- Enrollment
- 2,002
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Casper, WY
Verda James Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Verda James Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 560451000389
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Verda James Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Wyoming schools.
- #9 of 12
- elementary schools in Casper · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.9:1
- large classes for Wyoming
- 14.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Verda James Elementary has class sizes larger than 98% of Wyoming schools. Computed live against every Wyoming school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Verda James Elementary ranks #9 of 12 elementary schools in Casper, WY.
School address
District: Natrona County School District #1 · Wyoming
NCES ID 560451000389 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Verda James Elementary held near 435 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 25.1 → 27.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 560451000389 · Casper, WY Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
448 enr · 17.9:1 · 14.4% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Kelly Walsh High School (2,002 students)
Verda James Elementary held near 435 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE added 25.1 → 27.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Wyoming schools → · Find another →
Verda James Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kelly Walsh Hi
Kelly Walsh High School
2,002 students
- Natrona County
Natrona County High School
1,703 students
- C Y Middle Sch 766
C Y Middle School
766 students
- Centennial Mid 755
Centennial Middle School
755 students
- Dean Morgan Mi 613
Dean Morgan Middle School
613 students
- This school 448
Verda James Elementary
448 students
What this shows Verda James Elementary reports 448 students on the CCD universe file.
How Verda James Elementary compares
Verda James Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Wyoming and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Wyoming | Wyoming avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.9:1 | ▲ 57% | 11.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 14.4% | ▼ 47% | 27.4% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 448 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.9:1
Leaner classes than 25% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
448
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
14.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below the Wyoming average of 27.4%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.9:1
students per teacher
- 57% above state mean
Top 98% in Wyoming - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.2%
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
$16,870
per pupil, district-wide
- below Wyoming avg of $23,707
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors0.8 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
38
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.6%
Hispanic or Latino 11.2%
Two or More 6.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
African American 0.4%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: White at 80.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.4, Verda James Elementary is about as mixed as the Wyoming school average of 33.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Natrona County School District #1 reports $16,870 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Verda James Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kelly Walsh High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Natrona County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| C Y Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Centennial Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Dean Morgan Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Verda James Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,703
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 755
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 613
- Students per teacher
- 11.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Casper
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Summit Elementary School
Standard public school
437 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Paradise Valley Elementary
Standard public school
359 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Ft. Caspar Academy
Standard public school
356 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Park Elementary
Standard public school
344 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Southridge Elementary
Standard public school
322 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Manor Heights Elementary
Standard public school
299 students 9.6:1 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 (~448 students)
Frequently asked questions about Verda James Elementary
How many students attend Verda James Elementary?
Verda James Elementary has 448 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Casper, WY. CCD year-over-year: 444 (2022-23) → 435 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Verda James Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Verda James Elementary is 17.9:1, which is 57% higher than the Wyoming average of 11.4:1 and 14% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Verda James Elementary?
14.4% of students at Verda James Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Wyoming average of 27.4%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Verda James Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Verda James Elementary is White at 80.6% of enrollment, in Casper, WY.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Verda James Elementary?
Verda James Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Verda James Elementary rank among elementary schools in Casper?
By Resource Investment Index, Verda James Elementary ranks #9 of 12 elementary schools in Casper, WY. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Casper on the city page.
What other schools are in Natrona County School District #1?
Besides Verda James Elementary, Natrona County School District #1 also operates Kelly Walsh High School (2,002 students), Natrona County High School (1,703 students), and C Y Middle School (766 students). See the Natrona County School District #1 district page for the complete list.