- Enrollment
- 1,833
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lafayette, LA
Prairie Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 220087000688
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 88
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Elementary School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Louisiana median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Louisiana schools.
- #3 of 16
- schools in Lafayette · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.2:1
- students per teacher
- 48.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Elementary School has class sizes near the Louisiana median. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Elementary School ranks #3 of 16 schools in Lafayette, LA.
School address
District: Lafayette Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220087000688 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+68 students YoY
Prairie Elementary School grew from 606 students in 2022-23 to 674 in 2023-24 (+11.2%).
Teacher FTE added 41.2 → 50.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+68 students YoY 220087000688 · Lafayette, LA Other · MID · TRAD
663 enr · 16.2:1 · 48.8% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Southside High School (1,833 students)
Prairie Elementary School grew from 606 students in 2022-23 to 674 in 2023-24 (+11.2%). Teacher FTE added 41.2 → 50.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Louisiana schools → · Find another →
Prairie Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Southside High
Southside High School
1,833 students
- Lafayette High
Lafayette High School
1,720 students
- Acadiana High
Acadiana High School
1,652 students
- David Thibodau
David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy
1,362 students
- Milton Element
Milton Elementary School
1,261 students
- This school 663
Prairie Elementary School
663 students
What this shows Prairie Elementary School reports 663 students on the CCD universe file.
How Prairie Elementary School compares
Prairie Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.8% | ▼ 22% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 663 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
663
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
48.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% below the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 48% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
4.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$12,386
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,812
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 332 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
51
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 44.5%
African American 38.6%
Hispanic or Latino 10.1%
Two or More 4.2%
Asian 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 44.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.1, Prairie Elementary School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lafayette Parish reports $12,386 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Prairie Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lafayette High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Acadiana High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Milton Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,720
- Students per teacher
- 21.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,652
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,362
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,261
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
Similar other schools in Lafayette
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Lafayette Renaissance Charter Academy
Standard public school
2,177 students 33:1 students per teacher
David Thibodaux Stem Magnet Academy
Vocational / career-technical school
1,362 students 21:1 students per teacher
Milton Elementary School
Standard public school
1,261 students 20:1 students per teacher
Woodvale Elementary School
Standard public school
793 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Broadmoor Elementary School
Standard public school
749 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
S.J. Montgomery Elementary School
Standard public school
663 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
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 (~663 students)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Elementary School
How many students attend Prairie Elementary School?
Prairie Elementary School has 663 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lafayette, LA. CCD year-over-year: 606 (2022-23) → 674 (2023-24), up 68.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary School is 16.2:1, which is 4% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 3% higher 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 Prairie Elementary School?
48.8% of students at Prairie Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Elementary School is White at 44.5% of enrollment, in Lafayette, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Elementary School?
Prairie Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher 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 Prairie Elementary School rank among schools in Lafayette?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Elementary School ranks #3 of 16 schools in Lafayette, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lafayette on the city page.
What other schools are in Lafayette Parish?
Besides Prairie Elementary School, Lafayette Parish also operates Southside High School (1,833 students), Lafayette High School (1,720 students), and Acadiana High School (1,652 students). See the Lafayette Parish district page for the complete list.