- Enrollment
- 637
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Clarklake, MI
Columbia Alternative Education
Federal NCES profile for Columbia Alternative Education, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 10/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260699001117
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Columbia Alternative Education earns 10/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Michigan schools.
- 10
- Resource Index · Lower
- 26:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 60.2%
- free-lunch eligible
- 78
- students enrolled
Columbia Alternative Education has class sizes larger than 94% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Columbia School District · Michigan
NCES ID 260699001117 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Columbia Alternative Education held near 85 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 3.5 → 3.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 260699001117 · Clarklake, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
78 enr · 26:1 · 60.2% lunch · RII 10
Nearest enrollment peer: Columbia Central High School (637 students)
Columbia Alternative Education held near 85 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE held 3.5 → 3.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Columbia Alternative Education in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Columbia Centr
Columbia Central High School
637 students
- Columbia Upper
Columbia Upper Elementary School
406 students
- Columbia Eleme
Columbia Elementary School
307 students
- This school 78
Columbia Alternative Education
78 students
What this shows Columbia Alternative Education reports 78 students on the CCD universe file.
How Columbia Alternative Education compares
Columbia Alternative Education held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26:1 | ▲ 49% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.2% | ▲ 11% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 78 | top 89% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26:1
Leaner classes than 4% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
78
Bigger than 8% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
60.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% 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
26:1
students per teacher
- 49% above state mean
Top 94% in Michigan - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
89.7%
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
$13,987
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
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 + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.5%
Two or More 6.4%
Hispanic or Latino 5.1%
Largest group: White at 88.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 21.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 21.0, Columbia Alternative Education is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Columbia School District reports $13,987 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Columbia Alternative Education Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Columbia Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbia Upper Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbia Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Columbia Alternative Education's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 406
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 307
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
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 (~78 students)
Frequently asked questions about Columbia Alternative Education
How many students attend Columbia Alternative Education?
Columbia Alternative Education has 78 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Clarklake, MI. CCD year-over-year: 88 (2022-23) → 85 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Columbia Alternative Education?
The student-teacher ratio at Columbia Alternative Education is 26:1, which is 49% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 66% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Columbia Alternative Education?
60.2% of students at Columbia Alternative Education are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Columbia Alternative Education?
The largest demographic group at Columbia Alternative Education is White at 88.5% of enrollment, in Clarklake, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Columbia Alternative Education?
Columbia Alternative Education has a Resource Investment Index of 10/100 (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).
What other schools are in Columbia School District?
Besides Columbia Alternative Education, Columbia School District also operates Columbia Central High School (637 students), Columbia Upper Elementary School (406 students), and Columbia Elementary School (307 students). See the Columbia School District district page for the complete list.