% | 15.9:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.1% | ▲ 42% | 49.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 739 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.9:1
Leaner classes than 20% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
739
Bigger than 82% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% above the Indiana average of 49.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.9:1
students per teacher
- 19% above state mean
Top 86% in Indiana - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.6%
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
$14,632
per pupil, district-wide
- above Indiana avg of $12,079
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 61 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.3 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
African American 44.2%
Hispanic or Latino 34.1%
White 13.3%
Two or More 4.5%
Asian 3.9%
Largest group: African American at 44.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.7, Willow Lake Elementary School is more mixed than the Indiana school average of 39.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Msd Washington Township, which includes Willow Lake Elementary School.
$14,632
Per student
+21%
vs Indiana
Avg $12,079
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.4%
State 47.7%
Federal 12.9%
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 Willow Lake Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northview Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Eastwood Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westlane Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Clearwater Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Willow Lake Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,682
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,019
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 754
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 750
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar elementary schools in Indianapolis
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Lillie Idella Kitley Intermediate
Standard public school
1,365 students 21:1 students per teacher
Edgewood Intermediate School
Standard public school
1,300 students 18.6:1 students per teacher
Creston Intermediate & Middle Schl
Standard public school
1,106 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Raymond Park Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,079 students 14:1 students per teacher
Stonybrook Intermediate & Middle
Standard public school
1,043 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Paramount Brookside
Standard public school
843 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~739 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Willow Lake Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Willow Lake Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Msd Washington Township'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 Willow Lake Elementary School
How many students attend Willow Lake Elementary School?
Willow Lake Elementary School has 739 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Indianapolis, IN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Willow Lake Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Willow Lake Elementary School is 18.9:1, which is 19% higher than the Indiana average of 15.9:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Willow Lake Elementary School?
70.1% of students at Willow Lake Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Indiana average of 49.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Willow Lake Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Willow Lake Elementary School is African American at 44.2% of enrollment, in Indianapolis, IN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Willow Lake Elementary School?
Willow Lake Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Willow Lake Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Indianapolis?
By Resource Investment Index, Willow Lake Elementary School ranks #18 of 89 elementary 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 elementary schools in Indianapolis on the city page.
Is Willow Lake Elementary School a good school?
Willow Lake Elementary School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% 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 Msd Washington Township?
Besides Willow Lake Elementary School, Msd Washington Township also operates North Central High School (3,682 students), Northview Middle School (1,019 students), and Eastwood Middle School (845 students). See the Msd Washington Township 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.