Cole Academy

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. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Lansing, Michigan - 2 schools

An equity score of 34/100 ranks Cole Academy #598 of 702 districts in Michigan (state average 50). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $9,647 per pupil, Cole Academy ranks #796 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending (Michigan districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

354
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$9,647
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Cole Academy operates 2 public schools serving 354 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Ingham County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,647 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the bottom 82 of 812 Michigan districts by per-pupil spending. See how Michigan compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 8.3% local, 74.8% state, and 17.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 34/100, ranked #598 of 702 in Michigan against a state average of 50, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

and 55.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 31.9% African American, 26.8% Hispanic or Latino, 24.2% White across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Cole Academy, enrolling 155 students (51% of the district's total enrollment).

Cole Academy accounts for 43.8% of all Cole Academy student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Cole Academy-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: elementary. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Enrollment-weighted aggregates give this entity more weight than any smaller peer, while an unweighted entity average treats every record equally.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Cole Academy reports 55.4% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Cole Academy chronic absenteeism rate is 55.5% — well above typical (typically associated with unusually large scale or acute resource constraints)

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Values this far above typical often signal acute resource constraints or a structurally different scale than most peers — worth reading alongside the underlying counts, not the ratio alone.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

17.0%
Federal
74.8%
State
8.3%
Local

Funding Equity

34
Equity Score
598 / 702
State Rank
50
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 2 schools in Cole Academy.

White 24.2%
Hispanic or Latino 26.8%
African American 31.9%
Asian 1.3%
Multiracial 15.2%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

55.5%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Cole Academy

School Enrollment
Cole Academy
Charter
155
Cole Academy East
Charter
148

How Cole Academy Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Michigan districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Kingsbury Country Day School Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
George Crockett Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Pittsford Area Schools Similar size Higher spending More locally funded
West Shore Educational Service District Similar size No spending data More locally funded
New Branches Charter Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Cole Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Michigan

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Detroit Public Schools Community District
48,548 students · 107 schools · $22,002/pupil
Compare vs Cole Academy →
Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $14,295/pupil
Compare vs Cole Academy →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $18,204/pupil
Compare vs Cole Academy →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $19,271/pupil
Compare vs Cole Academy →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $14,974/pupil
Compare vs Cole Academy →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Cole Academy

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Detroit Public Schools Community District →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Cole Academy?

Cole Academy has 2 schools, including 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 354 students.

How much does Cole Academy spend per student?

Cole Academy spends $9,647 per student. The district has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #598 in Michigan.

What is the demographic composition of Cole Academy?

Cole Academy students are 31.9% African American, 26.8% Hispanic or Latino, 24.2% White, 1.3% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Cole Academy?

Cole Academy has an equity score of 34/100, ranking #598 out of 702 districts in Michigan.