Enrollment
656
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chesterfield, MI
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 15/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 262187001379
👥 S:T ratio 15
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Michigan schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Chesterfield · Resource Index
- 15
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.2:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 38.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School has class sizes larger than 86% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Chesterfield, MI.
School address
District: L'anse Creuse Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262187001379 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.2:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
38.9%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-28% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School is a large elementary school in Chesterfield, Michigan, enrolling 656 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.2:1 is larger than about 86% of Michigan schools and 21% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 38.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 656 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 95% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 542 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #512, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (70%) and African American (14%) (diversity index 48/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 40.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
L'anse Creuse Public Schools also operates High School North (1,545 students) and High School (1,172 students) alongside Joseph M Carkenord 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 Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School compares
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.2:1 | ▲ 21% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.9% | ▼ 28% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 656 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.2:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
656
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
38.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
21.2:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 86% in Michigan - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
40.9%
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
$13,245
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that 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.
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 69.8%
African American 14.2%
Two or More 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 4.1%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 69.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.1, Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for L'anse Creuse Public Schools, which includes Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School.
$13,245
Per student
-2%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.6%
State 56.0%
Federal 12.4%
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 Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| High School North | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Middle School East | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Middle School North | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Atwood Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,545
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 1,172
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 626
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 11/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 612
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~656 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- L'anse Creuse Public Schools'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 Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School
How many students attend Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School?
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School has 656 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chesterfield, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School is 21.2:1, which is 21% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 35% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School?
38.9% of students at Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School is White at 69.8% of enrollment, in Chesterfield, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School?
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 15/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Chesterfield?
By Resource Investment Index, Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Chesterfield, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Chesterfield on the city page.
Is Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School a good school?
Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School earns 15/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Michigan 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 L'anse Creuse Public Schools?
Besides Joseph M Carkenord Elementary School, L'anse Creuse Public Schools also operates High School North (1,545 students), High School (1,172 students), and Middle School East (626 students). See the L'anse Creuse Public Schools 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.