Enrollment
622
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Arcadia, FL
West Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for West Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120042000621
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Florida schools.
- #1 of 6
- schools in Arcadia · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- small classes for Florida
- 69.6%
- free-lunch eligible
West Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 79% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #1 of 6 schools in Arcadia, FL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
45.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
-22% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.6%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+34% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Elementary School compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Elementary School
West Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Arcadia, Florida, enrolling 622 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of Florida schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 69.6% of students eligible for free meals.
With 622 students, its enrollment sits close to the Florida median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Against 971 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #228.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (49%) and White (38%) (diversity index 61/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 42.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 28.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Desoto also operates Desoto County High School (1,215 students) and Desoto Middle School (922 students) alongside West Elementary School.
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 West Elementary School compares
West Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 22% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.6% | ▲ 34% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 622 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
622
Bigger than 75% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 21% in Florida - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
42.0%
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
$12,175
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $11,167
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 40 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.4 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
Hispanic or Latino 48.6%
White 37.8%
African American 9.5%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 48.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.1, West Elementary School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Desoto, which includes West Elementary School.
$12,175
Per student
+9%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.4%
State 47.5%
Federal 28.1%
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 West Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Desoto County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desoto Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Memorial Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Nocatee Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desoto Virtual Academy | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,215
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 922
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 861
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 475
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 53
- Students per teacher
- 26.5:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~622 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare West Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Desoto'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 West Elementary School
How many students attend West Elementary School?
West Elementary School has 622 students enrolled. It is a public school in Arcadia, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 22% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 12% 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 Elementary School?
69.6% of students at West Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at West Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 48.6% of enrollment, in Arcadia, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elementary School?
West Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 West Elementary School rank among schools in Arcadia?
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #1 of 6 schools in Arcadia, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Arcadia on the city page.
Is West Elementary School a good school?
West Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Florida 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 Desoto?
Besides West Elementary School, Desoto also operates Desoto County High School (1,215 students), Desoto Middle School (922 students), and Memorial Elementary School (861 students). See the Desoto 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.