Enrollment
702
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Buffalo Grove, IL
Meridian School
Federal NCES profile for Meridian School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 170390000871
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 72
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Meridian School earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #1 of 5
- elementary schools in Buffalo Grove · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 702
- students enrolled
Meridian School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian School ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Buffalo Grove, IL.
School address
District: Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102 · Illinois
NCES ID 170390000871 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
49.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Meridian School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at Meridian School
Meridian School is a large elementary school in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, enrolling 702 students.
At 13.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Illinois median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Enrollment of 702 puts it in the larger third of Illinois schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 96% of the 3,845 Illinois schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Its student body is led by Asian (56%) and White (28%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 59/100).
11.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102 spends $20,733 per pupil, 22% above the Illinois average, a better-resourced district than most.
Among Buffalo Grove's elementary schools, it stands alongside Tripp School (485 students): Meridian School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.6:1 vs 12.5:1).
Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102 also operates Aptakisic Junior High School (940 students) and Tripp School (485 students) alongside Meridian 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 Meridian School compares
Meridian School on the metrics families compare, against Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 3% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 702 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
702
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 50% in Illinois - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
11.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$20,733
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $17,042
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 702 Top 14% in Illinois - larger than 86% of 3,845 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 49.0
Students per teacher 13.6:1 -3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible -
NCES ID 170390000871
Student demographics
Asian 56.3%
White 28.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.7%
Two or More 6.7%
African American 2.1%
Largest group: Asian at 56.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.4, Meridian School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs & staff
Gifted & talented Yes
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
Chronically absent 11.4%
In-school suspensions 1
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102, which includes Meridian School.
$20,733
Per student
+22%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
+25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 69.7%
State 28.3%
Federal 2.0%
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 Meridian School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aptakisic Junior High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tripp School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Earl Pritchett School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Meridian School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 940
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 485
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 430
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar elementary schools in Buffalo Grove
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Tripp School
Standard public school
485 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Ivy Hall Elementary School
Standard public school
482 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
Prairie Elementary School
Standard public school
453 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Earl Pritchett School
Standard public school
430 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Meridian School's federal record.
- Compare Meridian School against another school. Compare schools
- Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102'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 Meridian School
How many students attend Meridian School?
Meridian School has 702 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Buffalo Grove, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Meridian School?
The student-teacher ratio at Meridian School is 13.6:1, which is 3% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Meridian School?
The largest demographic group at Meridian School is Asian at 56.3% of enrollment, in Buffalo Grove, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Meridian School?
Meridian School has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Meridian School rank among elementary schools in Buffalo Grove?
By Resource Investment Index, Meridian School ranks #1 of 5 elementary schools in Buffalo Grove, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Buffalo Grove on the city page.
Is Meridian School a good school?
Meridian School earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102?
Besides Meridian School, Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102 also operates Aptakisic Junior High School (940 students), Tripp School (485 students), and Earl Pritchett School (430 students). See the Aptakisic-Tripp Ccsd 102 district page for the complete list.