Enrollment
407
Illinois · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Alton, IL
West Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for West Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 170360004116
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 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 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Alton · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- students per teacher
- 407
- students enrolled
West Elementary School has class sizes near the Illinois median. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Alton, IL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 14:1 Illinois avg
-3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Elementary School compares with Illinois and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Elementary School
West Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary school in Alton, Illinois, enrolling 407 students.
At 13.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Illinois median, within a few percentage points of the 14:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
With 407 students, its enrollment sits close to the Illinois median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,845 scored Illinois schools.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and African American (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 52.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 15.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Alton's elementary schools, it stands alongside East Elementary School (415 students): West Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.6:1 vs 13.4:1).
Alton Cusd 11 also operates Alton High School (1,823 students) and Alton Middle School (1,220 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 Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.6:1 | ▼ 3% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 407 | top 44% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
407
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 51% in Illinois - lower ratio than 49% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
52.1%
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
$14,490
per pupil, district-wide
- below Illinois avg of $17,042
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
22
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.0 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
White 45.0%
African American 29.5%
Two or More 17.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 45.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.5, West Elementary School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alton Cusd 11, which includes West Elementary School.
$14,490
Per student
-15%
vs Illinois
Avg $17,042
-13%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.9%
State 40.6%
Federal 15.5%
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.
How West Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alton High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alton Middle School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Elementary School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Elementary School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lewis & Clark Elem School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar 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
- 1,823
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,220
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 549
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 415
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 251
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar elementary schools in Alton
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Illinois, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~407 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare West Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Alton Cusd 11'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 407 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Alton, IL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School is 13.6:1, which is 3% lower than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 13% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at West Elementary School is White at 45.0% of enrollment, in Alton, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elementary School?
West Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 elementary schools in Alton?
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Alton, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Alton on the city page.
Is West Elementary School a good school?
West Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Illinois median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois 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 Alton Cusd 11?
Besides West Elementary School, Alton Cusd 11 also operates Alton High School (1,823 students), Alton Middle School (1,220 students), and North Elementary School (549 students). See the Alton Cusd 11 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.