Enrollment
800
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Ypsilanti, MI
South Arbor Charter Academy
Federal NCES profile for South Arbor Charter Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260022301182Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Arbor Charter Academy earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #5 of 10
- elementary schools in Ypsilanti · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 20.5:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 26.7%
- free-lunch eligible
South Arbor Charter Academy has class sizes larger than 83% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Arbor Charter Academy ranks #5 of 10 elementary schools in Ypsilanti, MI.
School address
District: South Arbor Charter Academy · Michigan
NCES ID 260022301182 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.5:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
26.7%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Arbor Charter Academy compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Arbor Charter Academy
South Arbor Charter Academy is a large charter elementary school in Ypsilanti, Michigan, enrolling 800 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20.5:1 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 26.7% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Michigan, bigger than 92% of state schools at 800 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 354 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #246.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and African American (18%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 72/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding South Arbor Charter Academy spends $10,396 per pupil, 23% below the Michigan average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Ypsilanti's elementary schools, it stands alongside Bishop Elementary School (486 students): South Arbor Charter Academy is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20.5:1 vs 19.4:1).
South Arbor Charter Academy is a single-school charter district, so South Arbor Charter Academy operates independently rather than alongside district-mates.
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 South Arbor Charter Academy compares
South Arbor Charter Academy on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.5:1 | ▲ 17% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 26.7% | ▼ 51% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 800 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.5:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
800
Bigger than 85% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
26.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
20.5:1
students per teacher
- 17% above state mean
Top 83% in Michigan - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
30.8%
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
$10,396
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 43 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.9 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 44.9%
African American 18.3%
Asian 16.6%
Two or More 12.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
Largest group: White at 44.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.6, South Arbor Charter Academy is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for South Arbor Charter Academy, which includes South Arbor Charter Academy.
$10,396
Per student
-23%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-37%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 3.9%
State 86.4%
Federal 9.6%
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.
Similar elementary schools in Ypsilanti
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~800 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Arbor Charter Academy's federal record.
- Compare South Arbor Charter Academy against another school. Compare schools
- South Arbor Charter Academy'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 South Arbor Charter Academy
How many students attend South Arbor Charter Academy?
South Arbor Charter Academy has 800 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Ypsilanti, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Arbor Charter Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at South Arbor Charter Academy is 20.5:1, which is 17% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at South Arbor Charter Academy?
26.7% of students at South Arbor Charter Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Arbor Charter Academy?
The largest demographic group at South Arbor Charter Academy is White at 44.9% of enrollment, in Ypsilanti, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Arbor Charter Academy?
South Arbor Charter Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 South Arbor Charter Academy rank among elementary schools in Ypsilanti?
By Resource Investment Index, South Arbor Charter Academy ranks #5 of 10 elementary schools in Ypsilanti, 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 Ypsilanti on the city page.
Is South Arbor Charter Academy a good school?
South Arbor Charter Academy earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan 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 South Arbor Charter Academy?
None; South Arbor Charter Academy is a single-school charter district, and South Arbor Charter Academy is its only campus.
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.