- Enrollment
- 1,325
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Custer, WA
Custer Elem
Federal NCES profile for Custer Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530285000459
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Custer Elem earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.8:1
- students per teacher
- 46.2%
- free-lunch eligible
- 392
- students enrolled
Custer Elem has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Ferndale School District · Washington
NCES ID 530285000459 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+38 students YoY
Custer Elem grew from 329 students in 2022-23 to 367 in 2023-24 (+11.6%).
Teacher FTE added 22.7 → 27.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+38 students YoY 530285000459 · Custer, WA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
392 enr · 17.8:1 · 46.2% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Ferndale High School (1,325 students)
Custer Elem grew from 329 students in 2022-23 to 367 in 2023-24 (+11.6%). Teacher FTE added 22.7 → 27.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Custer Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ferndale High
Ferndale High School
1,325 students
- Vista Middle S
Vista Middle School
550 students
- Skyline Elemen 496
Skyline Elementary School
496 students
- Eagleridge Ele 457
Eagleridge Elementary
457 students
- Cascadia Eleme 440
Cascadia Elementary
440 students
- This school 392
Custer Elem
392 students
What this shows Custer Elem reports 392 students on the CCD universe file.
How Custer Elem compares
Custer Elem is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.8:1 | ▲ 1% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.2% | ▲ 3% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 392 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
392
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 63% in Washington - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$18,722
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 392 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 69.6%
Hispanic or Latino 26.0%
Two or More 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Asian 0.5%
African American 0.3%
Largest group: White at 69.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.7, Custer Elem is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ferndale School District reports $18,722 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Custer Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ferndale High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Vista Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Skyline Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eagleridge Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cascadia Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Custer Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 496
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 457
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
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 (~392 students)
Frequently asked questions about Custer Elem
How many students attend Custer Elem?
Custer Elem has 392 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Custer, WA. CCD year-over-year: 329 (2022-23) → 367 (2023-24), up 38.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Custer Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Custer Elem is 17.8:1, which is 1% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Custer Elem?
46.2% of students at Custer Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Custer Elem?
The largest demographic group at Custer Elem is White at 69.6% of enrollment, in Custer, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Custer Elem?
Custer Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Ferndale School District?
Besides Custer Elem, Ferndale School District also operates Ferndale High School (1,325 students), Vista Middle School (550 students), and Skyline Elementary School (496 students). See the Ferndale School District district page for the complete list.