Enrollment
168
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · West Allis, WI
James E Dottke Alternative School
Federal NCES profile for James E Dottke Alternative School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 551626002490
👥 S:T ratio 39
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 33
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James E Dottke Alternative School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in West Allis · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.3:1
- large classes for Wisconsin
- 64.8%
- free-lunch eligible
James E Dottke Alternative School has class sizes larger than 75% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James E Dottke Alternative School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in West Allis, WI.
School address
District: West Allis-West Milwaukee School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551626002490 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
11.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.3:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.8%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+68% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James E Dottke Alternative School compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at James E Dottke Alternative School
James E Dottke Alternative School is a higher-need, mid-sized high school in West Allis, Wisconsin, enrolling 168 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 64.8% of students qualify for free meals, 68% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 168 puts it in the smaller third of Wisconsin schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 2,202 Wisconsin schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 83 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Wisconsin schools statewide, it ranks #81, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (61%) and Hispanic or Latino (20%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 57/100).
No Advanced Placement courses are reported for this campus in the federal data.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 336 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 54.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among West Allis's high schools, it stands alongside Nathan Hale High (1,134 students): James E Dottke Alternative School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.3:1 vs 15.1:1).
West Allis-West Milwaukee School District also operates Nathan Hale High (1,134 students) and Central High (961 students) alongside James E Dottke Alternative 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 James E Dottke Alternative School compares
James E Dottke Alternative School on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.3:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.8% | ▲ 68% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 168 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
168
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
64.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
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
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 75% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
54.8%
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
$13,812
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $14,919
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 + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.9 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 60.7%
Hispanic or Latino 20.2%
Two or More 12.5%
African American 4.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: White at 60.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.3, James E Dottke Alternative School is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Allis-West Milwaukee School District, which includes James E Dottke Alternative School.
$13,812
Per student
-7%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.3%
State 50.1%
Federal 12.6%
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 James E Dottke Alternative School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nathan Hale High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Horace Mann Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James E Dottke Alternative School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,134
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 961
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 902
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 393
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 384
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar high schools in West Allis
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~168 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James E Dottke Alternative School's federal record.
- Compare James E Dottke Alternative School against another school. Compare schools
- West Allis-West Milwaukee School District'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 James E Dottke Alternative School
How many students attend James E Dottke Alternative School?
James E Dottke Alternative School has 168 students enrolled. It is a high school in West Allis, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James E Dottke Alternative School?
The student-teacher ratio at James E Dottke Alternative School is 15.3:1, which is 6% higher than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James E Dottke Alternative School?
64.8% of students at James E Dottke Alternative School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James E Dottke Alternative School?
The largest demographic group at James E Dottke Alternative School is White at 60.7% of enrollment, in West Allis, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James E Dottke Alternative School?
James E Dottke Alternative School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does James E Dottke Alternative School rank among high schools in West Allis?
By Resource Investment Index, James E Dottke Alternative School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in West Allis, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in West Allis on the city page.
Is James E Dottke Alternative School a good school?
James E Dottke Alternative School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin 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 West Allis-West Milwaukee School District?
Besides James E Dottke Alternative School, West Allis-West Milwaukee School District also operates Nathan Hale High (1,134 students), Central High (961 students), and Frank Lloyd Wright Intermediate (902 students). See the West Allis-West Milwaukee School District district page for the complete list.
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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.