- Enrollment
- 15
- Students per teacher
- 5:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Saint Paul, MN
St. Paul School of Northern Lights
Federal NCES profile for St. Paul School of Northern Lights, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 270045805256Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
St. Paul School of Northern Lights earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Minnesota schools.
- #17 of 26
- elementary schools in Saint Paul · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 42.4:1
- large classes for Minnesota
- 25.3%
- free-lunch eligible
St. Paul School of Northern Lights has class sizes larger than 98% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, St. Paul School of Northern Lights ranks #17 of 26 elementary schools in Saint Paul, MN.
School address
District: St. Paul School of Northern Lights · Minnesota
NCES ID 270045805256 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
St. Paul School of Northern Lights shrank from 198 students in 2022-23 to 185 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE added 5.0 → 10.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-13 students YoY 270045805256 · Saint Paul, MN Elementary · SMALL · CHARTER
212 enr · 42.4:1 · 25.3% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: St. Paul School of Northern Lights Secondary (15 students)
St. Paul School of Northern Lights shrank from 198 students in 2022-23 to 185 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE added 5.0 → 10.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
How St. Paul School of Northern Lights compares
St. Paul School of Northern Lights is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 42.4:1 | ▲ 168% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.3% | ▼ 41% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 212 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
42.4:1
Leaner classes than 0% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
212
Bigger than 21% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
42.4:1
students per teacher
- 168% above state mean
Top 98% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
14.6%
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
$15,800
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
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
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.0%
Two or More 13.2%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
African American 6.1%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: White at 67.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.8, St. Paul School of Northern Lights is more mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for St. Paul School of Northern Lights reports $15,800 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How St. Paul School of Northern Lights Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| St. Paul School of Northern Lights Secondary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to St. Paul School of Northern Lights's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~212 students)
Frequently asked questions about St. Paul School of Northern Lights
How many students attend St. Paul School of Northern Lights?
St. Paul School of Northern Lights has 212 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Saint Paul, MN. CCD year-over-year: 198 (2022-23) → 185 (2023-24), down 13.
What is the student-teacher ratio at St. Paul School of Northern Lights?
The student-teacher ratio at St. Paul School of Northern Lights is 42.4:1, which is 168% higher than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 170% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at St. Paul School of Northern Lights?
25.3% of students at St. Paul School of Northern Lights are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of St. Paul School of Northern Lights?
The largest demographic group at St. Paul School of Northern Lights is White at 67.0% of enrollment, in Saint Paul, MN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for St. Paul School of Northern Lights?
St. Paul School of Northern Lights has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 St. Paul School of Northern Lights rank among elementary schools in Saint Paul?
By Resource Investment Index, St. Paul School of Northern Lights ranks #17 of 26 elementary schools in Saint Paul, MN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Saint Paul on the city page.
What other schools are in St. Paul School of Northern Lights?
Besides St. Paul School of Northern Lights, St. Paul School of Northern Lights also operates St. Paul School of Northern Lights Secondary (15 students). See the St. Paul School of Northern Lights district page for the complete list.