- Enrollment
- 1,495
- Students per teacher
- 28.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Duluth, MN
Merritt Creek Academy
Federal NCES profile for Merritt Creek Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 271104001562
👥 S:T ratio 70
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merritt Creek Academy earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of Minnesota schools.
- #1 of 15
- schools in Duluth · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 7.5:1
- small classes for Minnesota
- 93.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Merritt Creek Academy has class sizes smaller than 89% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merritt Creek Academy ranks #1 of 15 schools in Duluth, MN.
School address
District: Duluth Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 271104001562 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Merritt Creek Academy grew from 78 students in 2022-23 to 86 in 2023-24 (+10.3%).
Teacher FTE added 10.6 → 11.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+8 students YoY 271104001562 · Duluth, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
75 enr · 7.5:1 · 93.6% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: East High School (1,495 students)
Merritt Creek Academy grew from 78 students in 2022-23 to 86 in 2023-24 (+10.3%). Teacher FTE added 10.6 → 11.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Merritt Creek Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- East High Scho
East High School
1,495 students
- Ordean East Mi
Ordean East Middle School
1,037 students
- Denfeld High S
Denfeld High School
951 students
- Lincoln Park M
Lincoln Park Middle School
606 students
- Lester Park El 510
Lester Park Elementary
510 students
- This school 75
Merritt Creek Academy
75 students
What this shows Merritt Creek Academy reports 75 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merritt Creek Academy compares
Merritt Creek Academy is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 7.5:1 | ▼ 53% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 93.6% | ▲ 119% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 75 | top 75% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
7.5:1
Leaner classes than 96% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
75
Bigger than 8% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
93.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 119% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
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
7.5:1
students per teacher
- 53% below state mean
Top 11% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$16,081
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
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
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.0%
Two or More 8.0%
African American 6.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 4.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.3%
Largest group: White at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.7, Merritt Creek Academy is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Duluth Public School District reports $16,081 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merritt Creek Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| East High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ordean East Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Denfeld High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Park Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lester Park Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merritt Creek Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,037
- Students per teacher
- 29.6:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 951
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 510
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
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 (~75 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merritt Creek Academy
How many students attend Merritt Creek Academy?
Merritt Creek Academy has 75 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Duluth, MN. CCD year-over-year: 78 (2022-23) → 86 (2023-24), up 8.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merritt Creek Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Merritt Creek Academy is 7.5:1, which is 53% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 52% 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 Merritt Creek Academy?
93.6% of students at Merritt Creek Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merritt Creek Academy?
The largest demographic group at Merritt Creek Academy is White at 80.0% of enrollment, in Duluth, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merritt Creek Academy?
Merritt Creek Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher 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 Merritt Creek Academy rank among schools in Duluth?
By Resource Investment Index, Merritt Creek Academy ranks #1 of 15 schools in Duluth, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Duluth on the city page.
What other schools are in Duluth Public School District?
Besides Merritt Creek Academy, Duluth Public School District also operates East High School (1,495 students), Ordean East Middle School (1,037 students), and Denfeld High School (951 students). See the Duluth Public School District district page for the complete list.