Enrollment
13
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Dexter, MI
Dexter Alternative School
Federal NCES profile for Dexter Alternative School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261203008790
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dexter Alternative School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 83% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Michigan.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Dexter · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 31.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Dexter Alternative School has class sizes smaller than 83% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dexter Alternative School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Dexter, MI.
School address
District: Dexter Community School District · Michigan
NCES ID 261203008790 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
1.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-26% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
31.3%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-42% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Dexter Alternative School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Dexter Alternative School
Dexter Alternative School is a small combined-grade school in Dexter, Michigan, enrolling 13 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 31.3% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 98% of Michigan schools, with 13 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Its student body is predominantly White (92% of enrollment) (diversity index 14/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 61.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Dexter Community School District also operates Dexter High School (1,053 students) and Dexter Early Elementary Complex (734 students) alongside Dexter Alternative 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 Dexter Alternative School compares
Dexter Alternative School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13:1 | ▼ 26% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 31.3% | ▼ 42% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 13 | top 98% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13:1
Leaner classes than 67% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
13
Bigger than 2% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
31.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 17% in Michigan - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
61.5%
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
$14,492
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
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
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 92.3%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
Largest group: White at 92.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 14.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 14.2, Dexter Alternative School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dexter Community School District, which includes Dexter Alternative School.
$14,492
Per student
+7%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 42.1%
State 47.1%
Federal 10.8%
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 Dexter Alternative School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dexter High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dexter Early Elementary Complex | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mill Creek Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wylie Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Creekside Intermediate School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dexter Alternative School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 734
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 525
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 486
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 479
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~13 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Dexter Alternative School's federal record.
- Compare Dexter Alternative School against another school. Compare schools
- Dexter Community School District'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 Dexter Alternative School
How many students attend Dexter Alternative School?
Dexter Alternative School has 13 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Dexter, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dexter Alternative School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dexter Alternative School is 13:1, which is 26% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 17% 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 Dexter Alternative School?
31.3% of students at Dexter Alternative School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dexter Alternative School?
The largest demographic group at Dexter Alternative School is White at 92.3% of enrollment, in Dexter, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dexter Alternative School?
Dexter Alternative School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Dexter Alternative School rank among public schools in Dexter?
By Resource Investment Index, Dexter Alternative School ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Dexter, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Dexter on the city page.
Is Dexter Alternative School a good school?
Dexter Alternative School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 83% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Michigan. 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 Dexter Community School District?
Besides Dexter Alternative School, Dexter Community School District also operates Dexter High School (1,053 students), Dexter Early Elementary Complex (734 students), and Mill Creek Middle School (525 students). See the Dexter Community School District 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.