Enrollment
260
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Kalamazoo, MI
Washington Writers Academy
Federal NCES profile for Washington Writers Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 261995005673
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Washington Writers Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Kalamazoo · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20:1
- large classes for Michigan
- 91.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Washington Writers Academy has class sizes larger than 80% of Michigan schools. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Washington Writers Academy ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Kalamazoo, MI.
School address
District: Kalamazoo Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261995005673 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
13.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
+14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
91.9%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
+69% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Washington Writers Academy compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Washington Writers Academy
Washington Writers Academy is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Kalamazoo, Michigan, enrolling 260 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20:1 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 91.9% of students qualify for free meals, 69% above the Michigan average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 260 puts it in the smaller third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 90% of the 3,375 Michigan schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 279 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Michigan schools statewide, it ranks #12, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (61%) and Two or More (16%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 58/100).
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 15.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 55 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 260 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students) and Kalamazoo Central High School (1,613 students) alongside Washington Writers Academy.
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 Washington Writers Academy compares
Washington Writers Academy on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 14% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.9% | ▲ 69% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 260 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
260
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
91.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 80% in Michigan - lower ratio than 20% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
22.3%
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
$14,755
per pupil, district-wide
- above Michigan avg of $13,507
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
8
in-school suspensions + 47 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 21.2 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
African American 61.2%
Two or More 15.8%
White 14.2%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.5%
Asian 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 61.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.5, Washington Writers Academy is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Kalamazoo Public Schools, which includes Washington Writers Academy.
$14,755
Per student
+9%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-11%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 32.5%
State 51.9%
Federal 15.6%
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 Washington Writers Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Loy Norrix High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Kalamazoo Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Milwood Magnet School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Linden Grove Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Washington Writers Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,785
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 1,613
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 889
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
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 (~260 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Washington Writers Academy's federal record.
- Compare Washington Writers Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Kalamazoo Public Schools'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 Washington Writers Academy
How many students attend Washington Writers Academy?
Washington Writers Academy has 260 students enrolled. It is a public school in Kalamazoo, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Washington Writers Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Washington Writers Academy is 20:1, which is 14% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Washington Writers Academy?
91.9% of students at Washington Writers Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Washington Writers Academy?
The largest demographic group at Washington Writers Academy is African American at 61.2% of enrollment, in Kalamazoo, MI. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Washington Writers Academy?
Washington Writers Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Washington Writers Academy rank among public schools in Kalamazoo?
By Resource Investment Index, Washington Writers Academy ranks #1 of 3 public 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 public schools in Kalamazoo on the city page.
Is Washington Writers Academy a good school?
Washington Writers Academy earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 80% of Michigan schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Michigan schools. 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 Public Schools?
Besides Washington Writers Academy, Kalamazoo Public Schools also operates Loy Norrix High School (1,785 students), Kalamazoo Central High School (1,613 students), and Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts (889 students). See the Kalamazoo Public Schools 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.