Pennfield Schools

BATTLE CREEK, Michigan — 5 schools

1,986
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$13,419
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Pennfield Schools operates 5 public schools serving 1,986 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Michigan. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 elementary, 1 high, 1 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 1,877 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Calhoun County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,419 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 19.9% local, 71.4% state, and 8.7% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $63,212 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 37/100, ranked #584 of 756 in Michigan against a state average of 50 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 5 schools offering Advanced Placement (2 AP courses district-wide), a 319.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 43.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 78.9% White, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.1% African American across the district's schools.

Pennfield Senior High School accounts for 39.9% of all Pennfield Schools student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Pennfield Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Pennfield Schools school enrollment varies 4.0× across entities

Pennfield Schools school enrollment ranges from 188 students (lowest) to 748 students (highest), a spread of 560 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Pennfield Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 53.4% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Pennfield Schools student-counselor ratio is 319:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Pennfield Schools is typically wider than the Pennfield Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Pennfield Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 43.0% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

8.7%
Federal
71.4%
State
19.9%
Local

Funding Equity

37
Equity Score
584 / 756
State Rank
50
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Calhoun County county, where this district is located.

$833
Studio/mo
$976
1 BR/mo
$1,176
2 BR/mo
$1,410
3 BR/mo
$1,565
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$63,212
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 5 schools in Pennfield Schools.

White 78.9%
Hispanic or Latino 5.9%
African American 5.1%
Multiracial 9.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 5
Schools with AP
2 AP courses total
319.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
43.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Pennfield Schools

School Enrollment
Pennfield Senior High School
748
Pennfield Middle School
471
Pennfield Dunlap Elementary
273
Pennfield Purdy School
197
North Pennfield Elementary
188

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 · $22,228/pupil
Compare vs Pennfield Schools →
Utica Community Schools
25,744 students · 38 schools · $13,844/pupil
Compare vs Pennfield Schools →
Dearborn City School District
20,128 students · 37 schools · $17,609/pupil
Compare vs Pennfield Schools →
Ann Arbor Public Schools
17,026 students · 32 schools · $22,548/pupil
Compare vs Pennfield Schools →
Plymouth-Canton Community Schools
16,294 students · 25 schools · $16,462/pupil
Compare vs Pennfield Schools →

Compare Pennfield Schools

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 Pennfield Schools?

Pennfield Schools has 5 schools, including 1 high, 1 middle, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 1,986 students.

How much does Pennfield Schools spend per student?

Pennfield Schools spends $13,419 per student. The district has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #584 in Michigan.

What is the average teacher salary in Pennfield Schools?

The average teacher salary in Pennfield Schools is $63,212 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Pennfield Schools?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Calhoun County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Pennfield Schools?

Pennfield Schools students are 78.9% White, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 5.1% African American, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Pennfield Schools?

Pennfield Schools has an equity score of 37/100, ranking #584 out of 756 districts in Michigan. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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