Enrollment
497
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Graham, WA
Nelson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Nelson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530048003288
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 1
📋 Attendance 71
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nelson Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of Washington schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Graham · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.8:1
- small classes for Washington
- 35.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Nelson Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 90% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nelson Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Graham, WA.
School address
District: Bethel School District · Washington
NCES ID 530048003288 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
42.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.8:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
-33% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.6%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Nelson Elementary School compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at Nelson Elementary School
Nelson Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Graham, Washington, enrolling 497 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.8:1, Nelson Elementary School is leaner than roughly 90% of Washington schools and 33% under the state's 17.6:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 35.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 497 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,394 scored Washington schools.
Against 490 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #152.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Two or More (18%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 497 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
11.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Bethel School District spends $15,195 per pupil, 22% below the Washington average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Graham's elementary schools, it stands alongside Centennial Elementary (540 students): Nelson Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.8:1 vs 15.4:1).
Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students) and Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students) alongside Nelson Elementary 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 Nelson Elementary School compares
Nelson Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.8:1 | ▼ 33% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.6% | ▼ 21% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 497 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.8:1
Leaner classes than 77% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
497
Bigger than 61% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
11.8:1
students per teacher
- 33% below state mean
Top 10% in Washington - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
11.5%
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
$15,195
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 497 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 57.9%
Two or More 17.5%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
African American 4.2%
Asian 3.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: White at 57.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.0, Nelson Elementary School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Bethel School District, which includes Nelson Elementary School.
$15,195
Per student
-22%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
-8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.6%
State 66.9%
Federal 8.5%
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 Nelson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Kapowsin High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Lake High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bethel High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nelson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,787
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,688
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Graham
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Centennial Elementary
Standard public school
540 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
North Star Elementary
Standard public school
446 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Rocky Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
430 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Graham Elementary
Standard public school
428 students 13:1 students per teacher
Kapowsin Elementary
Standard public school
321 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~497 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Nelson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Nelson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Bethel School District'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 Nelson Elementary School
How many students attend Nelson Elementary School?
Nelson Elementary School has 497 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Graham, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nelson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nelson Elementary School is 11.8:1, which is 33% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 25% 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 Nelson Elementary School?
35.6% of students at Nelson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nelson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Nelson Elementary School is White at 57.9% of enrollment, in Graham, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nelson Elementary School?
Nelson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Nelson Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Graham?
By Resource Investment Index, Nelson Elementary School ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Graham, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Graham on the city page.
Is Nelson Elementary School a good school?
Nelson Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 90% of 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 Bethel School District?
Besides Nelson Elementary School, Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students), Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students), and Bethel High School (1,688 students). See the Bethel School District 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.