Enrollment
30
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kalamazoo, MI
Valley Center School
Federal NCES profile for Valley Center School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 268060000873
👥 S:T ratio 76
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Valley Center School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Michigan.
- #20 of 26
- schools in Kalamazoo · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 6:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 65.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Valley Center School has class sizes smaller than 96% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Valley Center School ranks #20 of 26 schools in Kalamazoo, MI.
School address
District: Kalamazoo Resa · Michigan
NCES ID 268060000873 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
5.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
6:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-66% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
65.6%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+21% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Valley Center School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Valley Center School
Valley Center School is a higher-need, small combined-grade school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, enrolling 30 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 6:1, Valley Center School is leaner than roughly 96% of Michigan schools and 66% under the state's 17.5:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 65.6% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 95% of Michigan schools, with 30 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 71 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #36.
Its student body is led by White (50%) and Two or More (27%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 62/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 70.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 17 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 30 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Kalamazoo's public schools, it stands alongside Washington Writers Academy (260 students): Valley Center School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (6:1 vs 20:1).
Kalamazoo Resa also operates Woodsedge Learning Center (222 students) and Kalamazoo Resa West Campusyoung Adult Program (126 students) alongside Valley Center School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Valley Center School compares
Valley Center School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 6:1 | ▼ 66% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.6% | ▲ 21% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 30 | top 95% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
6:1
Leaner classes than 98% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
30
Bigger than 4% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
65.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
6:1
students per teacher
- 66% below state mean
Top 4% in Michigan - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
70.0%
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.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 56.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 50.0%
Two or More 26.7%
African American 23.3%
Largest group: White at 50.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.4, Valley Center School is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
How Valley Center School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woodsedge Learning Center | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kalamazoo Resa West Campusyoung Adult Program | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Youth Center School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Valley Center School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 222
- Students per teacher
- 6.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 126
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 51
- Students per teacher
- 4.6:1
- Resource Index
- 67/100
Similar other schools in Kalamazoo
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~30 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Valley Center School's federal record.
- Compare Valley Center School against another school. Compare schools
- Kalamazoo Resa's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Valley Center School
How many students attend Valley Center School?
Valley Center School has 30 students enrolled. It is a special-education school in Kalamazoo, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Valley Center School?
The student-teacher ratio at Valley Center School is 6:1, which is 66% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 62% 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 Valley Center School?
65.6% of students at Valley Center School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Valley Center School?
The largest demographic group at Valley Center School is White at 50.0% of enrollment, in Kalamazoo, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Valley Center School?
Valley Center School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Valley Center School rank among schools in Kalamazoo?
By Resource Investment Index, Valley Center School ranks #20 of 26 schools in Kalamazoo, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Kalamazoo on the city page.
Is Valley Center School a good school?
Valley Center School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of Michigan schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Michigan. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Kalamazoo Resa?
Besides Valley Center School, Kalamazoo Resa also operates Woodsedge Learning Center (222 students), Kalamazoo Resa West Campusyoung Adult Program (126 students), and Youth Center School (51 students). See the Kalamazoo Resa district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.