- Enrollment
- 1,491
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Airway Heights, WA
Sunset Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sunset Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530123000227
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sunset Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 68.9%
- free-lunch eligible
- 634
- students enrolled
Sunset Elementary has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Cheney School District · Washington
NCES ID 530123000227 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+69 students YoY
Sunset Elementary grew from 588 students in 2022-23 to 657 in 2023-24 (+11.7%).
Teacher FTE added 41.5 → 42.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+69 students YoY 530123000227 · Airway Heights, WA Other · MID · TRAD
634 enr · 15.5:1 · 68.9% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Cheney High School (1,491 students)
Sunset Elementary grew from 588 students in 2022-23 to 657 in 2023-24 (+11.7%). Teacher FTE added 41.5 → 42.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Sunset Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cheney High Sc
Cheney High School
1,491 students
- Cheney Middle
Cheney Middle School
637 students
- This school
Sunset Elementary
634 students
- Westwood Middl
Westwood Middle School
624 students
- Windsor Elemen 549
Windsor Elementary
549 students
- Betz Elementar 535
Betz Elementary
535 students
What this shows Sunset Elementary reports 634 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sunset Elementary compares
Sunset Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.5:1 | ▼ 12% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.9% | ▲ 53% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 634 | top 18% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
634
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 40% in Washington - lower ratio than 60% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
16.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,596
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 634 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 36 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 47.9%
Hispanic or Latino 18.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 14.8%
Two or More 9.8%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.0%
African American 2.7%
Largest group: White at 47.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.2, Sunset Elementary is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cheney School District reports $14,596 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sunset Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cheney High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cheney Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Westwood Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Windsor Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Betz Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sunset Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 637
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 624
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 549
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 535
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
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 (~634 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sunset Elementary
How many students attend Sunset Elementary?
Sunset Elementary has 634 students enrolled. It is a public school in Airway Heights, WA. CCD year-over-year: 588 (2022-23) → 657 (2023-24), up 69.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sunset Elementary is 15.5:1, which is 12% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 1% 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 Sunset Elementary?
68.9% of students at Sunset Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sunset Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sunset Elementary is White at 47.9% of enrollment, in Airway Heights, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sunset Elementary?
Sunset Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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).
What other schools are in Cheney School District?
Besides Sunset Elementary, Cheney School District also operates Cheney High School (1,491 students), Cheney Middle School (637 students), and Westwood Middle School (624 students). See the Cheney School District district page for the complete list.