- Enrollment
- 232
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Elbow Lake, MN
West Central Area N. El.
Federal NCES profile for West Central Area N. El., including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 270010400513
👥 S:T ratio 66
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Central Area N. El. earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of Minnesota schools.
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.5:1
- small classes for Minnesota
- 37.4%
- free-lunch eligible
- 144
- students enrolled
West Central Area N. El. has class sizes smaller than 86% of Minnesota schools. Computed live against every Minnesota school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: West Central Area · Minnesota
NCES ID 270010400513 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-23 students YoY
West Central Area N. El. shrank from 179 students in 2022-23 to 156 in 2023-24 (-12.8%).
Teacher FTE held 17.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-23 students YoY 270010400513 · Elbow Lake, MN Other · SMALL · TRAD
144 enr · 8.5:1 · 37.4% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Wca Middle School (232 students)
West Central Area N. El. shrank from 179 students in 2022-23 to 156 in 2023-24 (-12.8%). Teacher FTE held 17.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Minnesota schools → · Find another →
West Central Area N. El. in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Wca Middle Sch
Wca Middle School
232 students
- West Central A
West Central Area Secondary
229 students
- This school
West Central Area N. El.
144 students
- West Central A
West Central Area S. El.
138 students
What this shows West Central Area N. El. reports 144 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Central Area N. El. compares
West Central Area N. El. is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Minnesota and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Minnesota | Minnesota avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.5:1 | ▼ 46% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 37.4% | ▼ 13% | 42.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 144 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.5:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
144
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
37.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% below the Minnesota average of 42.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8.5:1
students per teacher
- 46% below state mean
Top 14% in Minnesota - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.1%
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
$14,757
per pupil, district-wide
- below Minnesota avg of $15,919
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
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.
Student demographics
White 86.1%
Two or More 6.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
African American 2.8%
Largest group: White at 86.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.2, West Central Area N. El. is less mixed than the Minnesota school average of 42.8.
Programs
District finance for West Central Area reports $14,757 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Central Area N. El. Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wca Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Central Area Secondary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Central Area S. El. | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Central Area N. El.'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 229
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 138
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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.
Similar enrollment (~144 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Central Area N. El.
How many students attend West Central Area N. El.?
West Central Area N. El. has 144 students enrolled. It is a public school in Elbow Lake, MN. CCD year-over-year: 179 (2022-23) → 156 (2023-24), down 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Central Area N. El.?
The student-teacher ratio at West Central Area N. El. is 8.5:1, which is 46% lower than the Minnesota average of 15.8:1 and 46% 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 West Central Area N. El.?
37.4% of students at West Central Area N. El. are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Minnesota average of 42.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Central Area N. El.?
The largest demographic group at West Central Area N. El. is White at 86.1% of enrollment, in Elbow Lake, MN.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Central Area N. El.?
West Central Area N. El. has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in West Central Area?
Besides West Central Area N. El., West Central Area also operates Wca Middle School (232 students), West Central Area Secondary (229 students), and West Central Area S. El. (138 students). See the West Central Area district page for the complete list.