Enrollment
401
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waukesha, WI
Bethesda Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bethesda Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 551578002006
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bethesda Elementary earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #7 of 19
- schools in Waukesha · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 28.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Bethesda Elementary has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bethesda Elementary ranks #7 of 19 schools in Waukesha, WI.
School address
District: Waukesha School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551578002006 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.4:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.2%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
-27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Bethesda Elementary compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Bethesda Elementary
Bethesda Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Waukesha, Wisconsin, enrolling 401 students.
At 13.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Wisconsin median, within a few percentage points of the 14.4:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 28.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 401 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Against 572 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #86.
Its student body is led by White (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (38%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 58/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Waukesha's public schools, it stands alongside Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin (639 students): Bethesda Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.4:1 vs 23.7:1).
Waukesha School District also operates West High (1,167 students) and North High (911 students) alongside Bethesda Elementary.
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 Bethesda Elementary compares
Bethesda Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.2% | ▼ 27% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 401 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
401
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 53% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.0%
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
$12,813
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 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 51.9%
Hispanic or Latino 37.9%
Two or More 5.2%
African American 3.7%
Asian 1.2%
Largest group: White at 51.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.3, Bethesda Elementary is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waukesha School District, which includes Bethesda Elementary.
$12,813
Per student
-14%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-23%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.8%
State 36.8%
Federal 8.4%
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 Bethesda Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Butler Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bethesda Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,167
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 911
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 833
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 639
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Waukesha
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin
Standard public school
639 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Waukesha Stem Academy
Standard public school
580 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Rose Glen Elementary
Standard public school
490 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Banting Elementary
Standard public school
486 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Summit View Elementary
Standard public school
449 students 15:1 students per teacher
Prairie Elementary
Standard public school
348 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~401 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Bethesda Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Bethesda Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Waukesha 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 Bethesda Elementary
How many students attend Bethesda Elementary?
Bethesda Elementary has 401 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waukesha, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bethesda Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bethesda Elementary is 13.4:1, which is 7% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 15% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bethesda Elementary?
28.2% of students at Bethesda Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bethesda Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bethesda Elementary is White at 51.9% of enrollment, in Waukesha, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bethesda Elementary?
Bethesda Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bethesda Elementary rank among schools in Waukesha?
By Resource Investment Index, Bethesda Elementary ranks #7 of 19 schools in Waukesha, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waukesha on the city page.
Is Bethesda Elementary a good school?
Bethesda Elementary earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin 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 Waukesha School District?
Besides Bethesda Elementary, Waukesha School District also operates West High (1,167 students), North High (911 students), and South High (833 students). See the Waukesha 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.