- Enrollment
- 1,687
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · North Saint Paul, MN
Cowern Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cowern Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 272385001168
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cowern Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #6 of 10
- public schools in North Saint Paul · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 57.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Cowern Elementary has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cowern Elementary ranks #6 of 10 public schools in North Saint Paul, MN.
School address
District: North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale · Minnesota
NCES ID 272385001168 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-6 students YoY
Cowern Elementary held near 397 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 30.5 → 35.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-6 students YoY 272385001168 · North Saint Paul, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
413 enr · 13.8:1 · 57.6% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Tartan Senior High (1,687 students)
Cowern Elementary held near 397 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 30.5 → 35.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Cowern Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Tartan Senior
Tartan Senior High
1,687 students
- North Senior H
North Senior High
1,649 students
- John Glenn Mid
John Glenn Middle
1,073 students
- Skyview Commun
Skyview Community Middle
1,029 students
- Carver Element
Carver Elementary
898 students
- This school 413
Cowern Elementary
413 students
What this shows Cowern Elementary reports 413 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cowern Elementary compares
Cowern Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.6% | ▲ 35% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 413 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
413
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 44% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
40.2%
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
$16,478
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 33.2%
African American 21.1%
White 19.6%
Hispanic or Latino 13.8%
Two or More 11.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Asian at 33.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 77.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 77.5, Cowern Elementary is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale reports $16,478 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cowern Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tartan Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John Glenn Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Skyview Community Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carver Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cowern Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,649
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,073
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,029
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 898
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
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 (~413 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cowern Elementary
How many students attend Cowern Elementary?
Cowern Elementary has 413 students enrolled. It is a public school in North Saint Paul, MN. CCD year-over-year: 403 (2022-23) → 397 (2023-24), nearly flat (-6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cowern Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cowern Elementary is 13.8:1, which is 13% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 12% 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 Cowern Elementary?
57.6% of students at Cowern Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cowern Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cowern Elementary is Asian at 33.2% of enrollment, in North Saint Paul, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 77.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cowern Elementary?
Cowern Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Cowern Elementary rank among public schools in North Saint Paul?
By Resource Investment Index, Cowern Elementary ranks #6 of 10 public schools in North Saint Paul, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in North Saint Paul on the city page.
What other schools are in North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale?
Besides Cowern Elementary, North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale also operates Tartan Senior High (1,687 students), North Senior High (1,649 students), and John Glenn Middle (1,073 students). See the North St. Paul-Maplewood Oakdale district page for the complete list.