- Enrollment
- 828
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kalamazoo, MI
Cooper Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cooper Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 262853006400
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cooper Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #18 of 26
- schools in Kalamazoo · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18:1
- students per teacher
- 23.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Cooper Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cooper Elementary School ranks #18 of 26 schools in Kalamazoo, MI.
School address
District: Plainwell Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262853006400 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+33 students YoY
Cooper Elementary School grew from 259 students in 2022-23 to 292 in 2023-24 (+12.7%).
Teacher FTE held 16.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+33 students YoY 262853006400 · Kalamazoo, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
288 enr · 18:1 · 23.9% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Plainwell High School (828 students)
Cooper Elementary School grew from 259 students in 2022-23 to 292 in 2023-24 (+12.7%). Teacher FTE held 16.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Cooper Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Plainwell High
Plainwell High School
828 students
- Plainwell Midd
Plainwell Middle School
569 students
- Gilkey Element
Gilkey Elementary School
439 students
- Starr Elementa
Starr Elementary School
410 students
- This school 288
Cooper Elementary School
288 students
- Renaissance Hi 86
Renaissance High School
86 students
What this shows Cooper Elementary School reports 288 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cooper Elementary School compares
Cooper Elementary School 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 | 23.9% | ▼ 56% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 288 | top 62% | - | - |
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.
288
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
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
19.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,191
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 + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.3%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
Two or More 2.4%
African American 2.1%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 91.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.4, Cooper Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Plainwell Community Schools reports $13,191 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cooper Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainwell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plainwell Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gilkey Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Starr Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Renaissance High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cooper Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 439
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 410
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 86
- Students per teacher
- 43:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar other schools in Kalamazoo
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~288 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cooper Elementary School
How many students attend Cooper Elementary School?
Cooper Elementary School has 288 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kalamazoo, MI. CCD year-over-year: 259 (2022-23) → 292 (2023-24), up 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cooper Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cooper Elementary School 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 Cooper Elementary School?
23.9% of students at Cooper Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cooper Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cooper Elementary School is White at 91.3% of enrollment, in Kalamazoo, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cooper Elementary School?
Cooper Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 Cooper Elementary School rank among schools in Kalamazoo?
By Resource Investment Index, Cooper Elementary School ranks #18 of 26 schools in Kalamazoo, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kalamazoo on the city page.
What other schools are in Plainwell Community Schools?
Besides Cooper Elementary School, Plainwell Community Schools also operates Plainwell High School (828 students), Plainwell Middle School (569 students), and Gilkey Elementary School (439 students). See the Plainwell Community Schools district page for the complete list.