- Enrollment
- 569
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Plainwell, MI
Plainwell High School
Federal NCES profile for Plainwell High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 262853006402
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Plainwell High School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Michigan schools.
- #3 of 5
- public schools in Plainwell · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.7:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 28.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Plainwell High School has class sizes larger than 78% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Plainwell High School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Plainwell, MI.
School address
District: Plainwell Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262853006402 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Plainwell High School held near 813 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 42.2 → 41.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 262853006402 · Plainwell, MI High · MID · TRAD
828 enr · 19.7:1 · 28.6% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Plainwell Middle School (569 students)
Plainwell High School held near 813 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 42.2 → 41.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Plainwell High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Plainwell High School
828 students
- Plainwell Midd
Plainwell Middle School
569 students
- Gilkey Element
Gilkey Elementary School
439 students
- Starr Elementa
Starr Elementary School
410 students
- Cooper Element 288
Cooper Elementary School
288 students
- Renaissance Hi 86
Renaissance High School
86 students
What this shows Plainwell High School reports 828 students on the CCD universe file.
How Plainwell High School compares
Plainwell High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.7:1 | ▲ 13% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.6% | ▼ 47% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 828 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.7:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
828
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.7:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 78% in Michigan - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.4%
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
$13,191
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 414 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
148
in-school suspensions + 122 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 84.9%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
Two or More 3.1%
African American 2.5%
Asian 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 84.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.2, Plainwell High School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
District finance for Plainwell Community Schools reports $13,191 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Plainwell High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Plainwell Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gilkey Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Starr Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cooper Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Renaissance High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Plainwell High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 439
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 410
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 288
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 86
- Students per teacher
- 43:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
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 (~828 students)
Frequently asked questions about Plainwell High School
How many students attend Plainwell High School?
Plainwell High School has 828 students enrolled. It is a high school in Plainwell, MI. CCD year-over-year: 815 (2022-23) → 813 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Plainwell High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Plainwell High School is 19.7:1, which is 13% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Plainwell High School?
28.6% of students at Plainwell High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Plainwell High School?
The largest demographic group at Plainwell High School is White at 84.9% of enrollment, in Plainwell, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Plainwell High School?
Plainwell High School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (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).
How does Plainwell High School rank among public schools in Plainwell?
By Resource Investment Index, Plainwell High School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Plainwell, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Plainwell on the city page.
What other schools are in Plainwell Community Schools?
Besides Plainwell High School, Plainwell Community Schools also operates Plainwell Middle School (569 students), Gilkey Elementary School (439 students), and Starr Elementary School (410 students). See the Plainwell Community Schools district page for the complete list.