- Enrollment
- 164
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bessemer, MI
Washington School
Federal NCES profile for Washington School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 21/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 260000603855
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Washington School earns 21/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 89% of Michigan schools.
- 21
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.2:1
- small classes for Michigan
- 71.1%
- free-lunch eligible
- 179
- students enrolled
Washington School has class sizes smaller than 89% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Bessemer Area School District · Michigan
NCES ID 260000603855 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-12 students YoY
Washington School shrank from 190 students in 2022-23 to 178 in 2023-24 (-6.3%).
Teacher FTE held 16.5 → 16.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-12 students YoY 260000603855 · Bessemer, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
179 enr · 11.2:1 · 71.1% lunch · RII 21
Nearest enrollment peer: Ad Johnston Jrsr High School (164 students)
Washington School shrank from 190 students in 2022-23 to 178 in 2023-24 (-6.3%). Teacher FTE held 16.5 → 16.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
How Washington School compares
Washington School is a shrinking 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 | 11.2:1 | ▼ 36% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.1% | ▲ 31% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 179 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.2:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
179
Bigger than 17% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 31% 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
11.2:1
students per teacher
- 36% below state mean
Top 11% in Michigan - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
47.5%
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
$13,944
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.3 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 5 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 87.2%
Two or More 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Largest group: White at 87.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.2, Washington School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Bessemer Area School District reports $13,944 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Washington School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ad Johnston Jrsr High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Washington School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~179 students)
Frequently asked questions about Washington School
How many students attend Washington School?
Washington School has 179 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bessemer, MI. CCD year-over-year: 190 (2022-23) → 178 (2023-24), down 12.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Washington School?
The student-teacher ratio at Washington School is 11.2:1, which is 36% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 29% 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 Washington School?
71.1% of students at Washington School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Washington School?
The largest demographic group at Washington School is White at 87.2% of enrollment, in Bessemer, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Washington School?
Washington School has a Resource Investment Index of 21/100 (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).
What other schools are in Bessemer Area School District?
Besides Washington School, Bessemer Area School District also operates Ad Johnston Jrsr High School (164 students). See the Bessemer Area School District district page for the complete list.