Enrollment
408
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Topeka, KS
Northern Hills Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Northern Hills Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 201149002085
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northern Hills Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median.
- #6 of 7
- elementary schools in Topeka · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 35.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Northern Hills Elementary has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Hills Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Topeka, KS.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.4%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
-17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Northern Hills Elementary compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Northern Hills Elementary
Northern Hills Elementary is a mid-sized elementary school in Topeka, Kansas, enrolling 408 students.
At 13.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Kansas median, within a few percentage points of the 13.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 35.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 408 puts it in the larger third of Kansas schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Against 288 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #182.
Its student body is led by White (74%) and Hispanic or Latino (10%) (diversity index 43/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 408 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.5% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Seaman spends $11,874 per pupil, 23% below the Kansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Topeka's elementary schools, it stands alongside Jay Shideler Elementary (492 students): Northern Hills Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.6:1 vs 12:1).
Seaman also operates Seaman High (1,190 students) and Seaman Middle School (560 students) alongside Northern Hills 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 Northern Hills Elementary compares
Northern Hills Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 1% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.4% | ▼ 17% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 408 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
408
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 55% in Kansas - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
22.5%
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
$11,874
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,487
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 408 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.9 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 74.3%
Hispanic or Latino 10.3%
African American 6.1%
Two or More 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Asian 1.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 74.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.0, Northern Hills Elementary is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Seaman, which includes Northern Hills Elementary.
$11,874
Per student
-23%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.7%
State 70.3%
Federal 9.0%
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 Northern Hills Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Seaman Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Logan Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Indianola Elem | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elmont Elem | Smaller | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northern Hills Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,190
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 558
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 395
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 303
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar elementary schools in Topeka
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Jay Shideler Elementary
Standard public school
492 students 12:1 students per teacher
Indian Hills Elementary
Standard public school
440 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
West Indianola Elem
Standard public school
395 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Highland Park Central
Standard public school
318 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Elmont Elem
Standard public school
303 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
North Fairview
Standard public school
278 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~408 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Northern Hills Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Northern Hills Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Seaman'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 Northern Hills Elementary
How many students attend Northern Hills Elementary?
Northern Hills Elementary has 408 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Topeka, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northern Hills Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Northern Hills Elementary is 13.6:1, which is 1% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 13% 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 Northern Hills Elementary?
35.4% of students at Northern Hills Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northern Hills Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Northern Hills Elementary is White at 74.3% of enrollment, in Topeka, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northern Hills Elementary?
Northern Hills Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical 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 Northern Hills Elementary rank among elementary schools in Topeka?
By Resource Investment Index, Northern Hills Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Topeka, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Topeka on the city page.
Is Northern Hills Elementary a good school?
Northern Hills Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas 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 Seaman?
Besides Northern Hills Elementary, Seaman also operates Seaman High (1,190 students), Seaman Middle School (560 students), and Logan Elementary (558 students). See the Seaman 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.