- Enrollment
- 1,733
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · St Joseph, MO
Lafayette High
Federal NCES profile for Lafayette High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 292706001660
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lafayette High earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Missouri median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Missouri schools.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in St Joseph · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.4:1
- students per teacher
- 99.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Lafayette High has class sizes near the Missouri median. Computed live against every Missouri school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lafayette High ranks #3 of 3 high schools in St Joseph, MO.
School address
District: St. Joseph · Missouri
NCES ID 292706001660 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-37 students YoY
Lafayette High shrank from 717 students in 2022-23 to 680 in 2023-24 (-5.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 52.1 → 50.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-37 students YoY 292706001660 · St Joseph, MO High · MID · TRAD
644 enr · 12.4:1 · 99.6% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High (1,733 students)
Lafayette High shrank from 717 students in 2022-23 to 680 in 2023-24 (-5.2%). Teacher FTE lost 52.1 → 50.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Missouri schools → · Find another →
Lafayette High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High
Central High
1,733 students
- Benton High 682
Benton High
682 students
- This school 644
Lafayette High
644 students
- Carden Park El 638
Carden Park Elem
638 students
- Oak Grove Elem 502
Oak Grove Elem
502 students
- Bode Middle 488
Bode Middle
488 students
What this shows Lafayette High reports 644 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lafayette High compares
Lafayette High is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Missouri and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Missouri | Missouri avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 3% | 12.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.6% | ▲ 116% | 46.1% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 644 | top 13% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
644
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 116% above the Missouri average of 46.1%
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
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 46% in Missouri - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
34.2%
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
$12,067
per pupil, district-wide
- below Missouri avg of $14,087
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 322 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
145
in-school suspensions + 32 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 22.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.4%
Two or More 12.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.7%
African American 8.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.0%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 64.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.9, Lafayette High is more mixed than the Missouri school average of 31.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
District finance for St. Joseph reports $12,067 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lafayette High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benton High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carden Park Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oak Grove Elem | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bode Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lafayette High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 682
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 638
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 502
- Students per teacher
- 9.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 488
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Nationwide high 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 (~644 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lafayette High
How many students attend Lafayette High?
Lafayette High has 644 students enrolled. It is a high school in St Joseph, MO. CCD year-over-year: 717 (2022-23) → 680 (2023-24), down 37.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lafayette High?
The student-teacher ratio at Lafayette High is 12.4:1, which is 3% lower than the Missouri average of 12.8:1 and 21% lower 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 Lafayette High?
99.6% of students at Lafayette High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Missouri average of 46.1%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lafayette High?
The largest demographic group at Lafayette High is White at 64.4% of enrollment, in St Joseph, MO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lafayette High?
Lafayette High has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Lafayette High rank among high schools in St Joseph?
By Resource Investment Index, Lafayette High ranks #3 of 3 high schools in St Joseph, MO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in St Joseph on the city page.
What other schools are in St. Joseph?
Besides Lafayette High, St. Joseph also operates Central High (1,733 students), Benton High (682 students), and Carden Park Elem (638 students). See the St. Joseph district page for the complete list.