Enrollment
278
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Wichita, KS
Paul B Cooper Elem
Federal NCES profile for Paul B Cooper Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 200546000355
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul B Cooper Elem earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Kansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kansas schools.
- #4 of 61
- schools in Wichita · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.6:1
- small classes for Kansas
- 70.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul B Cooper Elem has class sizes smaller than 74% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul B Cooper Elem ranks #4 of 61 schools in Wichita, KS.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.6:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
-16% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.5%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
+65% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Paul B Cooper Elem compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Paul B Cooper Elem
Paul B Cooper Elem is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Wichita, Kansas, enrolling 278 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 11.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of Kansas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 70.5% of students qualify for free meals, 65% above the Kansas average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 278 students, its enrollment sits close to the Kansas median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Among 122 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Kansas schools statewide, it ranks #11, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (42%) and White (34%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Derby spends $11,217 per pupil, 28% below the Kansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Discipline events run high: 81 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 278 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 86 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Wichita's public schools, it stands alongside Christa Mcauliffe Academy (829 students): Paul B Cooper Elem is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.6:1 vs 13.6:1).
Derby also operates Derby High School (2,172 students) and Derby Middle Sch (923 students) alongside Paul B Cooper Elem.
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 Paul B Cooper Elem compares
Paul B Cooper Elem on the metrics families compare, against Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.6:1 | ▼ 16% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.5% | ▲ 65% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 278 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.6:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
278
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.6:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 26% in Kansas - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
25.5%
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
$11,217
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 86 expulsions.
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
Hispanic or Latino 42.4%
White 33.8%
Two or More 8.6%
Asian 6.5%
African American 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 42.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, Paul B Cooper Elem is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Derby, which includes Paul B Cooper Elem.
$11,217
Per student
-28%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-32%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.0%
State 70.1%
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 Paul B Cooper Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Derby High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Derby Middle Sch | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Derby North Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tanglewood Elem | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stone Creek Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul B Cooper Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,172
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 923
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 832
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 607
- Students per teacher
- 24.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 451
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar other schools in Wichita
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Christa Mcauliffe Academy
Standard public school
829 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Minneha Core Knowledge Elem
Standard public school
644 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Woodman Elem
Standard public school
612 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Cloud Elem
Standard public school
580 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Colvin Elem
Standard public school
571 students 13:1 students per teacher
Education Imagine Academy
Standard public school
566 students 29.8:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~278 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Paul B Cooper Elem's federal record.
- Compare Paul B Cooper Elem against another school. Compare schools
- Derby'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 Paul B Cooper Elem
How many students attend Paul B Cooper Elem?
Paul B Cooper Elem has 278 students enrolled. It is a public school in Wichita, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul B Cooper Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul B Cooper Elem is 11.6:1, which is 16% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 26% 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 Paul B Cooper Elem?
70.5% of students at Paul B Cooper Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul B Cooper Elem?
The largest demographic group at Paul B Cooper Elem is Hispanic or Latino at 42.4% of enrollment, in Wichita, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul B Cooper Elem?
Paul B Cooper Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 Paul B Cooper Elem rank among schools in Wichita?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul B Cooper Elem ranks #4 of 61 schools in Wichita, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Wichita on the city page.
Is Paul B Cooper Elem a good school?
Paul B Cooper Elem earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Kansas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kansas 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 Derby?
Besides Paul B Cooper Elem, Derby also operates Derby High School (2,172 students), Derby Middle Sch (923 students), and Derby North Middle School (832 students). See the Derby 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.