Enrollment
248
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Eau Claire, WI
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Ridge Early Learning School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550405000423
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #4 of 6
- schools in Eau Claire · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- large classes for Wisconsin
- 54.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School has class sizes larger than 76% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Ridge Early Learning School ranks #4 of 6 schools in Eau Claire, WI.
School address
District: Eau Claire Area School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550405000423 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
16.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
54.2%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Prairie Ridge Early Learning School compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Prairie Ridge Early Learning School
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Eau Claire, Wisconsin, enrolling 248 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 54.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 248 students, its enrollment sits close to the Wisconsin median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Among 239 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Wisconsin schools statewide, it ranks #181, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Asian (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 248 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Among Eau Claire's public schools, it stands alongside Eau Claire Community Sites (435 students): Prairie Ridge Early Learning School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.5:1 vs 25.6:1).
Eau Claire Area School District also operates North High (1,567 students) and Memorial High (1,558 students) alongside Prairie Ridge Early Learning School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Prairie Ridge Early Learning School compares
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▲ 8% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 54.2% | ▲ 41% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 248 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
248
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
54.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 76% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$13,882
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 248 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 54.0%
Asian 21.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
Two or More 9.3%
African American 4.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.6%
Largest group: White at 54.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.4, Prairie Ridge Early Learning School is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Eau Claire Area School District, which includes Prairie Ridge Early Learning School.
$13,882
Per student
-7%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-16%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 40.5%
State 47.5%
Federal 12.0%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Prairie Ridge Early Learning School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Memorial High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Delong Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Northstar Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Ridge Early Learning School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,567
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,558
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 893
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 10.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 529
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Eau Claire
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Eau Claire Community Sites
Standard public school
435 students 25.6:1 students per teacher
Chippewa Valley Montessori Charter School
Standard public school
301 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Eau Claire Virtual School
Standard public school
147 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Mckinley Charter School
Alternative education program
74 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Second Avenue School
Alternative education program
16 students
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Wisconsin, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~248 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Prairie Ridge Early Learning School's federal record.
- Compare Prairie Ridge Early Learning School against another school. Compare schools
- Eau Claire Area School District's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Prairie Ridge Early Learning School
How many students attend Prairie Ridge Early Learning School?
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School has 248 students enrolled. It is a public school in Eau Claire, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Ridge Early Learning School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Ridge Early Learning School is 15.5:1, which is 8% higher than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 1% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Prairie Ridge Early Learning School?
54.2% of students at Prairie Ridge Early Learning School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Ridge Early Learning School?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Ridge Early Learning School is White at 54.0% of enrollment, in Eau Claire, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Ridge Early Learning School?
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Prairie Ridge Early Learning School rank among schools in Eau Claire?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Ridge Early Learning School ranks #4 of 6 schools in Eau Claire, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Eau Claire on the city page.
Is Prairie Ridge Early Learning School a good school?
Prairie Ridge Early Learning School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Eau Claire Area School District?
Besides Prairie Ridge Early Learning School, Eau Claire Area School District also operates North High (1,567 students), Memorial High (1,558 students), and Delong Middle (893 students). See the Eau Claire Area School District district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.