- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Rapids, MI
Thornapple Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Thornapple Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261461005157
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thornapple Elementary School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #18 of 44
- schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.4:1
- students per teacher
- 13.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Thornapple Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thornapple Elementary School ranks #18 of 44 schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Forest Hills Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261461005157 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
Thornapple Elementary School held near 387 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 22.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 261461005157 · Grand Rapids, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
361 enr · 16.4:1 · 13.4% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Northern High School (1,088 students)
Thornapple Elementary School held near 387 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.4 → 22.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Thornapple Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Northern High
Northern High School
1,088 students
- Central High S
Central High School
999 students
- Eastern High S
Eastern High School
768 students
- Eastern Middle
Eastern Middle School
528 students
- Northern Trail
Northern Trails 56 School
520 students
- This school 361
Thornapple Elementary School
361 students
What this shows Thornapple Elementary School reports 361 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thornapple Elementary School compares
Thornapple Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.4:1 | ▼ 6% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.4% | ▼ 75% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 361 | top 49% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
361
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 75% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 46% in Michigan - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
24.9%
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
$14,433
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 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 77.3%
Asian 8.0%
Two or More 7.8%
Hispanic or Latino 5.5%
African American 1.4%
Largest group: White at 77.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.7, Thornapple Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Forest Hills Public Schools reports $14,433 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thornapple Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northern High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastern High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastern Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northern Trails 56 School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thornapple Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 768
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 528
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 520
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Grand Rapids
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
City Middlehigh
Standard public school
955 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Harrison Park Academy
Standard public school
708 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
494 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center
Standard public school
287 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Hope Academy of West Michigan
Standard public school
284 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Mulick Park Elementary School
Standard public school
264 students 17.6:1 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 (~361 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thornapple Elementary School
How many students attend Thornapple Elementary School?
Thornapple Elementary School has 361 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Rapids, MI. CCD year-over-year: 395 (2022-23) → 387 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thornapple Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thornapple Elementary School is 16.4:1, which is 6% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 4% higher 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 Thornapple Elementary School?
13.4% of students at Thornapple Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thornapple Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Thornapple Elementary School is White at 77.3% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thornapple Elementary School?
Thornapple Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (lower 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 Thornapple Elementary School rank among schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Thornapple Elementary School ranks #18 of 44 schools in Grand Rapids, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
What other schools are in Forest Hills Public Schools?
Besides Thornapple Elementary School, Forest Hills Public Schools also operates Northern High School (1,088 students), Central High School (999 students), and Eastern High School (768 students). See the Forest Hills Public Schools district page for the complete list.