- Enrollment
- 441
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Sanford, MI
Meridian Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Meridian Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 262358006035
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meridian Elementary School earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Sanford · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.8:1
- students per teacher
- 51.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Meridian Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Sanford, MI.
School address
District: Meridian Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262358006035 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+20 students YoY
Meridian Elementary School held near 563 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.2 → 33.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+20 students YoY 262358006035 · Sanford, MI Other · MID · TRAD
537 enr · 16.8:1 · 51.2% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Meridian Junior High School (441 students)
Meridian Elementary School held near 563 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+20 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.2 → 33.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Meridian Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Meridian Elementary School
537 students
- Meridian Junio
Meridian Junior High School
441 students
- Meridian Early
Meridian Early College High School
396 students
What this shows Meridian Elementary School reports 537 students on the CCD universe file.
How Meridian Elementary School compares
Meridian Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.8:1 | ▼ 4% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.2% | ▼ 6% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 537 | top 22% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.8:1
Leaner classes than 32% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
537
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 51% in Michigan - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
32.4%
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
$14,360
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.6%
Two or More 4.5%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
African American 0.6%
Largest group: White at 91.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.8, Meridian Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Meridian Public Schools reports $14,360 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Meridian Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meridian Junior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Meridian Early College High School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meridian Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 396
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Nationwide other 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 (~537 students)
Frequently asked questions about Meridian Elementary School
How many students attend Meridian Elementary School?
Meridian Elementary School has 537 students enrolled. It is a public school in Sanford, MI. CCD year-over-year: 543 (2022-23) → 563 (2023-24), nearly flat (+20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meridian Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Meridian Elementary School is 16.8:1, which is 4% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 7% higher 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 Meridian Elementary School?
51.2% of students at Meridian Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meridian Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Meridian Elementary School is White at 91.6% of enrollment, in Sanford, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meridian Elementary School?
Meridian Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Meridian Elementary School rank among public schools in Sanford?
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Sanford, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Meridian Public Schools?
Besides Meridian Elementary School, Meridian Public Schools also operates Meridian Junior High School (441 students) and Meridian Early College High School (396 students). See the Meridian Public Schools district page for the complete list.