Enrollment
308
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Southgate, MI
Fordline Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Fordline Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 23/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 263234006791
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fordline Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #4 of 6
- schools in Southgate · Resource Index
- 23
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 63.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Fordline Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fordline Elementary School ranks #4 of 6 schools in Southgate, MI.
School address
District: Southgate Community School District · Michigan
NCES ID 263234006791 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fordline Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fordline Elementary School
Fordline Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Southgate, Michigan, enrolling 308 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.4:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 63.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 308 students, its enrollment sits close to the Michigan median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 577 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #385.
Its student body is led by White (59%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 58/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 58.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Southgate's public schools, it stands alongside Beacon Day Treatment Center (115 students): Fordline Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.4:1 vs 5.5:1).
Southgate Community School District also operates Southgate Anderson High School (1,052 students) and Davidson Middle School (663 students) alongside Fordline 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 Fordline Elementary School compares
Fordline Elementary 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 | 15.4:1 | ▼ 12% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.2% | ▲ 16% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 308 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
308
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 36% in Michigan - lower ratio than 64% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
58.8%
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
$15,761
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
3
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.8 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 59.1%
Hispanic or Latino 20.1%
African American 15.6%
Two or More 4.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 59.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.4, Fordline Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Southgate Community School District, which includes Fordline Elementary School.
$15,761
Per student
+17%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 35.1%
State 54.1%
Federal 10.7%
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 Fordline Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southgate Anderson High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Davidson Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Asher School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Allen Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grogan Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fordline Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,052
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 663
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 462
- Students per teacher
- 46.2:1
- Resource Index
- 9/100
- Enrollment
- 359
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 353
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar other schools in Southgate
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~308 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fordline Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Fordline Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Southgate 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 Fordline Elementary School
How many students attend Fordline Elementary School?
Fordline Elementary School has 308 students enrolled. It is a public school in Southgate, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fordline Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fordline Elementary School is 15.4:1, which is 12% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 2% 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 Fordline Elementary School?
63.2% of students at Fordline Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fordline Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Fordline Elementary School is White at 59.1% of enrollment, in Southgate, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fordline Elementary School?
Fordline Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 23/100 (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 Fordline Elementary School rank among schools in Southgate?
By Resource Investment Index, Fordline Elementary School ranks #4 of 6 schools in Southgate, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Southgate on the city page.
Is Fordline Elementary School a good school?
Fordline Elementary School earns 23/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 Southgate Community School District?
Besides Fordline Elementary School, Southgate Community School District also operates Southgate Anderson High School (1,052 students), Davidson Middle School (663 students), and Asher School (462 students). See the Southgate 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.