- Enrollment
- 2,493
- Students per teacher
- 25.2:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Detroit, MI
Gardner Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Gardner Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 260110304717
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gardner Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #6 of 75
- schools in Detroit · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.1:1
- students per teacher
- 87.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Gardner Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gardner Elementary School ranks #6 of 75 schools in Detroit, MI.
School address
District: Detroit Public Schools Community District · Michigan
NCES ID 260110304717 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-29 students YoY
Gardner Elementary School shrank from 282 students in 2022-23 to 253 in 2023-24 (-10.3%).
Teacher FTE added 14.2 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-29 students YoY 260110304717 · Detroit, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
239 enr · 17.1:1 · 87.9% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Cass Technical High School (2,493 students)
Gardner Elementary School shrank from 282 students in 2022-23 to 253 in 2023-24 (-10.3%). Teacher FTE added 14.2 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Gardner Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cass Technical
Cass Technical High School
2,493 students
- Western Intern
Western International High School
1,959 students
- Renaissance Hi
Renaissance High School
1,197 students
- Earhart Elemen
Earhart Elementarymiddle School
1,002 students
- Martin Luther 976
Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School
976 students
- This school 239
Gardner Elementary School
239 students
What this shows Gardner Elementary School reports 239 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gardner Elementary School compares
Gardner Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.9% | ▲ 62% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 239 | top 70% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
239
Bigger than 24% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
87.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 62% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
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
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 54% in Michigan - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$22,002
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 239 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 47.3%
White 37.7%
Hispanic or Latino 13.8%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Two or More 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 47.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.5, Gardner Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Detroit Public Schools Community District reports $22,002 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gardner Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cass Technical High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western International High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Renaissance High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Earhart Elementarymiddle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Martin Luther King Jr Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gardner Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,959
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 1,197
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,002
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 976
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Similar other schools in Detroit
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Earhart Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
1,002 students 20.4:1 students per teacher
Munger Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
954 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Mackenzie Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
876 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
University Preparatory Art Design Middlehigh
Standard public school
855 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Davison Elementarymiddle School
Standard public school
765 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Hope of Detroit Academy Middlehigh
Standard public school
582 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~239 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gardner Elementary School
How many students attend Gardner Elementary School?
Gardner Elementary School has 239 students enrolled. It is a public school in Detroit, MI. CCD year-over-year: 282 (2022-23) → 253 (2023-24), down 29.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gardner Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gardner Elementary School is 17.1:1, which is 2% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 9% higher 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 Gardner Elementary School?
87.9% of students at Gardner Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gardner Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Gardner Elementary School is African American at 47.3% of enrollment, in Detroit, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gardner Elementary School?
Gardner Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Gardner Elementary School rank among schools in Detroit?
By Resource Investment Index, Gardner Elementary School ranks #6 of 75 schools in Detroit, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Detroit on the city page.
What other schools are in Detroit Public Schools Community District?
Besides Gardner Elementary School, Detroit Public Schools Community District also operates Cass Technical High School (2,493 students), Western International High School (1,959 students), and Renaissance High School (1,197 students). See the Detroit Public Schools Community District district page for the complete list.