Enrollment
395
Kansas · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Topeka, KS
West Indianola Elem
Federal NCES profile for West Indianola Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 201149000690
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Indianola Elem earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median.
- #5 of 7
- elementary schools in Topeka · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- students per teacher
- 20.7%
- free-lunch eligible
West Indianola Elem has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Indianola Elem ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Topeka, KS.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.2:1
vs 13.8:1 Kansas avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
20.7%
vs 42.7% Kansas avg
-52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Indianola Elem compares with Kansas and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Indianola Elem
West Indianola Elem is a mid-sized elementary school in Topeka, Kansas, enrolling 395 students.
At 13.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Kansas median, within a few percentage points of the 13.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 20.7% free-meal eligibility runs 52% below the Kansas average.
Enrollment of 395 puts it in the larger third of Kansas schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,346 scored Kansas schools.
Against 227 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #126.
Its student body is predominantly White (81% of enrollment) (diversity index 33/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 395 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.7% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Seaman spends $11,874 per pupil, 23% below the Kansas average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Topeka's elementary schools, it stands alongside Jay Shideler Elementary (492 students): West Indianola Elem is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.2:1 vs 12:1).
Seaman also operates Seaman High (1,190 students) and Seaman Middle School (560 students) alongside West Indianola Elem.
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 Indianola Elem compares
West Indianola Elem on the metrics families compare, against Kansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Kansas | Kansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.7% | ▼ 52% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 395 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
395
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
20.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% below the Kansas average of 42.7%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 49% in Kansas - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,874
per pupil, district-wide
- below Kansas avg of $15,487
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 395 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 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 81.0%
Hispanic or Latino 10.4%
Two or More 3.8%
African American 3.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: White at 81.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.0, West Indianola Elem is less mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Seaman, which includes West Indianola Elem.
$11,874
Per student
-23%
vs Kansas
Avg $15,487
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 20.7%
State 70.3%
Federal 9.0%
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 Indianola Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaman High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Seaman Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Logan Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northern Hills Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elmont Elem | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Indianola Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,190
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 560
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 558
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 408
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 303
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
Similar elementary schools in Topeka
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Jay Shideler Elementary
Standard public school
492 students 12:1 students per teacher
Indian Hills Elementary
Standard public school
440 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Northern Hills Elementary
Standard public school
408 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Highland Park Central
Standard public school
318 students 12.2:1 students per teacher
Elmont Elem
Standard public school
303 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
North Fairview
Standard public school
278 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Kansas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~395 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.2:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Indianola Elem's federal record.
- Compare West Indianola Elem against another school. Compare schools
- Seaman'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 Indianola Elem
How many students attend West Indianola Elem?
West Indianola Elem has 395 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Topeka, KS.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Indianola Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at West Indianola Elem is 13.2:1, which is 4% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 16% 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 Indianola Elem?
20.7% of students at West Indianola Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Indianola Elem?
The largest demographic group at West Indianola Elem is White at 81.0% of enrollment, in Topeka, KS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Indianola Elem?
West Indianola Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does West Indianola Elem rank among elementary schools in Topeka?
By Resource Investment Index, West Indianola Elem ranks #5 of 7 elementary schools in Topeka, 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 Topeka on the city page.
Is West Indianola Elem a good school?
West Indianola Elem earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. 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 Seaman?
Besides West Indianola Elem, Seaman also operates Seaman High (1,190 students), Seaman Middle School (560 students), and Logan Elementary (558 students). See the Seaman 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.