Enrollment
155
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lansing, MI
Cole Academy
Federal NCES profile for Cole Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 14/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260007900543Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cole Academy earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #10 of 10
- elementary schools in Lansing · Resource Index
- 14
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.1:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 63.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Cole Academy has class sizes larger than 89% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cole Academy ranks #10 of 10 elementary schools in Lansing, MI.
School address
District: Cole Academy · Michigan
NCES ID 260007900543 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
7.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.1:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.8%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Cole Academy compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Cole Academy
Cole Academy is a higher-need, mid-sized charter elementary school in Lansing, Michigan, enrolling 155 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.1:1 is larger than about 89% of Michigan schools and 26% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 63.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 155 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 96% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 237 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #227, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (38%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 73/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 54.2% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Cole Academy spends $8,687 per pupil, 36% below the Michigan average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 17.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Lansing's elementary schools, it stands alongside Attwood School (426 students): Cole Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (22.1:1 vs 32.8:1).
Its district, Cole Academy, also runs Cole Academy East (148 students).
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 Cole Academy compares
Cole Academy on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.1:1 | ▲ 26% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.8% | ▲ 17% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 155 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.1:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
155
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
22.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 89% in Michigan - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
54.2%
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
$8,687
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
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
0
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.2 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
African American 38.1%
Hispanic or Latino 24.5%
White 18.7%
Two or More 18.1%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: African American at 38.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.7, Cole Academy is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cole Academy, which includes Cole Academy.
$8,687
Per student
-36%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-48%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 8.3%
State 74.8%
Federal 17.0%
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 Cole Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cole Academy East | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cole Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 148
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar elementary schools in Lansing
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Attwood School
Standard public school
426 students 32.8:1 students per teacher
Winans Elementary School
Standard public school
392 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Sheridan Road
Standard public school
356 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Mt Hope School
Standard public school
323 students 26.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~155 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Cole Academy's federal record.
- Compare Cole Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Cole Academy'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 Cole Academy
How many students attend Cole Academy?
Cole Academy has 155 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lansing, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cole Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Cole Academy is 22.1:1, which is 26% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cole Academy?
63.8% of students at Cole Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cole Academy?
The largest demographic group at Cole Academy is African American at 38.1% of enrollment, in Lansing, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cole Academy?
Cole Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 14/100 (lower 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 Cole Academy rank among elementary schools in Lansing?
By Resource Investment Index, Cole Academy ranks #10 of 10 elementary schools in Lansing, 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 Lansing on the city page.
Is Cole Academy a good school?
Cole Academy earns 14/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 Cole Academy?
Besides Cole Academy, Cole Academy also operates Cole Academy East (148 students). See the Cole Academy 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.