Enrollment
406
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Milwaukee, WI
River Trail Elementary
Federal NCES profile for River Trail Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550960001174
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
River Trail Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Wisconsin schools.
- #60 of 135
- schools in Milwaukee · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- large classes for Wisconsin
- 95.0%
- free-lunch eligible
River Trail Elementary has class sizes larger than 86% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, River Trail Elementary ranks #60 of 135 schools in Milwaukee, WI.
School address
District: Milwaukee School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550960001174 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.9:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
+17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
95.0%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
+147% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How River Trail Elementary compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at River Trail Elementary
River Trail Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, enrolling 406 students.
Class loads run heavy: 16.9:1 is larger than about 86% of Wisconsin schools and 17% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 95.0% of students qualify for free meals, 147% above the Wisconsin average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 406 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,202 scored Wisconsin schools.
Against 91 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #48.
Its student body is predominantly African American (81% of enrollment) (diversity index 33/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 63.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Milwaukee School District spends $17,847 per pupil, 20% above the Wisconsin average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.0% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 83 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 406 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Milwaukee's public schools, it stands alongside Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students): River Trail Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (16.9:1 vs 30.8:1).
Milwaukee School District also operates Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students) and Hamilton High (1,472 students) alongside River Trail Elementary.
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 River Trail Elementary compares
River Trail Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▲ 17% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 95.0% | ▲ 147% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 406 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
406
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
95.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 147% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 86% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
63.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$17,847
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 81 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.4 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
African American 81.0%
Asian 6.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Two or More 4.2%
White 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 81.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.4, River Trail Elementary is less mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Milwaukee School District, which includes River Trail Elementary.
$17,847
Per student
+20%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
+8%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.3%
State 57.7%
Federal 15.0%
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 River Trail Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hamilton High | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Reagan College Preparatory High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| King International | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Obama School of Career and Technical Education | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to River Trail Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 30.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,472
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,372
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,308
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,294
- Students per teacher
- 27.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar other schools in Milwaukee
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12
Standard public school
1,974 students 30.8:1 students per teacher
Milwaukee Academy of Science
Standard public school
1,711 students 24.8:1 students per teacher
Bruce Guadalupe
Standard public school
1,364 students 15:1 students per teacher
Obama School of Career and Technical Education
Standard public school
1,294 students 27.5:1 students per teacher
Golda Meir School
Standard public school
1,192 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Milwaukee School of Languages
Standard public school
964 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~406 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on River Trail Elementary's federal record.
- Compare River Trail Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Milwaukee 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 River Trail Elementary
How many students attend River Trail Elementary?
River Trail Elementary has 406 students enrolled. It is a public school in Milwaukee, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at River Trail Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at River Trail Elementary is 16.9:1, which is 17% higher than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at River Trail Elementary?
95.0% of students at River Trail Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of River Trail Elementary?
The largest demographic group at River Trail Elementary is African American at 81.0% of enrollment, in Milwaukee, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for River Trail Elementary?
River Trail Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical 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 River Trail Elementary rank among schools in Milwaukee?
By Resource Investment Index, River Trail Elementary ranks #60 of 135 schools in Milwaukee, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Milwaukee on the city page.
Is River Trail Elementary a good school?
River Trail Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of 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 Milwaukee School District?
Besides River Trail Elementary, Milwaukee School District also operates Hapa-Hmong American Peace Academy K3-12 (1,974 students), Hamilton High (1,472 students), and Reagan College Preparatory High (1,372 students). See the Milwaukee 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.