Enrollment
21
Minnesota · 2024-25 NCES data
2024-25 NCES data Other / mixed grade configuration NCES 279145502388
West Central Area Learning Center — Melrose, MN
Federal NCES profile for West Central Area Learning Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators — Resource Investment Index 43/100.
👥 Class size 56
🌟 Gifted program 30
How this works: Each indicator above is scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC data, then averaged into the Resource Investment Index. This measures resource allocation — staffing, programs, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes. Full methodology →
School address
District: West Central Education District · Minnesota
Public location data per NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) Common Core of Data. Verify the school's current address on the NCES CCD record.
Teachers (FTE)
3.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11:1
vs 15.9:1 Minnesota avg
-31% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.7%
vs 42.8% Minnesota avg
+63% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Central Area Learning Center compares with Minnesota and U.S. medians
The federal record — no proprietary index, no editorial formula.
PlainSchools publishes the actual federal measurements — enrollment, staffing, demographics, discipline, and finance — straight from the NCES Common Core of Data, CRDC, and F-33 surveys. No composite rating, no opinion-based score on top. You get the same raw numbers researchers and policymakers use, with benchmarks, spending context, and equity indicators computed from the same federal datasets. Full methodology linked below.
What this school's NCES data tells you
West Central Area Learning Center reports 21 enrolled students to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) alongside 3.0 full-time-equivalent teachers, producing a 11:1 student-teacher ratio. That figure sits 31% below the Minnesota state mean of 15.9:1, signalling more teacher attention per pupil than the state benchmark. Against the national 2024-25 average of 15.9:1, it is 31% lower, a useful calibration for families comparing districts across state lines.
Title I and federal lunch eligibility offer another window into the student body: 69.7% of pupils qualify for free meals, a proxy for household income that federal programs use to direct funding. The free-lunch share is 63% above the Minnesota average and 35% above the national baseline.
On the finance side, the surrounding West Central Education District spends $55,405 per pupil district-wide, above the Minnesota average of $21,113 and above the national average of $19,490. Revenue comes 44.0% from local sources (property taxes), 24.5% from the state, and 31.5% from federal programs per the NCES F-33 finance survey. Taken together, these measurements produce a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (D), calculated from 2 distinct NCES and CRDC indicators measuring resource allocation rather than academic outcomes.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How West Central Area Learning Center compares
Cross-validating school-level NCES values against Minnesota state and U.S. national means lets readers see whether this school is an outlier or in line with peers.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11:1 | ▼ 31% | 15.9:1 | 15.9:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.7% | ▲ 63% | 42.8% | 51.8% |
| Enrollment | 21 | top 11% | — | — |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
What the federal data reveals about equity at this school
Federal measurements — not ratings — surface the resource and opportunity picture. Below are the indicators that researchers, civil-rights monitors, and funding formulas use to assess equity.
Economic need
69.7%
free-lunch eligible
— 63% above the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold — federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11:1
students per teacher
— 31% below state mean
Top 22% in Minnesota — lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Below the 15:1 benchmark — typical of schools with smaller class sizes and more individualized attention.
Funding equity
$55,405
per pupil, district-wide
— above Minnesota avg of $21,113
Above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
Enrollment 21 Top 11% in Minnesota — larger than 89% of 2,391 state schools
Teachers (FTE) 3.0
Students per teacher 11:1 -31% vs state
Free-lunch eligible 69.7% +63% vs state
NCES ID 279145502388
Student demographics
White 66.7%
Hispanic or Latino 28.6%
Two or More 4.8%
Largest group: White at 66.7% of enrollment.
Programs & staff
Counselors (FTE) 0.0
Discipline & special education
In-school suspensions 0
Out-of-school suspensions 0
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for West Central Education District, which includes West Central Area Learning Center.
$55,405
Per student
+162%
vs Minnesota
Avg $21,113
+184%
vs U.S.
Avg $19,490
Revenue mix
Local 44.0%
State 24.5%
Federal 31.5%
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.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 50
- Students per teacher
- 11:1
- Enrollment
- 10
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
Similar other schools in Melrose
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Educator & family resources
In-depth guides on understanding NCES data, school choice, and education funding.
Understanding NCES data
How CCD, CRDC and EDFacts feed every public-school number you see.
Choose a school district
Eight signals that matter more than the overall ranking number.
How schools are funded
Title I, F-33, state aid formulas and what per-pupil spending really means.
Chronic absenteeism
Why missing 10% of school matters and how it varies by district.
Magnet vs charter vs traditional
Three school types, three funding models, three sets of trade-offs.
School discipline data
What CRDC suspension and expulsion records do and don't reveal.
Frequently asked questions about West Central Area Learning Center
How many students attend West Central Area Learning Center?
West Central Area Learning Center has 21 students enrolled. It is a other school in MELROSE, MN.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Central Area Learning Center?
The student-teacher ratio at West Central Area Learning Center is 11:1, which is 31% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.9:1 and 31% lower than the national average of 15.9:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Central Area Learning Center?
69.7% of students at West Central Area Learning Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Central Area Learning Center?
The largest demographic group at West Central Area Learning Center is White at 66.7%. The school serves a student body in MELROSE, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Central Area Learning Center?
West Central Area Learning Center has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (D) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. This index measures federal resource allocation — staffing levels, program availability, and support services — not standardized test scores or academic outcomes. Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.