- Enrollment
- 969
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · La Crosse, WI
Spence Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Spence Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 550753000859
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 62
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Spence Elementary earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Wisconsin schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Wisconsin schools.
- #8 of 14
- schools in La Crosse · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Wisconsin
- 42.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Spence Elementary has class sizes smaller than 77% of Wisconsin schools. Computed live against every Wisconsin school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Spence Elementary ranks #8 of 14 schools in La Crosse, WI.
School address
District: La Crosse School District · Wisconsin
NCES ID 550753000859 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Spence Elementary shrank from 335 students in 2022-23 to 315 in 2023-24 (-6.0%).
Teacher FTE held 29.4 → 29.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-20 students YoY 550753000859 · La Crosse, WI Other · SMALL · TRAD
329 enr · 11.3:1 · 42.1% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High (969 students)
Spence Elementary shrank from 335 students in 2022-23 to 315 in 2023-24 (-6.0%). Teacher FTE held 29.4 → 29.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wisconsin schools → · Find another →
Spence Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Central High
Central High
969 students
- Logan High
Logan High
729 students
- Longfellow Mid
Longfellow Middle
631 students
- Logan Middle
Logan Middle
424 students
- Southern Bluff 333
Southern Bluffs Elementary
333 students
- This school 329
Spence Elementary
329 students
What this shows Spence Elementary reports 329 students on the CCD universe file.
How Spence Elementary compares
Spence Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wisconsin and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wisconsin | Wisconsin avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.3:1 | ▼ 22% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 42.1% | ▲ 9% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 329 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
329
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
42.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% above the Wisconsin average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 23% in Wisconsin - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
15.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,989
per pupil, district-wide
- above Wisconsin avg of $15,645
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 329 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 61.1%
Asian 16.4%
Two or More 11.6%
Hispanic or Latino 6.4%
African American 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 61.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.0, Spence Elementary is more mixed than the Wisconsin school average of 35.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for La Crosse School District reports $15,989 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Spence Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Logan High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Longfellow Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Logan Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southern Bluffs Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Spence Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 333
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Similar other schools in La Crosse
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Southern Bluffs Elementary
Standard public school
333 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Emerson Elementary
Standard public school
317 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Summit Environmental School
Standard public school
295 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
State Road Elementary
Standard public school
284 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
North Woods International School
Standard public school
255 students 8.8:1 students per teacher
Northside Elementary
Standard public school
237 students 7.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~329 students)
Frequently asked questions about Spence Elementary
How many students attend Spence Elementary?
Spence Elementary has 329 students enrolled. It is a public school in La Crosse, WI. CCD year-over-year: 335 (2022-23) → 315 (2023-24), down 20.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Spence Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Spence Elementary is 11.3:1, which is 22% lower than the Wisconsin average of 14.4:1 and 28% 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 Spence Elementary?
42.1% of students at Spence Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wisconsin average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Spence Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Spence Elementary is White at 61.1% of enrollment, in La Crosse, WI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Spence Elementary?
Spence Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Spence Elementary rank among schools in La Crosse?
By Resource Investment Index, Spence Elementary ranks #8 of 14 schools in La Crosse, WI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in La Crosse on the city page.
What other schools are in La Crosse School District?
Besides Spence Elementary, La Crosse School District also operates Central High (969 students), Logan High (729 students), and Longfellow Middle (631 students). See the La Crosse School District district page for the complete list.