Enrollment
475
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Topeka, KS
Wanamaker Elem
Federal NCES profile for Wanamaker Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 200320001071
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wanamaker Elem earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median.
- #10 of 21
- schools in Topeka · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 32.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Wanamaker Elem has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wanamaker Elem ranks #10 of 21 schools in Topeka, KS.
School address
District: Auburn Washburn · Kansas
NCES ID 200320001071 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.2:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.9%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
-23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Wanamaker Elem compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at Wanamaker Elem
Wanamaker Elem is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Topeka, Kansas, enrolling 475 students.
At 13.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Kansas median, within a few percentage points of the 13.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 32.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 475 puts it in the larger third of Kansas schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Against 244 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #124.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Hispanic or Latino (16%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 475 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Auburn Washburn spends $12,077 per pupil, 22% below the Kansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Topeka's public schools, it stands alongside Jardine Elementary (729 students): Wanamaker Elem is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.2:1 vs 13.5:1).
Auburn Washburn also operates Washburn Rural High (1,878 students) and Washburn Rural Middle School (966 students) alongside Wanamaker Elem.
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 Wanamaker Elem compares
Wanamaker Elem on the metrics families compare, against Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.9% | ▼ 23% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 475 | top 20% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
475
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 49% in Kansas - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,077
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,487
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 475 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.3 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 60.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.4%
Two or More 12.0%
Asian 7.6%
African American 3.8%
Largest group: White at 60.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.9, Wanamaker Elem is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Auburn Washburn, which includes Wanamaker Elem.
$12,077
Per student
-22%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 23.3%
State 67.0%
Federal 9.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Wanamaker Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washburn Rural High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Washburn Rural Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Farley Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jay Shideler Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Indian Hills Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wanamaker Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,878
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 966
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 596
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
Similar other schools in Topeka
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Jardine Elementary
Standard public school
729 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Farley Elementary
Standard public school
596 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Ross Elementary
Standard public school
563 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Logan Elementary
Standard public school
558 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School
Standard public school
447 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
Shawnee Heights Elem
Standard public school
429 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~475 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Wanamaker Elem's federal record.
- Compare Wanamaker Elem against another school. Compare schools
- Auburn Washburn'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 Wanamaker Elem
How many students attend Wanamaker Elem?
Wanamaker Elem has 475 students enrolled. It is a public school in Topeka, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wanamaker Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Wanamaker Elem is 13.2:1, which is 4% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 16% 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 Wanamaker Elem?
32.9% of students at Wanamaker Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wanamaker Elem?
The largest demographic group at Wanamaker Elem is White at 60.2% of enrollment, in Topeka, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wanamaker Elem?
Wanamaker Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Wanamaker Elem rank among schools in Topeka?
By Resource Investment Index, Wanamaker Elem ranks #10 of 21 schools in Topeka, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Topeka on the city page.
Is Wanamaker Elem a good school?
Wanamaker Elem earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. 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 Auburn Washburn?
Besides Wanamaker Elem, Auburn Washburn also operates Washburn Rural High (1,878 students), Washburn Rural Middle School (966 students), and Farley Elementary (596 students). See the Auburn Washburn 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.