- Enrollment
- 1,011
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Valley Center, KS
West Elem
Federal NCES profile for West Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 201251000368
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Elem earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Kansas schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Valley Center · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12:1
- small classes for Kansas
- 41.5%
- free-lunch eligible
West Elem has class sizes smaller than 70% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Elem ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Valley Center, KS.
School address
District: Valley Center Pub Sch · Kansas
NCES ID 201251000368 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-8 students YoY
West Elem held near 279 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 22.1 → 22.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-8 students YoY 201251000368 · Valley Center, KS Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
264 enr · 12:1 · 41.5% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Valley Center High (1,011 students)
West Elem held near 279 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-8 headcount). Teacher FTE held 22.1 → 22.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
West Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Valley Center
Valley Center High
1,011 students
- Valley Center
Valley Center Middle School
802 students
- Valley Center
Valley Center Intermediate School
443 students
- Wheatland Elem 325
Wheatland Elem
325 students
- This school 264
West Elem
264 students
- Abilene Elem 254
Abilene Elem
254 students
What this shows West Elem reports 264 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Elem compares
West Elem held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12:1 | ▼ 13% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.5% | ▼ 3% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 264 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
264
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 30% in Kansas - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
16.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,612
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,788
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 264 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 68.2%
Hispanic or Latino 20.1%
Two or More 6.4%
African American 3.0%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 68.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.9, West Elem is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
District finance for Valley Center Pub Sch reports $14,612 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valley Center High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valley Center Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valley Center Intermediate School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wheatland Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Abilene Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 802
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 443
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 325
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 254
- Students per teacher
- 14.1:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Valley Center
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~264 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Elem
How many students attend West Elem?
West Elem has 264 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Valley Center, KS. CCD year-over-year: 287 (2022-23) → 279 (2023-24), nearly flat (-8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elem is 12:1, which is 13% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 24% 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 Elem?
41.5% of students at West Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elem?
The largest demographic group at West Elem is White at 68.2% of enrollment, in Valley Center, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elem?
West Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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).
How does West Elem rank among elementary schools in Valley Center?
By Resource Investment Index, West Elem ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Valley Center, KS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Valley Center on the city page.
What other schools are in Valley Center Pub Sch?
Besides West Elem, Valley Center Pub Sch also operates Valley Center High (1,011 students), Valley Center Middle School (802 students), and Valley Center Intermediate School (443 students). See the Valley Center Pub Sch district page for the complete list.