Enrollment
425
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chesterfield, MI
Francis a Higgins Elem School
Federal NCES profile for Francis a Higgins Elem School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 262187000630
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Francis a Higgins Elem School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Chesterfield · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 38.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Francis a Higgins Elem School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Francis a Higgins Elem School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Chesterfield, MI.
School address
District: L'anse Creuse Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262187000630 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
28.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
38.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-30% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Francis a Higgins Elem School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Francis a Higgins Elem School
Francis a Higgins Elem School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Chesterfield, Michigan, enrolling 425 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 38.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 425 students, its enrollment sits close to the Michigan median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 692 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #262.
Its student body is led by White (79%) and Two or More (9%) (diversity index 36/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
L'anse Creuse Public Schools also operates High School North (1,545 students) and High School (1,172 students) alongside Francis a Higgins Elem 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 Francis a Higgins Elem School compares
Francis a Higgins Elem 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 | 15.2:1 | ▼ 13% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.2% | ▼ 30% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 425 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
425
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
38.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 34% in Michigan - lower ratio than 66% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.1%
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
$13,245
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that 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 79.1%
Two or More 8.5%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%
African American 5.6%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 79.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.0, Francis a Higgins Elem School is about as mixed as the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for L'anse Creuse Public Schools, which includes Francis a Higgins Elem School.
$13,245
Per student
-2%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.6%
State 56.0%
Federal 12.4%
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 Francis a Higgins Elem School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| High School North | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Middle School East | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Middle School North | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Francis a Higgins Elem School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,545
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 1,172
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 656
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 626
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 11/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
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 (~425 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Francis a Higgins Elem School's federal record.
- Compare Francis a Higgins Elem School against another school. Compare schools
- L'anse Creuse Public Schools'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 Francis a Higgins Elem School
How many students attend Francis a Higgins Elem School?
Francis a Higgins Elem School has 425 students enrolled. It is a public school in Chesterfield, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Francis a Higgins Elem School?
The student-teacher ratio at Francis a Higgins Elem School is 15.2:1, which is 13% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 3% 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 Francis a Higgins Elem School?
38.2% of students at Francis a Higgins Elem School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Francis a Higgins Elem School?
The largest demographic group at Francis a Higgins Elem School is White at 79.1% of enrollment, in Chesterfield, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Francis a Higgins Elem School?
Francis a Higgins Elem School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (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 Francis a Higgins Elem School rank among schools in Chesterfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Francis a Higgins Elem School ranks #3 of 4 schools in Chesterfield, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Chesterfield on the city page.
Is Francis a Higgins Elem School a good school?
Francis a Higgins Elem School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. 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 L'anse Creuse Public Schools?
Besides Francis a Higgins Elem School, L'anse Creuse Public Schools also operates High School North (1,545 students), High School (1,172 students), and Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School (656 students). See the L'anse Creuse Public Schools 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.