Enrollment
482
North Dakota · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Forks, ND
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for J Nelson Kelly Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 380813000255
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 85
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of North Dakota schools.
- #8 of 10
- schools in Grand Forks · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- large classes for North Dakota
- 10.9%
- free-lunch eligible
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School has class sizes larger than 72% of North Dakota schools. Computed live against every North Dakota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J Nelson Kelly Elementary School ranks #8 of 10 schools in Grand Forks, ND.
School address
District: Grand Forks 1 · North Dakota
NCES ID 380813000255 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 11.8:1 North Dakota avg
+17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
10.9%
vs 28.2% North Dakota avg
-61% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J Nelson Kelly Elementary School compares with North Dakota and U.S. medians
What stands out at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Grand Forks, North Dakota, enrolling 482 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 13.8:1 puts it in the larger third of North Dakota schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 10.9% free-meal eligibility runs 61% below the North Dakota average.
Enrollment of 482 puts it in the larger third of North Dakota schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 498 scored North Dakota schools.
Against 69 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #47.
Its student body is predominantly White (83% of enrollment) (diversity index 30/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 964 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 6.0% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Grand Forks 1 spends $14,844 per pupil, 20% below the North Dakota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Grand Forks's public schools, it stands alongside Discovery Elementary School (567 students): J Nelson Kelly Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.8:1 vs 13.2:1).
Grand Forks 1 also operates Red River High School (1,190 students) and Central High School (1,115 students) alongside J Nelson Kelly 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 J Nelson Kelly Elementary School compares
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against North Dakota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Dakota | North Dakota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▲ 17% | 11.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.9% | ▼ 61% | 28.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 482 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
482
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
10.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% below the North Dakota average of 28.2%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 72% in North Dakota - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
6.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$14,844
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Dakota avg of $18,450
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 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 83.4%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%
Two or More 5.4%
African American 3.1%
Asian 1.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 83.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.7, J Nelson Kelly Elementary School is about as mixed as the North Dakota school average of 29.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Grand Forks 1, which includes J Nelson Kelly Elementary School.
$14,844
Per student
-20%
vs North Dakota
Avg $18,450
-11%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.3%
State 53.5%
Federal 19.2%
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 J Nelson Kelly Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red River High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Schroeder Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Discovery Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J Nelson Kelly Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,190
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,115
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 567
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 549
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Grand Forks
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Discovery Elementary School
Standard public school
567 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Century Elementary School
Standard public school
493 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Lake Agassiz Elementary School
Standard public school
464 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Ben Franklin Elementary School
Standard public school
367 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Viking Elementary School
Standard public school
328 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Phoenix Elementary School
Standard public school
235 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Dakota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~482 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J Nelson Kelly Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare J Nelson Kelly Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Grand Forks 1'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 J Nelson Kelly Elementary School
How many students attend J Nelson Kelly Elementary School?
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School has 482 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Forks, ND.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 17% higher than the North Dakota average of 11.8:1 and 12% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School?
10.9% of students at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Dakota average of 28.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J Nelson Kelly Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at J Nelson Kelly Elementary School is White at 83.4% of enrollment, in Grand Forks, ND.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J Nelson Kelly Elementary School?
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does J Nelson Kelly Elementary School rank among schools in Grand Forks?
By Resource Investment Index, J Nelson Kelly Elementary School ranks #8 of 10 schools in Grand Forks, ND. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Grand Forks on the city page.
Is J Nelson Kelly Elementary School a good school?
J Nelson Kelly Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of North Dakota 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 Grand Forks 1?
Besides J Nelson Kelly Elementary School, Grand Forks 1 also operates Red River High School (1,190 students), Central High School (1,115 students), and Schroeder Middle School (569 students). See the Grand Forks 1 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.