- Enrollment
- 1,421
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Liberal, KS
Meadowlark Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Meadowlark Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 200873002096
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meadowlark Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Liberal · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 87.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Meadowlark Elementary School has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meadowlark Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Liberal, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Meadowlark Elementary School shrank from 379 students in 2022-23 to 358 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-21 students YoY 200873002096 · Liberal, KS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
362 enr · 12.9:1 · 87.6% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Liberal Sr High (1,421 students)
Meadowlark Elementary School shrank from 379 students in 2022-23 to 358 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Meadowlark Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Liberal Sr Hig
Liberal Sr High
1,421 students
- Sunflower Elem
Sunflower Elementary School
570 students
- Eisenhower Mid 516
Eisenhower Middle School
516 students
- Cottonwood Ele 500
Cottonwood Elementary School
500 students
- Seymour Rogers 472
Seymour Rogers Middle School
472 students
- This school 362
Meadowlark Elementary School
362 students
What this shows Meadowlark Elementary School reports 362 students on the CCD universe file.
How Meadowlark Elementary School compares
Meadowlark Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 7% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 87.6% | ▲ 105% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 362 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
362
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
87.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 105% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 44% in Kansas - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.9%
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
$12,351
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 362 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 90.9%
White 4.4%
African American 1.9%
Two or More 1.7%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 90.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.1, Meadowlark Elementary School is less mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
District finance for Liberal reports $12,351 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Meadowlark Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Liberal Sr High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sunflower Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eisenhower Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cottonwood Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Seymour Rogers Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meadowlark Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 570
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 500
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 472
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Similar elementary schools in Liberal
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~362 students)
Frequently asked questions about Meadowlark Elementary School
How many students attend Meadowlark Elementary School?
Meadowlark Elementary School has 362 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Liberal, KS. CCD year-over-year: 379 (2022-23) → 358 (2023-24), down 21.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meadowlark Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Meadowlark Elementary School is 12.9:1, which is 7% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 18% 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 Meadowlark Elementary School?
87.6% of students at Meadowlark Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meadowlark Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Meadowlark Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 90.9% of enrollment, in Liberal, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meadowlark Elementary School?
Meadowlark Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Meadowlark Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Liberal?
By Resource Investment Index, Meadowlark Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Liberal, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Liberal on the city page.
What other schools are in Liberal?
Besides Meadowlark Elementary School, Liberal also operates Liberal Sr High (1,421 students), Sunflower Elementary School (570 students), and Eisenhower Middle School (516 students). See the Liberal district page for the complete list.