- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Jackson, MI
Cascades Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cascades Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261962005625
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cascades Elementary School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #6 of 10
- schools in Jackson · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.3:1
- students per teacher
- 89.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Cascades Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cascades Elementary School ranks #6 of 10 schools in Jackson, MI.
School address
District: Jackson Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261962005625 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-49 students YoY
Cascades Elementary School shrank from 447 students in 2022-23 to 398 in 2023-24 (-11.0%).
Teacher FTE added 26.0 → 33.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-49 students YoY 261962005625 · Jackson, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
398 enr · 15.3:1 · 89.3% lunch · RII 22
Nearest enrollment peer: Jackson High School (989 students)
Cascades Elementary School shrank from 447 students in 2022-23 to 398 in 2023-24 (-11.0%). Teacher FTE added 26.0 → 33.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Cascades Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Jackson High S
Jackson High School
989 students
- Middle School
Middle School at Parkside
750 students
- South Central
South Central Michigan Virtual
402 students
- This school
Cascades Elementary School
398 students
- Northeast Elem
Northeast Elementary School
396 students
- Hunt Elementar 366
Hunt Elementary School
366 students
What this shows Cascades Elementary School reports 398 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cascades Elementary School compares
Cascades Elementary School is a shrinking 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 | 15.3:1 | ▼ 13% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 89.3% | ▲ 64% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 398 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
398
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
89.3%
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
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 35% in Michigan - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
59.8%
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
$16,875
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 398 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 78 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 41.2%
White 29.4%
Two or More 19.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 41.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.0, Cascades Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Jackson Public Schools reports $16,875 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cascades Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Middle School at Parkside | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Central Michigan Virtual | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northeast Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hunt Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cascades Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 750
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 402
- Students per teacher
- 80.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 366
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar other schools in Jackson
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
South Central Michigan Virtual
Standard public school
402 students 80.4:1 students per teacher
Jackson Preparatory Early College
Standard public school
260 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Jackson Isd Local Based Special Education Programs
Special-education school
240 students 4:1 students per teacher
Northwest Connect
Alternative education program
157 students 39.3:1 students per teacher
Way East Jackson
Alternative education program
16 students
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 (~398 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cascades Elementary School
How many students attend Cascades Elementary School?
Cascades Elementary School has 398 students enrolled. It is a public school in Jackson, MI. CCD year-over-year: 447 (2022-23) → 398 (2023-24), down 49.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cascades Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cascades Elementary School is 15.3:1, which is 13% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 3% 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 Cascades Elementary School?
89.3% of students at Cascades Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cascades Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cascades Elementary School is African American at 41.2% of enrollment, in Jackson, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cascades Elementary School?
Cascades Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Cascades Elementary School rank among schools in Jackson?
By Resource Investment Index, Cascades Elementary School ranks #6 of 10 schools in Jackson, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Jackson on the city page.
What other schools are in Jackson Public Schools?
Besides Cascades Elementary School, Jackson Public Schools also operates Jackson High School (989 students), Middle School at Parkside (750 students), and South Central Michigan Virtual (402 students). See the Jackson Public Schools district page for the complete list.