Enrollment
220
Minnesota · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Forest Lake, MN
North Lakes Academy Elementary
Federal NCES profile for North Lakes Academy Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 20/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270017705239Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 19
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Lakes Academy Elementary earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Minnesota schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Forest Lake · Resource Index
- 20
- Resource Index · Lower
- 22:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 28.3%
- free-lunch eligible
North Lakes Academy Elementary has class sizes larger than 88% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Lakes Academy Elementary ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Forest Lake, MN.
School address
District: North Lakes Academy · Minnesota
NCES ID 270017705239 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
10.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22:1
vs 15.8:1 Minnesota avg
+39% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
28.3%
vs 42.8% Minnesota avg
-34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Lakes Academy Elementary compares with Minnesota and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Lakes Academy Elementary
North Lakes Academy Elementary is a mid-sized charter elementary school in Forest Lake, Minnesota, enrolling 220 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22:1 is larger than about 88% of Minnesota schools and 39% above the 15.8:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 28.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 220 students, its enrollment sits close to the Minnesota median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 93% of the 2,334 Minnesota schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 267 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Minnesota schools statewide, it ranks #259, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (82% of enrollment) (diversity index 32/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 32.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding North Lakes Academy spends $11,953 per pupil, 22% below the Minnesota average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
North Lakes Academy also operates North Lakes Academy Upper School (245 students) and North Lakes Academy Middle School (157 students) alongside North Lakes Academy 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 North Lakes Academy Elementary compares
North Lakes Academy Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 22:1 | ▲ 39% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.3% | ▼ 34% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 220 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
220
Bigger than 22% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
28.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
22:1
students per teacher
- 39% above state mean
Top 88% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
32.3%
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
$11,953
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,270
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 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 82.3%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
Two or More 4.5%
Asian 3.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.3%
African American 1.8%
Largest group: White at 82.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.5, North Lakes Academy Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for North Lakes Academy, which includes North Lakes Academy Elementary.
$11,953
Per student
-22%
vs Minnesota
Avg $15,270
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 2.5%
State 84.5%
Federal 13.0%
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 North Lakes Academy Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lakes Academy Upper School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Lakes Academy Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Lakes Academy Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 245
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 157
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Minnesota, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~220 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Lakes Academy Elementary's federal record.
- Compare North Lakes Academy Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- North Lakes Academy'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 North Lakes Academy Elementary
How many students attend North Lakes Academy Elementary?
North Lakes Academy Elementary has 220 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Forest Lake, MN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Lakes Academy Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at North Lakes Academy Elementary is 22:1, which is 39% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 40% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Lakes Academy Elementary?
28.3% of students at North Lakes Academy Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Lakes Academy Elementary?
The largest demographic group at North Lakes Academy Elementary is White at 82.3% of enrollment, in Forest Lake, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Lakes Academy Elementary?
North Lakes Academy Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 20/100 (lower 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 North Lakes Academy Elementary rank among elementary schools in Forest Lake?
By Resource Investment Index, North Lakes Academy Elementary ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Forest Lake, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Forest Lake on the city page.
Is North Lakes Academy Elementary a good school?
North Lakes Academy Elementary earns 20/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Minnesota 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 Lakes Academy?
Besides North Lakes Academy Elementary, North Lakes Academy also operates North Lakes Academy Upper School (245 students) and North Lakes Academy Middle School (157 students). See the North Lakes Academy 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.