- Enrollment
- 1,167
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waukesha, WI
Prairie Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 551578002022
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Elementary earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median.
- #1 of 19
- schools in Waukesha · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 29.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Elementary has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Elementary ranks #1 of 19 schools in Waukesha, WI.
School address
District: Waukesha School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551578002022 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-19 students YoY
Prairie Elementary shrank from 345 students in 2022-23 to 326 in 2023-24 (-5.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 27.0 → 25.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-19 students YoY 551578002022 · Waukesha, WI Other · SMALL · TRAD
348 enr · 13.4:1 · 29.9% lunch · RII 60
Nearest enrollment peer: West High (1,167 students)
Prairie Elementary shrank from 345 students in 2022-23 to 326 in 2023-24 (-5.5%). Teacher FTE lost 27.0 → 25.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Prairie Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West High
West High
1,167 students
- North High
North High
911 students
- South High
South High
833 students
- Butler Middle
Butler Middle
786 students
- Eachieve Acade
Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin
639 students
- This school 348
Prairie Elementary
348 students
What this shows Prairie Elementary reports 348 students on the CCD universe file.
How Prairie Elementary compares
Prairie Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.4:1 | ▼ 7% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.9% | ▼ 22% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 348 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
348
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 53% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,969
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 71.0%
Hispanic or Latino 13.5%
Two or More 7.8%
African American 4.6%
Asian 3.2%
Largest group: White at 71.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 46.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 46.8, Prairie Elementary is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Waukesha School District reports $12,969 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Prairie Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Butler Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 911
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 833
- Students per teacher
- 11.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 639
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Waukesha
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eachieve Academy - Wisconsin
Standard public school
639 students 23.7:1 students per teacher
Waukesha Stem Academy
Standard public school
580 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Rose Glen Elementary
Standard public school
490 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Banting Elementary
Standard public school
486 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Summit View Elementary
Standard public school
449 students 15:1 students per teacher
Bethesda Elementary
Standard public school
401 students 13.4:1 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 (~348 students)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Elementary
How many students attend Prairie Elementary?
Prairie Elementary has 348 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waukesha, WI. CCD year-over-year: 345 (2022-23) → 326 (2023-24), down 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Elementary is 13.4:1, which is 7% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 15% 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 Prairie Elementary?
29.9% of students at Prairie Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Elementary is White at 71.0% of enrollment, in Waukesha, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Elementary?
Prairie Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher 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).
How does Prairie Elementary rank among schools in Waukesha?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Elementary ranks #1 of 19 schools in Waukesha, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waukesha on the city page.
What other schools are in Waukesha School District?
Besides Prairie Elementary, Waukesha School District also operates West High (1,167 students), North High (911 students), and South High (833 students). See the Waukesha School District district page for the complete list.