- Enrollment
- 1,302
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · North Mankato, MN
Dakota Meadows Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Dakota Meadows Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 271878002046
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dakota Meadows Middle School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Minnesota schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in North Mankato · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.8:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 26.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Dakota Meadows Middle School has class sizes larger than 74% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dakota Meadows Middle School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in North Mankato, MN.
School address
District: Mankato Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 271878002046 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Dakota Meadows Middle School held near 886 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 48.7 → 46.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 271878002046 · North Mankato, MN Middle · MID · TRAD
852 enr · 17.8:1 · 26.5% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Mankato East Senior High (1,302 students)
Dakota Meadows Middle School held near 886 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 48.7 → 46.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Dakota Meadows Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mankato East S
Mankato East Senior High
1,302 students
- Mankato West S
Mankato West Senior High
1,232 students
- Prairie Winds
Prairie Winds Middle School
887 students
- This school
Dakota Meadows Middle School
852 students
- Hoover Element 461
Hoover Elementary
461 students
- Rosa Parks Ele 425
Rosa Parks Elementary
425 students
What this shows Dakota Meadows Middle School reports 852 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dakota Meadows Middle School compares
Dakota Meadows Middle School 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 | 17.8:1 | ▲ 13% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.5% | ▼ 38% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 852 | top 8% | - | - |
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.
852
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
26.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 74% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
40.7%
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
$14,091
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 426 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 76 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 75.8%
African American 8.8%
Two or More 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 6.5%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 75.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.8, Dakota Meadows Middle School is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mankato Public School District reports $14,091 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dakota Meadows Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mankato East Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mankato West Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Prairie Winds Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hoover Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rosa Parks Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dakota Meadows Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,232
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 887
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 461
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 425
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~852 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dakota Meadows Middle School
How many students attend Dakota Meadows Middle School?
Dakota Meadows Middle School has 852 students enrolled. It is a middle school in North Mankato, MN. CCD year-over-year: 878 (2022-23) → 886 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dakota Meadows Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dakota Meadows Middle School is 17.8:1, which is 13% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dakota Meadows Middle School?
26.5% of students at Dakota Meadows Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dakota Meadows Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Dakota Meadows Middle School is White at 75.8% of enrollment, in North Mankato, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dakota Meadows Middle School?
Dakota Meadows Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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).
How does Dakota Meadows Middle School rank among public schools in North Mankato?
By Resource Investment Index, Dakota Meadows Middle School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in North Mankato, 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 Mankato on the city page.
What other schools are in Mankato Public School District?
Besides Dakota Meadows Middle School, Mankato Public School District also operates Mankato East Senior High (1,302 students), Mankato West Senior High (1,232 students), and Prairie Winds Middle School (887 students). See the Mankato Public School District district page for the complete list.