Enrollment
126
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mandan, ND
Custer Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Custer Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 381182000384
👥 S:T ratio 61
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 75
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Custer Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Mandan · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.7:1
- students per teacher
- 51.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Custer Elementary School has class sizes near the North Dakota median. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Custer Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Mandan, ND.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
13.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
9.7:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
-18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
51.9%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
+84% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Custer Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at Custer Elementary School
Custer Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Mandan, North Dakota, enrolling 126 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 9.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 51.9% of students qualify for free meals, 84% above the North Dakota average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 126 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Dakota median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 498 scored North Dakota schools.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Hispanic or Latino (15%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 126 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 44.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Mandan 1 spends $13,128 per pupil, 29% below the North Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 18.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Mandan's public schools, it stands alongside Red Trail Elementary School (438 students): Custer Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (9.7:1 vs 18.3:1).
Mandan 1 also operates Mandan High School (1,175 students) and Mandan Middle School (1,003 students) alongside Custer Elementary School.
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 Custer Elementary School compares
Custer Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.7:1 | ▼ 18% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.9% | ▲ 84% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 126 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.7:1
Leaner classes than 90% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
126
Bigger than 12% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
51.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 84% above the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.7:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 33% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
44.4%
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
$13,128
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $18,450
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 126 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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
White 59.5%
Hispanic or Latino 15.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 12.7%
Two or More 6.3%
African American 4.0%
Asian 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: White at 59.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.1, Custer Elementary School is more mixed than the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mandan 1, which includes Custer Elementary School.
$13,128
Per student
-29%
vs North Dakota
Avg $18,450
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.5%
State 49.7%
Federal 18.8%
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 Custer Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandan High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mandan Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ft Lincoln Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Trail Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lewis and Clark Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Custer Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,175
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,003
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 455
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 379
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar other schools in Mandan
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Red Trail Elementary School
Standard public school
438 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Lewis and Clark Elementary School
Standard public school
379 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Roosevelt Elementary School
Standard public school
284 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Mary Stark Elementary School
Standard public school
193 students 10.2:1 students per teacher
Marmot School 6-12
Standard public school
20 students 2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~126 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Custer Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Custer Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Mandan 1'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 Custer Elementary School
How many students attend Custer Elementary School?
Custer Elementary School has 126 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mandan, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Custer Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Custer Elementary School is 9.7:1, which is 18% lower than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 38% 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 Custer Elementary School?
51.9% of students at Custer Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Custer Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Custer Elementary School is White at 59.5% of enrollment, in Mandan, ND. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Custer Elementary School?
Custer Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Custer Elementary School rank among schools in Mandan?
By Resource Investment Index, Custer Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Mandan, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mandan on the city page.
Is Custer Elementary School a good school?
Custer Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Dakota median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most North Dakota 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 Mandan 1?
Besides Custer Elementary School, Mandan 1 also operates Mandan High School (1,175 students), Mandan Middle School (1,003 students), and Ft Lincoln Elementary School (455 students). See the Mandan 1 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.