Enrollment
462
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Southgate, MI
Asher School
Federal NCES profile for Asher School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 9/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 263234001932
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Asher School earns 9/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #6 of 6
- schools in Southgate · Resource Index
- 9
- Resource Index · Lower
- 46.2:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 68.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Asher School has class sizes larger than 98% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Asher School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Southgate, MI.
School address
District: Southgate Community School District · Michigan
NCES ID 263234001932 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
10.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
46.2:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+164% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+26% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Asher School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Asher School
Asher School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Southgate, Michigan, enrolling 462 students.
Class loads run heavy: 46.2:1 is larger than about 98% of Michigan schools and 164% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 68.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 462 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 99% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 520 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #518, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and African American (24%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 462 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 50.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Southgate's public schools, it stands alongside Beacon Day Treatment Center (115 students): Asher School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (46.2:1 vs 5.5:1).
Southgate Community School District also operates Southgate Anderson High School (1,052 students) and Davidson Middle School (663 students) alongside Asher 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 Asher School compares
Asher School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 46.2:1 | ▲ 164% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.2% | ▲ 26% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 462 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
46.2:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
462
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
46.2:1
students per teacher
- 164% above state mean
Top 98% in Michigan - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
50.4%
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
$15,761
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 462 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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
White 57.4%
African American 24.0%
Hispanic or Latino 14.9%
Two or More 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 57.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.0, Asher School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Southgate Community School District, which includes Asher School.
$15,761
Per student
+17%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.1%
State 54.1%
Federal 10.7%
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 Asher School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southgate Anderson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Davidson Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Allen Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grogan Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shelters Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Asher School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,052
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 663
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 353
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 327
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar other schools in Southgate
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~462 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~46.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Asher School's federal record.
- Compare Asher School against another school. Compare schools
- Southgate Community School District'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 Asher School
How many students attend Asher School?
Asher School has 462 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Southgate, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Asher School?
The student-teacher ratio at Asher School is 46.2:1, which is 164% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 194% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Asher School?
68.2% of students at Asher School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Asher School?
The largest demographic group at Asher School is White at 57.4% of enrollment, in Southgate, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Asher School?
Asher School has a Resource Investment Index of 9/100 (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 Asher School rank among schools in Southgate?
By Resource Investment Index, Asher School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Southgate, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Southgate on the city page.
Is Asher School a good school?
Asher School earns 9/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 Southgate Community School District?
Besides Asher School, Southgate Community School District also operates Southgate Anderson High School (1,052 students), Davidson Middle School (663 students), and Allen Elementary School (359 students). See the Southgate Community School District 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.