- Enrollment
- 1,575
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Elgin, IL
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Knolls Middle Sch, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 170783005957
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 75
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Illinois schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Elgin · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.1:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 770
- students enrolled
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch has class sizes larger than 87% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Knolls Middle Sch ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Elgin, IL.
School address
District: Central Cusd 301 · Illinois
NCES ID 170783005957 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-22 students YoY
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch held near 777 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 45.2 → 44.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-22 students YoY 170783005957 · Elgin, IL Middle · MID · TRAD
770 enr · 17.1:1 · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School (1,575 students)
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch held near 777 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-22 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 45.2 → 44.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High S
Central High School
1,575 students
- This school
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch
770 students
- Country Trails
Country Trails Elem
751 students
- Howard B Thoma
Howard B Thomas Grade School
678 students
- Prairie View G 615
Prairie View Grade School
615 students
- Central Middle 418
Central Middle School
418 students
What this shows Prairie Knolls Middle Sch reports 770 students on the CCD universe file.
How Prairie Knolls Middle Sch compares
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.1:1 | ▲ 22% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 770 | top 11% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
770
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 22% above state mean
Top 87% in Illinois - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.0%
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
$14,741
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $18,196
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
28
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.0%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%
Asian 15.2%
Two or More 4.4%
African American 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 61.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.5, Prairie Knolls Middle Sch is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
District finance for Central Cusd 301 reports $14,741 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Prairie Knolls Middle Sch Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Country Trails Elem | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Howard B Thomas Grade School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Prairie View Grade School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Middle School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Knolls Middle Sch's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 751
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 678
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 615
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 418
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar middle schools in Elgin
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Larsen Middle School
Standard public school
570 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Abbott Middle School
Standard public school
551 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Kimball Middle School
Standard public school
501 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Ellis Middle School
Standard public school
496 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~770 students)
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Knolls Middle Sch
How many students attend Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch has 770 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Elgin, IL. CCD year-over-year: 799 (2022-23) → 777 (2023-24), nearly flat (-22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Knolls Middle Sch is 17.1:1, which is 22% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 9% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Knolls Middle Sch is White at 61.0% of enrollment, in Elgin, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Knolls Middle Sch?
Prairie Knolls Middle Sch has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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).
How does Prairie Knolls Middle Sch rank among middle schools in Elgin?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Knolls Middle Sch ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Elgin, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Elgin on the city page.
What other schools are in Central Cusd 301?
Besides Prairie Knolls Middle Sch, Central Cusd 301 also operates Central High School (1,575 students), Country Trails Elem (751 students), and Howard B Thomas Grade School (678 students). See the Central Cusd 301 district page for the complete list.