- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Thief River Falls, MN
Northwest Area Learning Center
Federal NCES profile for Northwest Area Learning Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 273885002290
👥 S:T ratio 8
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwest Area Learning Center earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Minnesota schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Thief River Falls · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 23:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 53.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwest Area Learning Center has class sizes larger than 90% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest Area Learning Center ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Thief River Falls, MN.
School address
District: Thief River Falls School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 273885002290 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
Northwest Area Learning Center shrank from 32 students in 2022-23 to 29 in 2023-24 (-9.4%).
Teacher FTE held 1.9 → 1.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-3 students YoY 273885002290 · Thief River Falls, MN High · SMALL · TRAD
23 enr · 23:1 · 53.1% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Challenger Elementary (727 students)
Northwest Area Learning Center shrank from 32 students in 2022-23 to 29 in 2023-24 (-9.4%). Teacher FTE held 1.9 → 1.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Northwest Area Learning Center in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Challenger Ele
Challenger Elementary
727 students
- Lincoln Senior
Lincoln Senior High
521 students
- Franklin Middl
Franklin Middle
454 students
- This school 23
Northwest Area Learning Center
23 students
What this shows Northwest Area Learning Center reports 23 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northwest Area Learning Center compares
Northwest Area Learning Center is a shrinking 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 | 23:1 | ▲ 46% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.1% | ▲ 24% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 23 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23:1
Leaner classes than 8% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
23
Bigger than 3% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23:1
students per teacher
- 46% above state mean
Top 90% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$12,994
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.2 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 65.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 13.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.7%
Largest group: White at 65.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.4, Northwest Area Learning Center is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
AP program Not offered
District finance for Thief River Falls School District reports $12,994 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northwest Area Learning Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Challenger Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Senior High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Franklin Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwest Area Learning Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 521
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 454
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Nationwide high 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 (~23 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~23:1)
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Area Learning Center
How many students attend Northwest Area Learning Center?
Northwest Area Learning Center has 23 students enrolled. It is a high school in Thief River Falls, MN. CCD year-over-year: 32 (2022-23) → 29 (2023-24), down 3.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest Area Learning Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwest Area Learning Center is 23:1, which is 46% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 46% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northwest Area Learning Center?
53.1% of students at Northwest Area Learning Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwest Area Learning Center?
The largest demographic group at Northwest Area Learning Center is White at 65.2% of enrollment, in Thief River Falls, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwest Area Learning Center?
Northwest Area Learning Center has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Northwest Area Learning Center rank among public schools in Thief River Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest Area Learning Center ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Thief River Falls, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Thief River Falls School District?
Besides Northwest Area Learning Center, Thief River Falls School District also operates Challenger Elementary (727 students), Lincoln Senior High (521 students), and Franklin Middle (454 students). See the Thief River Falls School District district page for the complete list.