Enrollment
266
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Mead Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Mead Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 551707002781
👥 S:T ratio 66
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mead Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Wisconsin schools.
- #5 of 7
- schools in Wisconsin Rapids · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.6:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 84.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Mead Elementary has class sizes smaller than 95% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mead Elementary ranks #5 of 7 schools in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.
School address
District: Wisconsin Rapids School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551707002781 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
8.6:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
-40% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
84.1%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+118% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Mead Elementary compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Mead Elementary
Mead Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Wisconsin Rapids, Wisconsin, enrolling 266 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 8.6:1, Mead Elementary is leaner than roughly 95% of Wisconsin schools and 40% under the state's 14.4:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need is high: 84.1% of students qualify for free meals, 118% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 266 students, its enrollment sits close to the Wisconsin median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Among 113 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Wisconsin schools statewide, it ranks #11, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (65%) and Two or More (15%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 266 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Wisconsin Rapids's public schools, it stands alongside Woodside Elementary (354 students): Mead Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (8.6:1 vs 12.2:1).
Wisconsin Rapids School District also operates Lincoln High (1,337 students) and Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle (943 students) alongside Mead 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 Mead Elementary compares
Mead Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.6:1 | ▼ 40% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.1% | ▲ 118% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 266 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.6:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
266
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
84.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 118% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
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
8.6:1
students per teacher
- 40% below state mean
Top 5% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
29.3%
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
$14,103
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 266 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.6 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 65.0%
Two or More 14.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
Asian 6.0%
African American 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 65.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.1, Mead Elementary is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Wisconsin Rapids School District, which includes Mead Elementary.
$14,103
Per student
-5%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.2%
State 52.2%
Federal 10.6%
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 Mead Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Woodside Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Howe Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Washington Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mead Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,337
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 943
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 354
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 60/100
- Enrollment
- 336
- Students per teacher
- 11.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 322
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 61/100
Similar other schools in Wisconsin Rapids
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Woodside Elementary
Standard public school
354 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Washington Elementary
Standard public school
322 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Grant Elementary
Standard public school
267 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Wrps Four-Year-Old Kindergarten and Pk Early Childhood
Standard public school
208 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Grove Elementary
Standard public school
178 students 8.1:1 students per teacher
Central Oaks Academy
Standard public school
88 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~266 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~8.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Mead Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Mead Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Wisconsin Rapids 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 Mead Elementary
How many students attend Mead Elementary?
Mead Elementary has 266 students enrolled. It is a public school in Wisconsin Rapids, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mead Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Mead Elementary is 8.6:1, which is 40% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 45% 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 Mead Elementary?
84.1% of students at Mead Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mead Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Mead Elementary is White at 65.0% of enrollment, in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mead Elementary?
Mead Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 Mead Elementary rank among schools in Wisconsin Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Mead Elementary ranks #5 of 7 schools in Wisconsin Rapids, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Wisconsin Rapids on the city page.
Is Mead Elementary a good school?
Mead Elementary earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin Rapids School District?
Besides Mead Elementary, Wisconsin Rapids School District also operates Lincoln High (1,337 students), Wisconsin Rapids Area Middle (943 students), and Woodside Elementary (354 students). See the Wisconsin Rapids 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.