Enrollment
431
Washington · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Mercer Island, WA
West Mercer Elementary
Federal NCES profile for West Mercer Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 62/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 530498000765
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Mercer Elementary earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of Washington schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Mercer Island · Resource Index
- 62
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.7:1
- large classes for Washington
- 5.0%
- free-lunch eligible
West Mercer Elementary has class sizes larger than 70% of Washington schools. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Mercer Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Mercer Island, WA.
School address
District: Mercer Island School District · Washington
NCES ID 530498000765 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.7:1
vs 17.6:1 Washington avg
+6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
5.0%
vs 45.0% Washington avg
-89% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Mercer Elementary compares with Washington and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Mercer Elementary
West Mercer Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Mercer Island, Washington, enrolling 431 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Washington schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 5.0% free-meal eligibility runs 89% below the Washington average.
With 431 students, its enrollment sits close to the Washington median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 93% of the 2,394 Washington schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 200 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Washington schools statewide, it ranks #16, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (42%) and Asian (33%) (diversity index 69/100).
Attendance holds up well here: only 3.5% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 6 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Mercer Island's elementary schools, it stands alongside Lakeridge Elementary School (401 students): West Mercer Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18.7:1 vs 19.1:1).
Mercer Island School District also operates Mercer Island High School (1,439 students) and Islander Middle School (960 students) alongside West Mercer Elementary.
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 Mercer Elementary compares
West Mercer Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.7:1 | ▲ 6% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.0% | ▼ 89% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 431 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.7:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
431
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
5.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 89% below the Washington average of 45.0%
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
18.7:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 70% in Washington - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
3.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$17,431
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $19,487
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
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 41.8%
Asian 32.7%
Two or More 14.3%
Hispanic or Latino 8.2%
African American 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 41.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, West Mercer Elementary is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mercer Island School District, which includes West Mercer Elementary.
$17,431
Per student
-11%
vs Washington
Avg $19,487
+5%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.6%
State 56.3%
Federal 6.2%
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 Mercer Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercer Island High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Islander Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lakeridge Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwood Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Island Park Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Mercer Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,439
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 960
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 401
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 62/100
- Enrollment
- 398
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 66/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 65/100
Similar elementary schools in Mercer Island
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 Washington, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~431 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Mercer Elementary's federal record.
- Compare West Mercer Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Mercer Island School District'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 Mercer Elementary
How many students attend West Mercer Elementary?
West Mercer Elementary has 431 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Mercer Island, WA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Mercer Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Mercer Elementary is 18.7:1, which is 6% higher than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 19% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Mercer Elementary?
5.0% of students at West Mercer Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Mercer Elementary?
The largest demographic group at West Mercer Elementary is White at 41.8% of enrollment, in Mercer Island, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Mercer Elementary?
West Mercer Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 62/100 (higher 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 Mercer Elementary rank among elementary schools in Mercer Island?
By Resource Investment Index, West Mercer Elementary ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Mercer Island, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Mercer Island on the city page.
Is West Mercer Elementary a good school?
West Mercer Elementary earns 62/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of Washington 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 Mercer Island School District?
Besides West Mercer Elementary, Mercer Island School District also operates Mercer Island High School (1,439 students), Islander Middle School (960 students), and Lakeridge Elementary School (401 students). See the Mercer Island School District 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.