- Enrollment
- 2,780
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Palmer, AK
Sherrod Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sherrod Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 020051000230
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sherrod Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 75% of Alaska schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Palmer · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.4:1
- large classes for Alaska
- 43.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sherrod Elementary has class sizes larger than 75% of Alaska schools. Computed live against every Alaska school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sherrod Elementary ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Palmer, AK.
School address
District: Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District · Alaska
NCES ID 020051000230 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
Sherrod Elementary shrank from 395 students in 2022-23 to 369 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-26 students YoY 020051000230 · Palmer, AK Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
383 enr · 17.4:1 · 43.0% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students)
Sherrod Elementary shrank from 395 students in 2022-23 to 369 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 24.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alaska schools → · Find another →
Sherrod Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mat-Su Central
Mat-Su Central School
2,780 students
- Colony High Sc 1,046
Colony High School
1,046 students
- Wasilla High S 816
Wasilla High School
816 students
- Colony Middle 771
Colony Middle School
771 students
- Mat-Su Career 705
Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School
705 students
- This school 383
Sherrod Elementary
383 students
What this shows Sherrod Elementary reports 383 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sherrod Elementary compares
Sherrod Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alaska and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alaska | Alaska avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.4:1 | ▲ 14% | 15.2:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.0% | ▼ 30% | 61.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 383 | top 17% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.4:1
Leaner classes than 28% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
383
Bigger than 45% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
43.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the Alaska average of 61.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.4:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 75% in Alaska - lower ratio than 25% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
52.7%
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
$15,575
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alaska avg of $33,705
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
3
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 58.7%
Two or More 20.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 10.7%
Hispanic or Latino 7.8%
Asian 0.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
African American 0.5%
Largest group: White at 58.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.5, Sherrod Elementary is more mixed than the Alaska school average of 43.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District reports $15,575 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sherrod Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mat-Su Central School | Larger | No free-lunch data | No ratio data |
| Colony High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wasilla High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Colony Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mat-Su Career & Tech Ed High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sherrod Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,046
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 816
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 771
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 705
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar elementary schools in Palmer
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~383 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Sherrod Elementary
How many students attend Sherrod Elementary?
Sherrod Elementary has 383 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Palmer, AK. CCD year-over-year: 395 (2022-23) → 369 (2023-24), down 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sherrod Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sherrod Elementary is 17.4:1, which is 14% higher than the Alaska average of 15.2:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sherrod Elementary?
43.0% of students at Sherrod Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alaska average of 61.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sherrod Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sherrod Elementary is White at 58.7% of enrollment, in Palmer, AK. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sherrod Elementary?
Sherrod Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Sherrod Elementary rank among elementary schools in Palmer?
By Resource Investment Index, Sherrod Elementary ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Palmer, AK. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Palmer on the city page.
What other schools are in Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District?
Besides Sherrod Elementary, Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District also operates Mat-Su Central School (2,780 students), Colony High School (1,046 students), and Wasilla High School (816 students). See the Matanuska-Susitna Borough School District district page for the complete list.