- Enrollment
- 1,794
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gardner, KS
Sunflower Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sunflower Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 200642000997
👥 S:T ratio 58
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunflower Elementary earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of Kansas schools.
- #1 of 6
- schools in Gardner · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.5:1
- small classes for Kansas
- 22.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunflower Elementary has class sizes smaller than 84% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunflower Elementary ranks #1 of 6 schools in Gardner, KS.
School address
District: Gardner Edgerton · Kansas
NCES ID 200642000997 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-34 students YoY
Sunflower Elementary shrank from 345 students in 2022-23 to 311 in 2023-24 (-9.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 25.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-34 students YoY 200642000997 · Gardner, KS Other · SMALL · TRAD
293 enr · 10.5:1 · 22.0% lunch · RII 62
Nearest enrollment peer: Gardner Edgerton High (1,794 students)
Sunflower Elementary shrank from 345 students in 2022-23 to 311 in 2023-24 (-9.9%). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 25.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Sunflower Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gardner Edgert
Gardner Edgerton High
1,794 students
- Trail Ridge Mi 679
Trail Ridge Middle School
679 students
- Pioneer Ridge 548
Pioneer Ridge Middle School
548 students
- Madison Elemen 521
Madison Elementary
521 students
- Wheatridge Mid 517
Wheatridge Middle School
517 students
- This school 293
Sunflower Elementary
293 students
What this shows Sunflower Elementary reports 293 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sunflower Elementary compares
Sunflower Elementary 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 | 10.5:1 | ▼ 24% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.0% | ▼ 48% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 293 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.5:1
Leaner classes than 86% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
293
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% 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
10.5:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 16% in Kansas - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
8.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$12,882
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 293 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 73.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.3%
Two or More 8.2%
African American 6.1%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 73.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.4, Sunflower Elementary is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Gardner Edgerton reports $12,882 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sunflower Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gardner Edgerton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Trail Ridge Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pioneer Ridge Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Madison Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wheatridge Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunflower Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 679
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 548
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 521
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 517
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
Similar other schools in Gardner
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Madison Elementary
Standard public school
521 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Grand Star Elementary
Standard public school
380 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Nike Elementary
Standard public school
365 students 13:1 students per teacher
Moonlight Elementary School
Standard public school
320 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Gardner Elem
Standard public school
304 students 12.2:1 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 (~293 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sunflower Elementary
How many students attend Sunflower Elementary?
Sunflower Elementary has 293 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gardner, KS. CCD year-over-year: 345 (2022-23) → 311 (2023-24), down 34.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunflower Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunflower Elementary is 10.5:1, which is 24% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 33% 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 Elementary?
22.0% of students at Sunflower Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunflower Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sunflower Elementary is White at 73.7% of enrollment, in Gardner, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunflower Elementary?
Sunflower Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (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 Sunflower Elementary rank among schools in Gardner?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunflower Elementary ranks #1 of 6 schools in Gardner, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gardner on the city page.
What other schools are in Gardner Edgerton?
Besides Sunflower Elementary, Gardner Edgerton also operates Gardner Edgerton High (1,794 students), Trail Ridge Middle School (679 students), and Pioneer Ridge Middle School (548 students). See the Gardner Edgerton district page for the complete list.