- Enrollment
- 828
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Niles, MI
Way Niles
Federal NCES profile for Way Niles, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 262556008282
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 81
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Way Niles earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index on federal resource data.
- #1 of 6
- schools in Niles · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 68.3%
- free-lunch eligible
- 95
- students enrolled
By Resource Investment Index, Way Niles ranks #1 of 6 schools in Niles, MI.
School address
District: Niles Community Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262556008282 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
Way Niles shrank from 126 students in 2022-23 to 108 in 2023-24 (-14.3%).
Teacher FTE held 0.2 → 0.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-18 students YoY 262556008282 · Niles, MI Other · SMALL · TRAD
95 enr · 68.3% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Niles Senior High School (828 students)
Way Niles shrank from 126 students in 2022-23 to 108 in 2023-24 (-14.3%). Teacher FTE held 0.2 → 0.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Way Niles in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Niles Senior H
Niles Senior High School
828 students
- Howardellis El
Howardellis Elementary School
529 students
- Ballard Elemen
Ballard Elementary School
516 students
- Ring Lardner M
Ring Lardner Middle School
510 students
- Eastside Conne
Eastside Connections School
403 students
- This school 95
Way Niles
95 students
What this shows Way Niles reports 95 students on the CCD universe file.
How Way Niles compares
Way Niles 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.3% | ▲ 26% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 95 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
95
Bigger than 10% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% above the Michigan average of 54.3%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Engagement
14.7%
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
$13,291
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 95 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 75.8%
Two or More 11.6%
African American 8.4%
Hispanic or Latino 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.1%
Largest group: White at 75.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.4, Way Niles is more mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Niles Community Schools reports $13,291 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Way Niles Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Niles Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Howardellis Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Ballard Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Ring Lardner Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | No ratio data |
| Eastside Connections School | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
Comparisons are relative to Way Niles's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 529
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 516
- Students per teacher
- 20.6:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 510
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 13/100
- Enrollment
- 403
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Niles
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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.
Frequently asked questions about Way Niles
How many students attend Way Niles?
Way Niles has 95 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Niles, MI. CCD year-over-year: 126 (2022-23) → 108 (2023-24), down 18.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Way Niles?
68.3% of students at Way Niles are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Way Niles?
The largest demographic group at Way Niles is White at 75.8% of enrollment, in Niles, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Way Niles?
Way Niles has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Way Niles rank among schools in Niles?
By Resource Investment Index, Way Niles ranks #1 of 6 schools in Niles, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Niles on the city page.
What other schools are in Niles Community Schools?
Besides Way Niles, Niles Community Schools also operates Niles Senior High School (828 students), Howardellis Elementary School (529 students), and Ballard Elementary School (516 students). See the Niles Community Schools district page for the complete list.