Enrollment
449
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kalamazoo, MI
Prairie Ridge Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Prairie Ridge Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261995005655
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Prairie Ridge Elementary School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #6 of 26
- schools in Kalamazoo · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18:1
- students per teacher
- 63.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Prairie Ridge Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Ridge Elementary School ranks #6 of 26 schools in Kalamazoo, MI.
School address
District: Kalamazoo Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261995005655 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.2%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+16% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Prairie Ridge Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Prairie Ridge Elementary School
Prairie Ridge Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, enrolling 449 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18:1 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 63.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 449 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 97% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 598 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #5, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (38%) and African American (36%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
13.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 15.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Kalamazoo's public schools, it stands alongside Washington Writers Academy (260 students): Prairie Ridge Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18:1 vs 20:1).
Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students) and Kalamazoo Central High School (1,613 students) alongside Prairie Ridge Elementary 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 Elementary School compares
Prairie Ridge Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 3% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.2% | ▲ 16% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 449 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
449
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 63% in Michigan - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.1%
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
$14,755
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
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
2
in-school suspensions + 63 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.5 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 38.3%
African American 36.3%
Two or More 18.9%
Hispanic or Latino 3.6%
Asian 2.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 38.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, Prairie Ridge Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Kalamazoo Public Schools, which includes Prairie Ridge Elementary School.
$14,755
Per student
+9%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-11%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.5%
State 51.9%
Federal 15.6%
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 Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Norrix High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kalamazoo Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Milwood Magnet School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Linden Grove Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Prairie Ridge Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,613
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 889
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Kalamazoo
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~449 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Prairie Ridge Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Prairie Ridge Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Kalamazoo Public Schools'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 Elementary School
How many students attend Prairie Ridge Elementary School?
Prairie Ridge Elementary School has 449 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kalamazoo, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Prairie Ridge Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Prairie Ridge Elementary School is 18:1, which is 3% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Prairie Ridge Elementary School?
63.2% of students at Prairie Ridge Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Prairie Ridge Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Prairie Ridge Elementary School is White at 38.3% of enrollment, in Kalamazoo, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Prairie Ridge Elementary School?
Prairie Ridge Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Prairie Ridge Elementary School rank among schools in Kalamazoo?
By Resource Investment Index, Prairie Ridge Elementary School ranks #6 of 26 schools in Kalamazoo, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kalamazoo on the city page.
Is Prairie Ridge Elementary School a good school?
Prairie Ridge Elementary School earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 Kalamazoo Public Schools?
Besides Prairie Ridge Elementary School, Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students), Kalamazoo Central High School (1,613 students), and Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts (889 students). See the Kalamazoo Public Schools 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.