David Turnham Education Center

300 Students

Elementary School Pre-K - 6th

School Overview

The David Turnham Education Center, located in Dale, Indiana, serves as an integral part of the North Spencer County School Corporation. Historically rooted in the community, the facility primarily functions as an elementary school, dedicated to fostering foundational academic skills and personal development for students in the surrounding area. Its name honors David Turnham, a notable figure in local history who famously provided Abraham Lincoln with his first book, *The Life of George Washington*, during Lincoln’s formative years in Spencer County.

Today, the school maintains a community-focused atmosphere that emphasizes a supportive learning environment for young learners. By balancing traditional educational standards with a commitment to individual student growth, the David Turnham Education Center strives to prepare its students for their future transitions into middle and high school within the North Spencer district. The school remains a point of local pride, reflecting both the historical significance of the region and a continued dedication to modern academic achievement.

300

Total Students

18.9

Full-Time Teachers

15.9

Student/Teacher Ratio

52.0%

Free/Reduced Lunch

Student Demographics

Student Demographics Data Table

Student Demographics for David Turnham Education Center
Demographic	Student Count
White	216
Hispanic	77
Black	2
Two or More	4
American Indian	1

White
216 (72.0 %)
Hispanic
77 (25.7 %)
Two or More
4 (1.3 %)
Black
2 (0.7 %)
American Indian
1 (0.3 %)

School Location

School Details

Status:	Open
School Level:	Elementary School
School Type:	Regular School
Charter Status:*	Public Non-Charter
Virtual Instruction:	No virtual instruction
Shared Time Status:	No
District:	North Spencer County Sch Corp
Phone:	(812)937-4300
Grade Range:	Pre-K - 6th
Total Students:	300
Full-Time Teachers (FTE):	18.9
Pupil/Teacher Ratio:	15.9
NSLP Participation:¹	Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Qualified Free Lunch:	138
Qualified Reduced Lunch:	18

* Charter Schools: A public charter school is a publicly funded school that operates independently under a legislative contract (or "charter") with a state, school district, or designated authorizing entity. Charters grant these schools greater operational flexibility over curriculum, staffing, and budgeting in exchange for strict accountability to achieve performance standards established in their charter agreement.

¹ National School Lunch Program (NSLP): The National School Lunch Program is a federally assisted meal program operating in public and nonprofit private schools. It provides nutritionally balanced, low-cost or free lunches to eligible children each school day based on household income thresholds or community eligibility options (CEO).

Title I Program Overview: Title I, Part A of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) allocates federal financial assistance to local educational agencies and public schools with high percentages of children from low-income families to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic standards.

Grades Taught

Pre-Kindergarten 24

Kindergarten 43

Grade 1 39

Grade 2 48

Grade 3 35

Grade 4 31

Grade 5 36

Grade 6 44