- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Aitkin, MN
Rippleside Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Rippleside Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 270276000059
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 89
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rippleside Elementary earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Minnesota median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Minnesota schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Aitkin · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.5:1
- students per teacher
- 43.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Rippleside Elementary has class sizes near the Minnesota median. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rippleside Elementary ranks #1 of 3 schools in Aitkin, MN.
School address
District: Aitkin Public School District · Minnesota
NCES ID 270276000059 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-30 students YoY
Rippleside Elementary shrank from 493 students in 2022-23 to 463 in 2023-24 (-6.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.9 → 38.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-30 students YoY 270276000059 · Aitkin, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
476 enr · 12.5:1 · 43.8% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Aitkin Secondary School (509 students)
Rippleside Elementary shrank from 493 students in 2022-23 to 463 in 2023-24 (-6.1%). Teacher FTE lost 38.9 → 38.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
Rippleside Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Aitkin Seconda
Aitkin Secondary School
509 students
- This school
Rippleside Elementary
476 students
- Aitkin Alterna 4
Aitkin Alternative Learning Program
4 students
What this shows Rippleside Elementary reports 476 students on the CCD universe file.
How Rippleside Elementary compares
Rippleside Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.5:1 | ▼ 21% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.8% | ▲ 2% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 476 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
476
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 33% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
4.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$14,691
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 476 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 92.0%
Two or More 3.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.3%
Asian 0.6%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: White at 92.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.2, Rippleside Elementary is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Aitkin Public School District reports $14,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Rippleside Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aitkin Secondary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Aitkin Alternative Learning Program | Smaller | Higher economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Rippleside Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 4
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 15/100
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 (~476 students)
Frequently asked questions about Rippleside Elementary
How many students attend Rippleside Elementary?
Rippleside Elementary has 476 students enrolled. It is a public school in Aitkin, MN. CCD year-over-year: 493 (2022-23) → 463 (2023-24), down 30.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rippleside Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rippleside Elementary is 12.5:1, which is 21% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 20% 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 Rippleside Elementary?
43.8% of students at Rippleside Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rippleside Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Rippleside Elementary is White at 92.0% of enrollment, in Aitkin, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rippleside Elementary?
Rippleside Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (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 Rippleside Elementary rank among schools in Aitkin?
By Resource Investment Index, Rippleside Elementary ranks #1 of 3 schools in Aitkin, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Aitkin Public School District?
Besides Rippleside Elementary, Aitkin Public School District also operates Aitkin Secondary School (509 students) and Aitkin Alternative Learning Program (4 students). See the Aitkin Public School District district page for the complete list.