- Enrollment
- 828
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Plainwell, MI
Gilkey Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Gilkey Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 262853006401
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gilkey Elementary School earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Plainwell · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 27.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Gilkey Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gilkey Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 schools in Plainwell, MI.
School address
District: Plainwell Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262853006401 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Gilkey Elementary School held near 399 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 25.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 262853006401 · Plainwell, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
439 enr · 17.6:1 · 27.5% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: Plainwell High School (828 students)
Gilkey Elementary School held near 399 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE held 25.0 → 25.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Gilkey Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Plainwell High
Plainwell High School
828 students
- Plainwell Midd
Plainwell Middle School
569 students
- This school
Gilkey Elementary School
439 students
- Starr Elementa
Starr Elementary School
410 students
- Cooper Element 288
Cooper Elementary School
288 students
- Renaissance Hi 86
Renaissance High School
86 students
What this shows Gilkey Elementary School reports 439 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gilkey Elementary School compares
Gilkey Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.6:1 | ▲ 1% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.5% | ▼ 49% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 439 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
439
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% 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
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 59% in Michigan - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
18.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,191
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.3 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.7%
Two or More 5.5%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%
African American 0.9%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 87.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.5, Gilkey Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Plainwell Community Schools reports $13,191 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gilkey Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainwell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Plainwell Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Starr Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cooper Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Renaissance High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gilkey Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 410
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 288
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 86
- Students per teacher
- 43:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
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 (~439 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gilkey Elementary School
How many students attend Gilkey Elementary School?
Gilkey Elementary School has 439 students enrolled. It is a public school in Plainwell, MI. CCD year-over-year: 393 (2022-23) → 399 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gilkey Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gilkey Elementary School is 17.6:1, which is 1% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gilkey Elementary School?
27.5% of students at Gilkey Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gilkey Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Gilkey Elementary School is White at 87.7% of enrollment, in Plainwell, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gilkey Elementary School?
Gilkey Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Gilkey Elementary School rank among schools in Plainwell?
By Resource Investment Index, Gilkey Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 schools in Plainwell, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Plainwell on the city page.
What other schools are in Plainwell Community Schools?
Besides Gilkey Elementary School, Plainwell Community Schools also operates Plainwell High School (828 students), Plainwell Middle School (569 students), and Starr Elementary School (410 students). See the Plainwell Community Schools district page for the complete list.