- Enrollment
- 258
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Jackson, MI
Townsend Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Townsend Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 263465007041
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Townsend Elementary School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 79% of Michigan schools.
- #5 of 10
- schools in Jackson · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.7:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 68.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Townsend Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 79% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Townsend Elementary School ranks #5 of 10 schools in Jackson, MI.
School address
District: Vandercook Lake Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 263465007041 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
Townsend Elementary School grew from 334 students in 2022-23 to 360 in 2023-24 (+7.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 22.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+26 students YoY 263465007041 · Jackson, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
316 enr · 13.7:1 · 68.3% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Vandercook Lake High School (258 students)
Townsend Elementary School grew from 334 students in 2022-23 to 360 in 2023-24 (+7.8%). Teacher FTE lost 23.3 → 22.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Townsend Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Townsend Elementary School
316 students
- Vandercook Lak
Vandercook Lake High School
258 students
- Vandercook Lak 55
Vandercook Lake Virtual Academy
55 students
What this shows Townsend Elementary School reports 316 students on the CCD universe file.
How Townsend Elementary School compares
Townsend Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.7:1 | ▼ 22% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.3% | ▲ 26% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 316 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.7:1
Leaner classes than 60% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
316
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.7:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 21% in Michigan - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
52.2%
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
$15,261
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $15,012
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 73.1%
Two or More 13.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%
African American 6.0%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 73.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.8, Townsend Elementary School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Vandercook Lake Public Schools reports $15,261 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Townsend Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vandercook Lake High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Vandercook Lake Virtual Academy | Smaller | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Townsend Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 55
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Similar other schools in Jackson
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
South Central Michigan Virtual
Standard public school
402 students 80.4:1 students per teacher
Jackson Preparatory Early College
Standard public school
260 students 21.7:1 students per teacher
Jackson Isd Local Based Special Education Programs
Special-education school
240 students 4:1 students per teacher
Northwest Connect
Alternative education program
157 students 39.3:1 students per teacher
Way East Jackson
Alternative education program
16 students
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 (~316 students)
Frequently asked questions about Townsend Elementary School
How many students attend Townsend Elementary School?
Townsend Elementary School has 316 students enrolled. It is a public school in Jackson, MI. CCD year-over-year: 334 (2022-23) → 360 (2023-24), up 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Townsend Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Townsend Elementary School is 13.7:1, which is 22% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 13% 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 Townsend Elementary School?
68.3% of students at Townsend Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Townsend Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Townsend Elementary School is White at 73.1% of enrollment, in Jackson, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Townsend Elementary School?
Townsend Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower 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 Townsend Elementary School rank among schools in Jackson?
By Resource Investment Index, Townsend Elementary School ranks #5 of 10 schools in Jackson, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Jackson on the city page.
What other schools are in Vandercook Lake Public Schools?
Besides Townsend Elementary School, Vandercook Lake Public Schools also operates Vandercook Lake High School (258 students) and Vandercook Lake Virtual Academy (55 students). See the Vandercook Lake Public Schools district page for the complete list.