- Enrollment
- 567
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Paola, KS
Sunflower Elem
Federal NCES profile for Sunflower Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 201050001627
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunflower Elem earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Paola · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 33.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunflower Elem has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunflower Elem ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Paola, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
Sunflower Elem shrank from 403 students in 2022-23 to 379 in 2023-24 (-6.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 29.0 → 27.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-24 students YoY 201050001627 · Paola, KS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
373 enr · 12.9:1 · 33.0% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Paola High (567 students)
Sunflower Elem shrank from 403 students in 2022-23 to 379 in 2023-24 (-6.0%). Teacher FTE lost 29.0 → 27.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Sunflower Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Paola High
Paola High
567 students
- Paola Middle
Paola Middle
413 students
- Cottonwood Ele
Cottonwood Elem
379 students
- This school
Sunflower Elem
373 students
What this shows Sunflower Elem reports 373 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sunflower Elem compares
Sunflower Elem is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 7% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 33.0% | ▼ 23% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 373 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
373
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
33.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 44% in Kansas - lower ratio than 56% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
19.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$22,404
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,788
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 86.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.0%
Two or More 5.4%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 86.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 24.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 24.2, Sunflower Elem is less mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Paola reports $22,404 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sunflower Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paola High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Paola Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cottonwood Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunflower Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 413
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 379
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
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 (~373 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sunflower Elem
How many students attend Sunflower Elem?
Sunflower Elem has 373 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Paola, KS. CCD year-over-year: 403 (2022-23) → 379 (2023-24), down 24.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunflower Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunflower Elem is 12.9:1, which is 7% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 18% 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 Sunflower Elem?
33.0% of students at Sunflower Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunflower Elem?
The largest demographic group at Sunflower Elem is White at 86.6% of enrollment, in Paola, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunflower Elem?
Sunflower Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Sunflower Elem rank among public schools in Paola?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunflower Elem ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Paola, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Paola?
Besides Sunflower Elem, Paola also operates Paola High (567 students), Paola Middle (413 students), and Cottonwood Elem (379 students). See the Paola district page for the complete list.