- Enrollment
- 1,774
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lawrence, KS
Sunflower Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sunflower Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 200840000778
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunflower Elementary earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Kansas schools.
- #10 of 12
- elementary schools in Lawrence · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.3:1
- large classes for Kansas
- 38.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Sunflower Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sunflower Elementary ranks #10 of 12 elementary schools in Lawrence, KS.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Sunflower Elementary held near 452 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 33.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 200840000778 · Lawrence, KS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
444 enr · 15.3:1 · 38.7% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Lawrence Free State High (1,774 students)
Sunflower Elementary held near 452 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE added 29.0 → 33.1 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
- Lawrence Free
Lawrence Free State High
1,774 students
- Lawrence High
Lawrence High
1,454 students
- Lawrence West 648
Lawrence West Middle School
648 students
- Lawrence South 641
Lawrence Southwest Middle School
641 students
- Langston Hughe 560
Langston Hughes Elem
560 students
- This school 444
Sunflower Elementary
444 students
What this shows Sunflower Elementary reports 444 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sunflower Elementary compares
Sunflower Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.3:1 | ▲ 11% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.7% | ▼ 9% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 444 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
444
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% 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
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 76% in Kansas - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.9%
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
$12,176
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 444 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.4%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
Two or More 13.5%
African American 7.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.7%
Asian 2.5%
Largest group: White at 60.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.2, Sunflower Elementary is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lawrence reports $12,176 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawrence Free State High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lawrence High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lawrence West Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lawrence Southwest Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Langston Hughes Elem | Larger | Lower 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
- 1,454
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 648
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar elementary schools in Lawrence
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Langston Hughes Elem
Standard public school
560 students 23.3:1 students per teacher
Schwegler Elem
Standard public school
434 students 18.9:1 students per teacher
Deerfield Elem
Standard public school
433 students 16:1 students per teacher
Quail Run Elementary
Standard public school
421 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Sunset Hill Elem
Standard public school
398 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Hillcrest Elem
Standard public school
393 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~444 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sunflower Elementary
How many students attend Sunflower Elementary?
Sunflower Elementary has 444 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lawrence, KS. CCD year-over-year: 468 (2022-23) → 452 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunflower Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunflower Elementary is 15.3:1, which is 11% higher than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 3% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sunflower Elementary?
38.7% 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 60.4% of enrollment, in Lawrence, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunflower Elementary?
Sunflower Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical 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 elementary schools in Lawrence?
By Resource Investment Index, Sunflower Elementary ranks #10 of 12 elementary schools in Lawrence, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Lawrence on the city page.
What other schools are in Lawrence?
Besides Sunflower Elementary, Lawrence also operates Lawrence Free State High (1,774 students), Lawrence High (1,454 students), and Lawrence West Middle School (648 students). See the Lawrence district page for the complete list.