Enrollment
441
Wisconsin · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · River Falls, WI
Rocky Branch Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Rocky Branch Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 551305002448
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rocky Branch Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median.
- #3 of 5
- schools in River Falls · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 19.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Rocky Branch Elementary has class sizes near the Wisconsin median. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rocky Branch Elementary ranks #3 of 5 schools in River Falls, WI.
School address
District: River Falls School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 551305002448 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 14.4:1 Wisconsin avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
19.6%
vs 38.5% Wisconsin avg
-49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rocky Branch Elementary compares with Wisconsin and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rocky Branch Elementary
Rocky Branch Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in River Falls, Wisconsin, enrolling 441 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 14.2:1 puts it in the larger third of Wisconsin schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 19.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 441 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.
Among 497 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Wisconsin schools statewide, it ranks #410, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (83% of enrollment) (diversity index 30/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 441 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding River Falls School District spends $11,839 per pupil, 21% below the Wisconsin average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among River Falls's public schools, it stands alongside Westside Elementary (403 students): Rocky Branch Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 14.4:1).
River Falls School District also operates River Falls High (1,062 students) and Meyer Middle (725 students) alongside Rocky Branch 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 Rocky Branch Elementary compares
Rocky Branch 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 | 14.2:1 | ▼ 1% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.6% | ▼ 49% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 441 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
441
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
19.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% below the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 62% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.1%
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
$11,839
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wisconsin avg of $14,919
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 441 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 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 83.2%
Two or More 7.9%
Hispanic or Latino 5.2%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: White at 83.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.8, Rocky Branch Elementary is less mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for River Falls School District, which includes Rocky Branch Elementary.
$11,839
Per student
-21%
vs Wisconsin
Avg $14,919
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 45.9%
State 44.8%
Federal 9.4%
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 Rocky Branch Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| River Falls High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Meyer Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Greenwood Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westside Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| River Falls Public Montessori Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rocky Branch Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,062
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 725
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 409
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 403
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 189
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in River Falls
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Westside Elementary
Standard public school
403 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
River Falls Public Montessori Academy
Standard public school
189 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
River Falls 4 Children
Standard public school
164 students 41:1 students per teacher
River Falls Eschool
Standard public school
9 students 9:1 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 (~441 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rocky Branch Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Rocky Branch Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- River Falls 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 Rocky Branch Elementary
How many students attend Rocky Branch Elementary?
Rocky Branch Elementary has 441 students enrolled. It is a public school in River Falls, WI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rocky Branch Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rocky Branch Elementary is 14.2:1, which is 1% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 10% 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 Rocky Branch Elementary?
19.6% of students at Rocky Branch Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rocky Branch Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Rocky Branch Elementary is White at 83.2% of enrollment, in River Falls, WI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rocky Branch Elementary?
Rocky Branch Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Rocky Branch Elementary rank among schools in River Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Rocky Branch Elementary ranks #3 of 5 schools in River Falls, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in River Falls on the city page.
Is Rocky Branch Elementary a good school?
Rocky Branch Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Wisconsin median. 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 River Falls School District?
Besides Rocky Branch Elementary, River Falls School District also operates River Falls High (1,062 students), Meyer Middle (725 students), and Greenwood Elementary (409 students). See the River Falls 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.