Enrollment
319
Nebraska · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Norfolk, NE
Little Panthers Preschool
Federal NCES profile for Little Panthers Preschool, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 317443002385
👥 S:T ratio 9
🌟 Gifted program 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Little Panthers Preschool earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Nebraska schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Nebraska schools.
- #8 of 8
- schools in Norfolk · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22.8:1
- large classes for Nebraska
- 42.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Little Panthers Preschool has class sizes larger than 97% of Nebraska schools. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Little Panthers Preschool ranks #8 of 8 schools in Norfolk, NE.
School address
District: Norfolk Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 317443002385 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.8:1
vs 13.5:1 Nebraska avg
+69% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
42.8%
vs 30.9% Nebraska avg
+39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Little Panthers Preschool compares with Nebraska and U.S. medians
What stands out at Little Panthers Preschool
Little Panthers Preschool is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Norfolk, Nebraska, enrolling 319 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.8:1 is larger than about 97% of Nebraska schools and 69% above the 13.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 42.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 319 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nebraska median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 1,003 Nebraska schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 146 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Nebraska schools statewide, it ranks #141, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (46%) and White (44%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 59/100).
The surrounding Norfolk Public Schools spends $13,172 per pupil, 25% below the Nebraska average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Norfolk Public Schools also operates Norfolk Senior High School (1,359 students) and Norfolk Jr High School (631 students) alongside Little Panthers Preschool.
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 Little Panthers Preschool compares
Little Panthers Preschool on the metrics families compare, against Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22.8:1 | ▲ 69% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.8% | ▲ 39% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 319 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.8:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
319
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
42.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% above the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
22.8:1
students per teacher
- 69% above state mean
Top 97% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$13,172
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $17,680
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
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
Hispanic or Latino 45.8%
White 44.2%
African American 2.8%
Two or More 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.5%
Asian 1.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 45.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.2, Little Panthers Preschool is more mixed than the Nebraska school average of 34.9.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Norfolk Public Schools, which includes Little Panthers Preschool.
$13,172
Per student
-25%
vs Nebraska
Avg $17,680
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 59.4%
State 27.0%
Federal 13.6%
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 Little Panthers Preschool Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Norfolk Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Norfolk Jr High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Norfolk Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bel Air Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jefferson Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Little Panthers Preschool's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,359
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 628
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 256
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Nebraska, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~319 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Little Panthers Preschool's federal record.
- Compare Little Panthers Preschool against another school. Compare schools
- Norfolk 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 Little Panthers Preschool
How many students attend Little Panthers Preschool?
Little Panthers Preschool has 319 students enrolled. It is a public school in Norfolk, NE.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Little Panthers Preschool?
The student-teacher ratio at Little Panthers Preschool is 22.8:1, which is 69% higher than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 45% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Little Panthers Preschool?
42.8% of students at Little Panthers Preschool are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Little Panthers Preschool?
The largest demographic group at Little Panthers Preschool is Hispanic or Latino at 45.8% of enrollment, in Norfolk, NE. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Little Panthers Preschool?
Little Panthers Preschool has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Little Panthers Preschool rank among schools in Norfolk?
By Resource Investment Index, Little Panthers Preschool ranks #8 of 8 schools in Norfolk, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Norfolk on the city page.
Is Little Panthers Preschool a good school?
Little Panthers Preschool earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Nebraska schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Nebraska 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 Norfolk Public Schools?
Besides Little Panthers Preschool, Norfolk Public Schools also operates Norfolk Senior High School (1,359 students), Norfolk Jr High School (631 students), and Norfolk Middle School (628 students). See the Norfolk 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.