Enrollment
282
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Spokane Valley, WA
Mcdonald Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mcdonald Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 65/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530111000197
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 90
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcdonald Elementary School earns 65/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of Washington schools.
- #2 of 14
- schools in Spokane Valley · Resource Index
- 65
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Washington
- 41.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcdonald Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 92% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdonald Elementary School ranks #2 of 14 schools in Spokane Valley, WA.
School address
District: Central Valley School District · Washington
NCES ID 530111000197 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.3:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-36% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.3%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-8% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mcdonald Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mcdonald Elementary School
Mcdonald Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Spokane Valley, Washington, enrolling 282 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.3:1, Mcdonald Elementary School is leaner than roughly 92% of Washington schools and 36% under the state's 17.6:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 41.3% lands close to the Washington typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 282 puts it in the smaller third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 96% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 267 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #10, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (71%) and Hispanic or Latino (11%) (diversity index 47/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 282 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance holds up well here: only 3.9% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The surrounding Central Valley School District spends $15,379 per pupil, 21% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Spokane Valley's public schools, it stands alongside Sunrise Elementary (644 students): Mcdonald Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.3:1 vs 15:1).
Central Valley School District also operates Ridgeline High School (1,575 students) and University High School (1,410 students) alongside Mcdonald 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 Mcdonald Elementary School compares
Mcdonald Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.3:1 | ▼ 36% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.3% | ▼ 8% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 282 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
282
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 8% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 36% below state mean
Top 8% in Washington - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
3.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$15,379
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 282 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 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 71.3%
Hispanic or Latino 10.6%
Two or More 8.2%
African American 4.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 3.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 71.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.0, Mcdonald Elementary School is less mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Central Valley School District, which includes Mcdonald Elementary School.
$15,379
Per student
-21%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-7%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.0%
State 65.2%
Federal 14.8%
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 Mcdonald Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ridgeline High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| University High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Valley High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Evergreen Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mcdonald Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,575
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,410
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 1,380
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 668
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 644
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar other schools in Spokane Valley
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sunrise Elementary
Standard public school
644 students 15:1 students per teacher
Opportunity Elementary
Standard public school
631 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Chester Elementary School
Standard public school
410 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Adams Elementary
Standard public school
376 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Ponderosa Elementary
Standard public school
344 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Central Valley Early Learning Center
Special-education school
325 students 40.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~282 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mcdonald Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Mcdonald Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Central Valley 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 Mcdonald Elementary School
How many students attend Mcdonald Elementary School?
Mcdonald Elementary School has 282 students enrolled. It is a public school in Spokane Valley, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcdonald Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcdonald Elementary School is 11.3:1, which is 36% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 28% 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 Mcdonald Elementary School?
41.3% of students at Mcdonald Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcdonald Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mcdonald Elementary School is White at 71.3% of enrollment, in Spokane Valley, WA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcdonald Elementary School?
Mcdonald Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 65/100 (higher 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 Mcdonald Elementary School rank among schools in Spokane Valley?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcdonald Elementary School ranks #2 of 14 schools in Spokane Valley, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Spokane Valley on the city page.
Is Mcdonald Elementary School a good school?
Mcdonald Elementary School earns 65/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of Washington 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 Central Valley School District?
Besides Mcdonald Elementary School, Central Valley School District also operates Ridgeline High School (1,575 students), University High School (1,410 students), and Central Valley High School (1,380 students). See the Central Valley 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.