- Enrollment
- 1,561
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waite Park, MN
Discovery Community Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Discovery Community Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 273351002287
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery Community Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Minnesota schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #4 of 4
- schools in Waite Park · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 77.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery Community Elementary has class sizes larger than 71% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Community Elementary ranks #4 of 4 schools in Waite Park, MN.
School address
District: St. Cloud Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 273351002287 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+57 students YoY
Discovery Community Elementary grew from 483 students in 2022-23 to 540 in 2023-24 (+11.8%).
Teacher FTE added 33.6 → 43.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+57 students YoY 273351002287 · Waite Park, MN Other · MID · TRAD
572 enr · 17.3:1 · 77.2% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Technical Senior High (1,561 students)
Discovery Community Elementary grew from 483 students in 2022-23 to 540 in 2023-24 (+11.8%). Teacher FTE added 33.6 → 43.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Discovery Community Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Technical Seni
Technical Senior High
1,561 students
- Apollo Senior
Apollo Senior High
1,264 students
- Oak Hill Commu
Oak Hill Community Elementary
878 students
- South Junior H
South Junior High
831 students
- North Junior H
North Junior High
720 students
- This school 572
Discovery Community Elementary
572 students
What this shows Discovery Community Elementary reports 572 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery Community Elementary compares
Discovery Community Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▲ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.2% | ▲ 80% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 572 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
572
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 80% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
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
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 71% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.5%
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
$16,825
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.6 FTE
Per 358 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.
Student demographics
African American 42.0%
Hispanic or Latino 25.3%
White 23.4%
Two or More 7.2%
Asian 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 42.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.9, Discovery Community Elementary is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for St. Cloud Public School District reports $16,825 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Discovery Community Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Technical Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apollo Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oak Hill Community Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| South Junior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Junior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery Community Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,264
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 878
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 831
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 720
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~572 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery Community Elementary
How many students attend Discovery Community Elementary?
Discovery Community Elementary has 572 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waite Park, MN. CCD year-over-year: 483 (2022-23) → 540 (2023-24), up 57.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery Community Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery Community Elementary is 17.3:1, which is 9% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery Community Elementary?
77.2% of students at Discovery Community Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery Community Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Discovery Community Elementary is African American at 42.0% of enrollment, in Waite Park, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery Community Elementary?
Discovery Community Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical 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 Discovery Community Elementary rank among schools in Waite Park?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery Community Elementary ranks #4 of 4 schools in Waite Park, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in St. Cloud Public School District?
Besides Discovery Community Elementary, St. Cloud Public School District also operates Technical Senior High (1,561 students), Apollo Senior High (1,264 students), and Oak Hill Community Elementary (878 students). See the St. Cloud Public School District district page for the complete list.