- Enrollment
- 1,091
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Alpena, MI
Besser Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Besser Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260273007409
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Besser Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Michigan schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Alpena · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.8:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 49.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Besser Elementary School has class sizes larger than 71% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Besser Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Alpena, MI.
School address
District: Alpena Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 260273007409 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+37 students YoY
Besser Elementary School grew from 456 students in 2022-23 to 493 in 2023-24 (+8.1%).
Teacher FTE held 25.8 → 25.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+37 students YoY 260273007409 · Alpena, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
470 enr · 18.8:1 · 49.1% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Alpena High School (1,091 students)
Besser Elementary School grew from 456 students in 2022-23 to 493 in 2023-24 (+8.1%). Teacher FTE held 25.8 → 25.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Besser Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Alpena High Sc
Alpena High School
1,091 students
- Thunder Bay Ju
Thunder Bay Junior High School
796 students
- This school
Besser Elementary School
470 students
- Ella M White E
Ella M White Elementary
440 students
- Wilson Element 220
Wilson Elementary
220 students
- Sanborn Elemen 201
Sanborn Elementary
201 students
What this shows Besser Elementary School reports 470 students on the CCD universe file.
How Besser Elementary School compares
Besser Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.8:1 | ▲ 7% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.1% | ▼ 10% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 470 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.8:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
470
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.8:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 71% in Michigan - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
23.2%
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
$13,611
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.5%
Two or More 6.2%
Hispanic or Latino 4.3%
Asian 0.4%
African American 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 88.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.1, Besser Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Alpena Public Schools reports $13,611 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Besser Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpena High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Thunder Bay Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ella M White Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wilson Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sanborn Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Besser Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 796
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 220
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 201
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~470 students)
Frequently asked questions about Besser Elementary School
How many students attend Besser Elementary School?
Besser Elementary School has 470 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Alpena, MI. CCD year-over-year: 456 (2022-23) → 493 (2023-24), up 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Besser Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Besser Elementary School is 18.8:1, which is 7% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Besser Elementary School?
49.1% of students at Besser Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Besser Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Besser Elementary School is White at 88.5% of enrollment, in Alpena, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Besser Elementary School?
Besser Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Besser Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Alpena?
By Resource Investment Index, Besser Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Alpena, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Alpena on the city page.
What other schools are in Alpena Public Schools?
Besides Besser Elementary School, Alpena Public Schools also operates Alpena High School (1,091 students), Thunder Bay Junior High School (796 students), and Ella M White Elementary (440 students). See the Alpena Public Schools district page for the complete list.