- Enrollment
- 896
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Battle Creek, MI
Sonoma Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sonoma Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 261773005438
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sonoma Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Michigan schools.
- #1 of 13
- elementary schools in Battle Creek · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 41.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Sonoma Elementary has class sizes smaller than 72% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sonoma Elementary ranks #1 of 13 elementary schools in Battle Creek, MI.
School address
District: Harper Creek Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261773005438 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Sonoma Elementary held near 383 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 24.2 → 23.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 261773005438 · Battle Creek, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
351 enr · 14.6:1 · 41.8% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Harper Creek Middle School (896 students)
Sonoma Elementary held near 383 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 24.2 → 23.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Sonoma Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Harper Creek M
Harper Creek Middle School
896 students
- Harper Creek H
Harper Creek High School
823 students
- Wattles Park E
Wattles Park Elementary School
375 students
- This school 351
Sonoma Elementary
351 students
- Beadle Lake El 333
Beadle Lake Elementary School
333 students
What this shows Sonoma Elementary reports 351 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sonoma Elementary compares
Sonoma Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.6:1 | ▼ 17% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.8% | ▼ 23% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 351 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
351
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 28% in Michigan - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,295
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
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
7
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 82.3%
Two or More 8.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.4%
African American 2.3%
Asian 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 82.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 31.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 31.1, Sonoma Elementary is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Harper Creek Community Schools reports $14,295 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sonoma Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harper Creek Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harper Creek High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wattles Park Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beadle Lake Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sonoma Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 823
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 375
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
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 (~351 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sonoma Elementary
How many students attend Sonoma Elementary?
Sonoma Elementary has 351 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Battle Creek, MI. CCD year-over-year: 378 (2022-23) → 383 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sonoma Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sonoma Elementary is 14.6:1, which is 17% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 7% 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 Sonoma Elementary?
41.8% of students at Sonoma Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sonoma Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sonoma Elementary is White at 82.3% of enrollment, in Battle Creek, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sonoma Elementary?
Sonoma Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Sonoma Elementary rank among elementary schools in Battle Creek?
By Resource Investment Index, Sonoma Elementary ranks #1 of 13 elementary schools in Battle Creek, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Battle Creek on the city page.
What other schools are in Harper Creek Community Schools?
Besides Sonoma Elementary, Harper Creek Community Schools also operates Harper Creek Middle School (896 students), Harper Creek High School (823 students), and Wattles Park Elementary School (375 students). See the Harper Creek Community Schools district page for the complete list.