- Enrollment
- 1,495
- Students per teacher
- 28.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Duluth, MN
Lester Park Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Lester Park Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 271104000472
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lester Park Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median.
- #1 of 8
- elementary schools in Duluth · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 17.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Lester Park Elementary has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lester Park Elementary ranks #1 of 8 elementary schools in Duluth, MN.
School address
District: Duluth Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 271104000472 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-49 students YoY
Lester Park Elementary shrank from 575 students in 2022-23 to 526 in 2023-24 (-8.5%).
Teacher FTE added 38.1 → 39.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-49 students YoY 271104000472 · Duluth, MN Elementary · MID · TRAD
510 enr · 13.4:1 · 17.7% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: East High School (1,495 students)
Lester Park Elementary shrank from 575 students in 2022-23 to 526 in 2023-24 (-8.5%). Teacher FTE added 38.1 → 39.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Lester Park Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East High Scho
East High School
1,495 students
- Ordean East Mi
Ordean East Middle School
1,037 students
- Denfeld High S
Denfeld High School
951 students
- Lincoln Park M
Lincoln Park Middle School
606 students
- This school 510
Lester Park Elementary
510 students
- Congdon Elemen 474
Congdon Elementary
474 students
What this shows Lester Park Elementary reports 510 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lester Park Elementary compares
Lester Park Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 17.7% | ▼ 59% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 510 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
510
Bigger than 63% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
17.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 40% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.1%
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
$16,081
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 88.8%
Two or More 4.7%
Hispanic or Latino 2.5%
African American 1.6%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: White at 88.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 20.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 20.8, Lester Park Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Duluth Public School District reports $16,081 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lester Park Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ordean East Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Denfeld High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Park Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Congdon Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lester Park Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,037
- Students per teacher
- 29.6:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 951
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 474
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~510 students)
Frequently asked questions about Lester Park Elementary
How many students attend Lester Park Elementary?
Lester Park Elementary has 510 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Duluth, MN. CCD year-over-year: 575 (2022-23) → 526 (2023-24), down 49.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lester Park Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Lester Park Elementary is 13.4:1, which is 15% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 15% 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 Lester Park Elementary?
17.7% of students at Lester Park Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lester Park Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Lester Park Elementary is White at 88.8% of enrollment, in Duluth, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lester Park Elementary?
Lester Park Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lester Park Elementary rank among elementary schools in Duluth?
By Resource Investment Index, Lester Park Elementary ranks #1 of 8 elementary schools in Duluth, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Duluth on the city page.
What other schools are in Duluth Public School District?
Besides Lester Park Elementary, Duluth Public School District also operates East High School (1,495 students), Ordean East Middle School (1,037 students), and Denfeld High School (951 students). See the Duluth Public School District district page for the complete list.