- Enrollment
- 429
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Paynesville, MN
Paynesville Area High School
Federal NCES profile for Paynesville Area High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 272814001239
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paynesville Area High School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Minnesota schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.1:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 22.7%
- free-lunch eligible
- 465
- students enrolled
Paynesville Area High School has class sizes larger than 86% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Paynesville Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 272814001239 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Paynesville Area High School held near 484 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 33.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 272814001239 · Paynesville, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
465 enr · 21.1:1 · 22.7% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Paynesville Elementary (429 students)
Paynesville Area High School held near 484 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 33.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
How Paynesville Area High School compares
Paynesville Area High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.1:1 | ▲ 34% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.7% | ▼ 47% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 465 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.1:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
465
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% 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
21.1:1
students per teacher
- 34% above state mean
Top 86% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
22.8%
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
$13,238
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 465 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
42
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 12.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Two or More 1.9%
African American 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 91.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.4, Paynesville Area High School is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Paynesville Public School District reports $13,238 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Paynesville Area High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paynesville Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paynesville Area High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Nationwide other 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 (~465 students)
Frequently asked questions about Paynesville Area High School
How many students attend Paynesville Area High School?
Paynesville Area High School has 465 students enrolled. It is a public school in Paynesville, MN. CCD year-over-year: 489 (2022-23) → 484 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paynesville Area High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Paynesville Area High School is 21.1:1, which is 34% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 34% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paynesville Area High School?
22.7% of students at Paynesville Area High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paynesville Area High School?
The largest demographic group at Paynesville Area High School is White at 91.2% of enrollment, in Paynesville, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paynesville Area High School?
Paynesville Area High School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Paynesville Public School District?
Besides Paynesville Area High School, Paynesville Public School District also operates Paynesville Elementary (429 students). See the Paynesville Public School District district page for the complete list.