- Enrollment
- 955
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Rapids, MI
Buchanan Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Buchanan Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261644005304
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Buchanan Elementary earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #33 of 44
- schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18:1
- students per teacher
- 88.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Buchanan Elementary has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Buchanan Elementary ranks #33 of 44 schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Grand Rapids Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261644005304 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+28 students YoY
Buchanan Elementary grew from 359 students in 2022-23 to 387 in 2023-24 (+7.8%).
Teacher FTE held 21.3 → 21.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+28 students YoY 261644005304 · Grand Rapids, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
379 enr · 18:1 · 88.9% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: City Middlehigh (955 students)
Buchanan Elementary grew from 359 students in 2022-23 to 387 in 2023-24 (+7.8%). Teacher FTE held 21.3 → 21.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Buchanan Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- City Middlehig
City Middlehigh
955 students
- Union High Sch
Union High School
881 students
- Harrison Park
Harrison Park Academy
708 students
- Southwest Elem
Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue
661 students
- Grand Rapids U
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
494 students
- This school 379
Buchanan Elementary
379 students
What this shows Buchanan Elementary reports 379 students on the CCD universe file.
How Buchanan Elementary compares
Buchanan Elementary 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 | 18:1 | ▲ 3% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.9% | ▲ 64% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 379 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
379
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
88.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 63% in Michigan - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
37.5%
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
$17,565
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 83.6%
African American 12.9%
White 2.1%
Two or More 1.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 83.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.4, Buchanan Elementary is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Grand Rapids Public Schools reports $17,565 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Buchanan Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| City Middlehigh | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Union High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harrison Park Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southwest Elementary Academia Bilingue | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Buchanan Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 881
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 708
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 494
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar other schools in Grand Rapids
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
City Middlehigh
Standard public school
955 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Harrison Park Academy
Standard public school
708 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
494 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center
Standard public school
287 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Hope Academy of West Michigan
Standard public school
284 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Mulick Park Elementary School
Standard public school
264 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~379 students)
Frequently asked questions about Buchanan Elementary
How many students attend Buchanan Elementary?
Buchanan Elementary has 379 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 359 (2022-23) → 387 (2023-24), up 28.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Buchanan Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Buchanan Elementary is 18:1, which is 3% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Buchanan Elementary?
88.9% of students at Buchanan Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Buchanan Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Buchanan Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 83.6% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Buchanan Elementary?
Buchanan Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (lower 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 Buchanan Elementary rank among schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Buchanan Elementary ranks #33 of 44 schools in Grand Rapids, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Grand Rapids Public Schools?
Besides Buchanan Elementary, Grand Rapids Public Schools also operates City Middlehigh (955 students), Union High School (881 students), and Harrison Park Academy (708 students). See the Grand Rapids Public Schools district page for the complete list.