Enrollment
462
Nevada · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sparks, NV
Katherine Dunn Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Katherine Dunn Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 320048000319
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Katherine Dunn Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nevada median.
- #11 of 16
- schools in Sparks · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- students per teacher
- 94.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Katherine Dunn Elementary has class sizes near the Nevada median. Computed live against every Nevada school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine Dunn Elementary ranks #11 of 16 schools in Sparks, NV.
School address
District: Washoe County School District · Nevada
NCES ID 320048000319 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.8:1
vs 20.5:1 Nevada avg
-13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
94.8%
vs 76.8% Nevada avg
+23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Katherine Dunn Elementary compares with Nevada and U.S. medians
What stands out at Katherine Dunn Elementary
Katherine Dunn Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Sparks, Nevada, enrolling 462 students.
At 17.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Nevada median, within a few percentage points of the 20.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 94.8% lands close to the Nevada typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 462 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nevada median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 733 scored Nevada schools.
Against 228 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #29.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (56%) and White (31%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 462 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Washoe County School District spends $10,957 per pupil, 33% below the Nevada average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Sparks's public schools, it stands alongside Hillside Elementary School (37 students): Katherine Dunn Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.8:1 vs 12.3:1).
Washoe County School District also operates North Valleys High School (2,307 students) and Spanish Springs High School (2,131 students) alongside Katherine Dunn Elementary.
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 Katherine Dunn Elementary compares
Katherine Dunn Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Nevada and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nevada | Nevada avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 20.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 94.8% | ▲ 23% | 76.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 462 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
462
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
94.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% above the Nevada average of 76.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 45% in Nevada - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.9%
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
$10,957
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nevada avg of $16,454
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 462 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 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
Hispanic or Latino 55.6%
White 30.5%
Two or More 5.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.5%
Asian 3.2%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 55.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.3, Katherine Dunn Elementary is more mixed than the Nevada school average of 56.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Washoe County School District, which includes Katherine Dunn Elementary.
$10,957
Per student
-33%
vs Nevada
Avg $16,454
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 19.8%
State 68.2%
Federal 12.0%
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 Katherine Dunn Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Valleys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanish Springs High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Edward C. Reed High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Procter R. Hug High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Reno High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Katherine Dunn Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,307
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,131
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 2,092
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 2,008
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,741
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Sparks
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Nevada, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~462 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Katherine Dunn Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Katherine Dunn Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Washoe County 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 Katherine Dunn Elementary
How many students attend Katherine Dunn Elementary?
Katherine Dunn Elementary has 462 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sparks, NV.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Katherine Dunn Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Katherine Dunn Elementary is 17.8:1, which is 13% lower than the Nevada average of 20.5:1 and 13% higher 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 Katherine Dunn Elementary?
94.8% of students at Katherine Dunn Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nevada average of 76.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Katherine Dunn Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Katherine Dunn Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 55.6% of enrollment, in Sparks, NV. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Katherine Dunn Elementary?
Katherine Dunn Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Katherine Dunn Elementary rank among schools in Sparks?
By Resource Investment Index, Katherine Dunn Elementary ranks #11 of 16 schools in Sparks, NV. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Sparks on the city page.
Is Katherine Dunn Elementary a good school?
Katherine Dunn Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nevada median. 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 Washoe County School District?
Besides Katherine Dunn Elementary, Washoe County School District also operates North Valleys High School (2,307 students), Spanish Springs High School (2,131 students), and Edward C. Reed High School (2,092 students). See the Washoe County School District 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.