Enrollment
765
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lacey, WA
Meadows Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Meadows Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530585002064
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meadows Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Washington schools.
- #5 of 6
- schools in Lacey · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.6:1
- large classes for Washington
- 29.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Meadows Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meadows Elementary ranks #5 of 6 schools in Lacey, WA.
School address
District: North Thurston Public Schools · Washington
NCES ID 530585002064 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.6:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+11% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
29.0%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-36% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Meadows Elementary compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Meadows Elementary
Meadows Elementary is a large combined-grade school in Lacey, Washington, enrolling 765 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.6:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 29.0% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 765 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 352 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #339, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 74/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 765 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
15.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Lacey's public schools, it stands alongside Mountain View Elementary (776 students): Meadows Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.6:1 vs 18:1).
North Thurston Public Schools also operates River Ridge High School (1,547 students) and Timberline High School (1,401 students) alongside Meadows 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 Meadows Elementary compares
Meadows Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.0% | ▼ 36% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 765 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.6:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
765
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
29.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below the Washington average of 45.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 76% in Washington - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,854
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 765 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 40.7%
Hispanic or Latino 22.1%
Two or More 17.4%
Asian 11.2%
African American 5.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: White at 40.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.9, Meadows Elementary is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for North Thurston Public Schools, which includes Meadows Elementary.
$15,854
Per student
-19%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-4%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 30.4%
State 61.3%
Federal 8.3%
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 Meadows Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Ridge High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Timberline High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Thurston High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nisqually Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meadows Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,547
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 1,401
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,378
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 789
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 776
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Lacey
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Mountain View Elementary
Standard public school
776 students 18:1 students per teacher
South Bay Elementary
Standard public school
595 students 18:1 students per teacher
Pleasant Glade Elementary
Standard public school
559 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Seven Oaks Elementary
Standard public school
428 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Summit Virtual Academy
Alternative education program
355 students 17.8:1 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 (~765 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Meadows Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Meadows Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- North Thurston 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 Meadows Elementary
How many students attend Meadows Elementary?
Meadows Elementary has 765 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lacey, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meadows Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Meadows Elementary is 19.6:1, which is 11% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Meadows Elementary?
29.0% of students at Meadows Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meadows Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Meadows Elementary is White at 40.7% of enrollment, in Lacey, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meadows Elementary?
Meadows Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 Meadows Elementary rank among schools in Lacey?
By Resource Investment Index, Meadows Elementary ranks #5 of 6 schools in Lacey, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lacey on the city page.
Is Meadows Elementary a good school?
Meadows Elementary earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Washington schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 North Thurston Public Schools?
Besides Meadows Elementary, North Thurston Public Schools also operates River Ridge High School (1,547 students), Timberline High School (1,401 students), and North Thurston High School (1,378 students). See the North Thurston 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.