- Enrollment
- 1,805
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Brainerd, MN
Garfield Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Garfield Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270609000252
👥 S:T ratio 62
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Garfield Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Minnesota schools.
- #3 of 5
- elementary schools in Brainerd · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 9.6:1
- small classes for Minnesota
- 54.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Garfield Elementary has class sizes smaller than 83% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Garfield Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Brainerd, MN.
School address
District: Brainerd Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 270609000252 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-42 students YoY
Garfield Elementary shrank from 320 students in 2022-23 to 278 in 2023-24 (-13.1%).
Teacher FTE held 26.8 → 26.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-42 students YoY 270609000252 · Brainerd, MN Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
250 enr · 9.6:1 · 54.4% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Brainerd Senior High (1,805 students)
Garfield Elementary shrank from 320 students in 2022-23 to 278 in 2023-24 (-13.1%). Teacher FTE held 26.8 → 26.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Garfield Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Brainerd Senio
Brainerd Senior High
1,805 students
- Forestview Mid
Forestview Middle
1,626 students
- Baxter Element 506
Baxter Elementary
506 students
- Riverside Elem 407
Riverside Elementary
407 students
- Lowell Element 355
Lowell Elementary
355 students
- This school 250
Garfield Elementary
250 students
What this shows Garfield Elementary reports 250 students on the CCD universe file.
How Garfield Elementary compares
Garfield Elementary is a shrinking 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 | 9.6:1 | ▼ 39% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.4% | ▲ 27% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 250 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.6:1
Leaner classes than 91% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
250
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
54.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.6:1
students per teacher
- 39% below state mean
Top 17% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
33.6%
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
$14,608
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
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.
Student demographics
White 81.2%
Two or More 10.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.8%
Hispanic or Latino 3.2%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 81.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.7, Garfield Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Brainerd Public School District reports $14,608 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Garfield Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brainerd Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forestview Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Baxter Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverside Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lowell Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Garfield Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,626
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 407
- Students per teacher
- 9.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 355
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~250 students)
Frequently asked questions about Garfield Elementary
How many students attend Garfield Elementary?
Garfield Elementary has 250 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Brainerd, MN. CCD year-over-year: 320 (2022-23) → 278 (2023-24), down 42.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Garfield Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Garfield Elementary is 9.6:1, which is 39% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 39% 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 Garfield Elementary?
54.4% of students at Garfield Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Garfield Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Garfield Elementary is White at 81.2% of enrollment, in Brainerd, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Garfield Elementary?
Garfield Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Garfield Elementary rank among elementary schools in Brainerd?
By Resource Investment Index, Garfield Elementary ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Brainerd, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Brainerd on the city page.
What other schools are in Brainerd Public School District?
Besides Garfield Elementary, Brainerd Public School District also operates Brainerd Senior High (1,805 students), Forestview Middle (1,626 students), and Baxter Elementary (506 students). See the Brainerd Public School District district page for the complete list.