- Enrollment
- 2,068
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Grand Rapids, MI
Challenger Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 262034007682
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Elementary earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #13 of 24
- elementary schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18:1
- students per teacher
- 73.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Elementary has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary ranks #13 of 24 elementary schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Kentwood Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262034007682 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
Challenger Elementary grew from 341 students in 2022-23 to 367 in 2023-24 (+7.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 23.9 → 21.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+26 students YoY 262034007682 · Grand Rapids, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
413 enr · 18:1 · 73.9% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: East Kentwood High School (2,068 students)
Challenger Elementary grew from 341 students in 2022-23 to 367 in 2023-24 (+7.6%). Teacher FTE lost 23.9 → 21.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Challenger Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East Kentwood
East Kentwood High School
2,068 students
- Pinewood Middl
Pinewood Middle School
842 students
- East Kentwood 742
East Kentwood Freshman Campus
742 students
- Crestwood Midd 700
Crestwood Middle School
700 students
- Discovery Elem 674
Discovery Elementary
674 students
- This school 413
Challenger Elementary
413 students
What this shows Challenger Elementary reports 413 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Elementary compares
Challenger 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 | 73.9% | ▲ 36% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 413 | top 39% | - | - |
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.
413
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% 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
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
32.4%
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
$14,957
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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.
Student demographics
African American 45.0%
White 16.9%
Hispanic or Latino 14.5%
Asian 13.6%
Two or More 9.9%
Largest group: African American at 45.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.0, Challenger Elementary is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Kentwood Public Schools reports $14,957 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenger Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East Kentwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pinewood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Kentwood Freshman Campus | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crestwood Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Discovery Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenger Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 842
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 742
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 700
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 674
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Similar elementary schools in Grand Rapids
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~413 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Elementary
How many students attend Challenger Elementary?
Challenger Elementary has 413 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 341 (2022-23) → 367 (2023-24), up 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger 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 Challenger Elementary?
73.9% of students at Challenger Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Elementary is African American at 45.0% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Elementary?
Challenger Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (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 Challenger Elementary rank among elementary schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary ranks #13 of 24 elementary 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 elementary schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Kentwood Public Schools?
Besides Challenger Elementary, Kentwood Public Schools also operates East Kentwood High School (2,068 students), Pinewood Middle School (842 students), and East Kentwood Freshman Campus (742 students). See the Kentwood Public Schools district page for the complete list.