- Enrollment
- 526
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Ponemah, MN
Ponemah Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ponemah Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 273051001301
👥 S:T ratio 68
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ponemah Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Minnesota schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 8:1
- small classes for Minnesota
- 97.7%
- free-lunch eligible
- 136
- students enrolled
Ponemah Elementary has class sizes smaller than 88% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Red Lake Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 273051001301 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Ponemah Elementary shrank from 130 students in 2022-23 to 115 in 2023-24 (-11.5%).
Teacher FTE held 17.9 → 18.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-15 students YoY 273051001301 · Ponemah, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
136 enr · 8:1 · 97.7% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Red Lake Elementary (526 students)
Ponemah Elementary shrank from 130 students in 2022-23 to 115 in 2023-24 (-11.5%). Teacher FTE held 17.9 → 18.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Ponemah Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Red Lake Eleme
Red Lake Elementary
526 students
- Red Lake Secon
Red Lake Secondary
377 students
- Red Lake Middl
Red Lake Middle School
268 students
- Red Lake Early 137
Red Lake Early Childhood Center
137 students
- This school 136
Ponemah Elementary
136 students
- Red Lake Alter 53
Red Lake Alternative Learning
53 students
What this shows Ponemah Elementary reports 136 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ponemah Elementary compares
Ponemah Elementary 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 | 8:1 | ▼ 49% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 97.7% | ▲ 128% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 136 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
136
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
97.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 128% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
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
8:1
students per teacher
- 49% below state mean
Top 12% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
97.1%
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
$29,400
per pupil, district-wide
- above Minnesota avg of $15,919
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
American Indian / Alaska Native 96.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%
White 0.7%
Two or More 0.7%
Largest group: American Indian / Alaska Native at 96.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 7.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 7.2, Ponemah Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for Red Lake Public School District reports $29,400 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ponemah Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Lake Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Lake Secondary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Lake Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Lake Early Childhood Center | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Red Lake Alternative Learning | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ponemah Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 377
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 268
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 137
- Students per teacher
- 9.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 53
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
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 (~136 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ponemah Elementary
How many students attend Ponemah Elementary?
Ponemah Elementary has 136 students enrolled. It is a public school in Ponemah, MN. CCD year-over-year: 130 (2022-23) → 115 (2023-24), down 15.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ponemah Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ponemah Elementary is 8:1, which is 49% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 49% 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 Ponemah Elementary?
97.7% of students at Ponemah Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ponemah Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ponemah Elementary is American Indian / Alaska Native at 96.3% of enrollment, in Ponemah, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ponemah Elementary?
Ponemah Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Red Lake Public School District?
Besides Ponemah Elementary, Red Lake Public School District also operates Red Lake Elementary (526 students), Red Lake Secondary (377 students), and Red Lake Middle School (268 students). See the Red Lake Public School District district page for the complete list.