Enrollment
186
Nebraska · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sidney, NE
North Ward Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for North Ward Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 317671001600
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 63
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Ward Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nebraska median.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Sidney · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 41.4%
- free-lunch eligible
North Ward Elementary School has class sizes near the Nebraska median. Computed live against every Nebraska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Ward Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Sidney, NE.
School address
District: Sidney Public Schools · Nebraska
NCES ID 317671001600 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
13.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.3:1
vs 13.5:1 Nebraska avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.4%
vs 30.9% Nebraska avg
+34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Ward Elementary School compares with Nebraska and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Ward Elementary School
North Ward Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Sidney, Nebraska, enrolling 186 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Nebraska schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 41.4% of students eligible for free meals.
With 186 students, its enrollment sits close to the Nebraska median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,003 scored Nebraska schools.
Against 156 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #67.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 186 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 19.9% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Sidney Public Schools spends $12,601 per pupil, 29% below the Nebraska average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Sidney Public Schools also operates Sidney High School (329 students) and South Ward Elementary School (261 students) alongside North Ward 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 North Ward Elementary School compares
North Ward Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Nebraska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Nebraska | Nebraska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.3:1 | ▲ 6% | 13.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.4% | ▲ 34% | 30.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 186 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
186
Bigger than 18% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% above the Nebraska average of 30.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 63% in Nebraska - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,601
per pupil, district-wide
- below Nebraska avg of $17,680
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 186 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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: 2.2 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.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Sidney Public Schools, which includes North Ward Elementary School.
$12,601
Per student
-29%
vs Nebraska
Avg $17,680
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 53.2%
State 35.4%
Federal 11.4%
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 Ward Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sidney High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Ward Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sidney Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Ward Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 329
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 261
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 238
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 223
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 152
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Nebraska, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~186 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Ward Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare North Ward Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Sidney Public Schools'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 Ward Elementary School
How many students attend North Ward Elementary School?
North Ward Elementary School has 186 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sidney, NE.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Ward Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at North Ward Elementary School is 14.3:1, which is 6% higher than the Nebraska average of 13.5:1 and 9% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at North Ward Elementary School?
41.4% of students at North Ward Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Nebraska average of 30.9%.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Ward Elementary School?
North Ward Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 North Ward Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Sidney?
By Resource Investment Index, North Ward Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Sidney, NE. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Sidney on the city page.
Is North Ward Elementary School a good school?
North Ward Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Nebraska median. 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 Sidney Public Schools?
Besides North Ward Elementary School, Sidney Public Schools also operates Sidney High School (329 students), South Ward Elementary School (261 students), and West Elementary School (238 students). See the Sidney Public Schools 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.