- Enrollment
- 226
- Students per teacher
- 32.3:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Howard, KS
West Elk Schools
Federal NCES profile for West Elk Schools, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 200750002013
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Elk Schools earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of Kansas schools.
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.2:1
- small classes for Kansas
- 47.4%
- free-lunch eligible
- 371
- students enrolled
West Elk Schools has class sizes smaller than 78% of Kansas schools. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-3 students YoY
West Elk Schools held near 375 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 33.9 → 34.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-3 students YoY 200750002013 · Howard, KS Other · SMALL · TRAD
371 enr · 11.2:1 · 47.4% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: West Elk Virtual Academy (226 students)
West Elk Schools held near 375 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-3 headcount). Teacher FTE added 33.9 → 34.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
How West Elk Schools compares
West Elk Schools 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 | 11.2:1 | ▼ 19% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 47.4% | ▲ 11% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 371 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.2:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
371
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
47.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% above the Kansas average of 42.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.2:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 22% in Kansas - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
24.5%
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
$22,479
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,788
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 371 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 79.5%
Hispanic or Latino 12.4%
Two or More 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.5%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 79.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.0, West Elk Schools is less mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for West Elk reports $22,479 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Elk Schools Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Elk Virtual Academy | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Elk Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Similar other schools in Howard
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~371 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Elk Schools
How many students attend West Elk Schools?
West Elk Schools has 371 students enrolled. It is a public school in Howard, KS. CCD year-over-year: 378 (2022-23) → 375 (2023-24), nearly flat (-3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elk Schools?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elk Schools is 11.2:1, which is 19% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 29% 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 Elk Schools?
47.4% of students at West Elk Schools are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elk Schools?
The largest demographic group at West Elk Schools is White at 79.5% of enrollment, in Howard, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elk Schools?
West Elk Schools 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).
What other schools are in West Elk?
Besides West Elk Schools, West Elk also operates West Elk Virtual Academy (226 students). See the West Elk district page for the complete list.