Enrollment
219
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Kalamazoo, MI
Phoenix Alternative High School
Federal NCES profile for Phoenix Alternative High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 22/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 261995000047
👥 S:T ratio 12
📚 AP courses 10
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 56
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Phoenix Alternative High School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #3 of 6
- high schools in Kalamazoo · Resource Index
- 22
- Resource Index · Lower
- 21.9:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 82.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Phoenix Alternative High School has class sizes larger than 88% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Phoenix Alternative High School ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Kalamazoo, MI.
School address
District: Kalamazoo Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261995000047 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
10.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.9:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
82.6%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Phoenix Alternative High School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Phoenix Alternative High School
Phoenix Alternative High School is a high-poverty, mid-sized high school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, enrolling 219 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.9:1 is larger than about 88% of Michigan schools and 25% above the 17.5:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 82.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 219 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 297 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #170.
Its student body is led by African American (51%) and White (25%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
No Advanced Placement courses are reported for this campus in the federal data.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 219 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 97.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Kalamazoo's high schools, it stands alongside Kalamazoo Covenant Academy (184 students): Phoenix Alternative High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (21.9:1 vs 26.3:1).
Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students) and Kalamazoo Central High School (1,613 students) alongside Phoenix Alternative High 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 Phoenix Alternative High School compares
Phoenix Alternative High School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.9:1 | ▲ 25% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 82.6% | ▲ 52% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 219 | top 73% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.9:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
219
Bigger than 22% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
82.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.9:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 88% in Michigan - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
97.7%
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
$14,755
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 219 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.6 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
African American 51.1%
White 24.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.6%
Two or More 9.6%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.8%
Largest group: African American at 51.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.8, Phoenix Alternative High School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Kalamazoo Public Schools, which includes Phoenix Alternative High School.
$14,755
Per student
+9%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-11%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.5%
State 51.9%
Federal 15.6%
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 Phoenix Alternative High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Norrix High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kalamazoo Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Milwood Magnet School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Linden Grove Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Phoenix Alternative High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,613
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 889
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar high schools in Kalamazoo
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~219 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Phoenix Alternative High School's federal record.
- Compare Phoenix Alternative High School against another school. Compare schools
- Kalamazoo 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 Phoenix Alternative High School
How many students attend Phoenix Alternative High School?
Phoenix Alternative High School has 219 students enrolled. It is a high school in Kalamazoo, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Phoenix Alternative High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Phoenix Alternative High School is 21.9:1, which is 25% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Phoenix Alternative High School?
82.6% of students at Phoenix Alternative High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Phoenix Alternative High School?
The largest demographic group at Phoenix Alternative High School is African American at 51.1% of enrollment, in Kalamazoo, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Phoenix Alternative High School?
Phoenix Alternative High School has a Resource Investment Index of 22/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Phoenix Alternative High School rank among high schools in Kalamazoo?
By Resource Investment Index, Phoenix Alternative High School ranks #3 of 6 high schools in Kalamazoo, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Kalamazoo on the city page.
Is Phoenix Alternative High School a good school?
Phoenix Alternative High School earns 22/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 Kalamazoo Public Schools?
Besides Phoenix Alternative High School, Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students), Kalamazoo Central High School (1,613 students), and Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts (889 students). See the Kalamazoo 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.