Enrollment
453
Louisiana · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Slidell, LA
Whispering Forest Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Whispering Forest Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 220165001950
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 86
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whispering Forest Elementary School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Louisiana schools.
- #2 of 9
- schools in Slidell · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.2:1
- small classes for Louisiana
- 45.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Whispering Forest Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 72% of Louisiana schools. Computed live against every Louisiana school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whispering Forest Elementary School ranks #2 of 9 schools in Slidell, LA.
School address
District: St. Tammany Parish · Louisiana
NCES ID 220165001950 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
32.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 16.8:1 Louisiana avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
45.7%
vs 62.5% Louisiana avg
-27% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Whispering Forest Elementary School compares with Louisiana and U.S. medians
What stands out at Whispering Forest Elementary School
Whispering Forest Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Slidell, Louisiana, enrolling 453 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.2:1 puts it in the smaller third of Louisiana schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 45.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 453 students, its enrollment sits close to the Louisiana median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,330 scored Louisiana schools.
Against 291 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #126.
Its student body is led by White (53%) and African American (25%) (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 453 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance holds up well here: only 5.7% of students were chronically absent, below the typical post-pandemic national figure.
Among Slidell's public schools, it stands alongside Henry Mayfield Elementary School (749 students): Whispering Forest Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 15.9:1).
St. Tammany Parish also operates Mandeville High School (2,006 students) and Slidell High School (1,654 students) alongside Whispering Forest 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 Whispering Forest Elementary School compares
Whispering Forest Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Louisiana and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Louisiana | Louisiana avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 15% | 16.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.7% | ▼ 27% | 62.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 453 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
453
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
45.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 27% below the Louisiana average of 62.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 28% in Louisiana - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
5.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$14,024
per pupil, district-wide
- below Louisiana avg of $16,376
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 453 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.8 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 53.4%
African American 25.4%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
Two or More 8.4%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 53.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.1, Whispering Forest Elementary School is more mixed than the Louisiana school average of 43.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for St. Tammany Parish, which includes Whispering Forest Elementary School.
$14,024
Per student
-14%
vs Louisiana
Avg $16,376
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.9%
State 38.3%
Federal 9.8%
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 Whispering Forest Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mandeville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Slidell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Covington High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northshore High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Joseph B. Lancaster Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whispering Forest Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,006
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,654
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,600
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,518
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,480
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar other schools in Slidell
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Henry Mayfield Elementary School
Standard public school
749 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Bonne Ecole Elementary School
Standard public school
651 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Cypress Cove Elementary School
Standard public school
593 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Florida Avenue Elementary School
Standard public school
440 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Bayou Woods Elementary School
Standard public school
431 students 16:1 students per teacher
Glynn H. Brock Elementary School
Standard public school
345 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Louisiana, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~453 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Whispering Forest Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Whispering Forest Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- St. Tammany Parish'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 Whispering Forest Elementary School
How many students attend Whispering Forest Elementary School?
Whispering Forest Elementary School has 453 students enrolled. It is a public school in Slidell, LA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whispering Forest Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Whispering Forest Elementary School is 14.2:1, which is 15% lower than the Louisiana average of 16.8:1 and 10% 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 Whispering Forest Elementary School?
45.7% of students at Whispering Forest Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Louisiana average of 62.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whispering Forest Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Whispering Forest Elementary School is White at 53.4% of enrollment, in Slidell, LA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whispering Forest Elementary School?
Whispering Forest Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 Whispering Forest Elementary School rank among schools in Slidell?
By Resource Investment Index, Whispering Forest Elementary School ranks #2 of 9 schools in Slidell, LA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Slidell on the city page.
Is Whispering Forest Elementary School a good school?
Whispering Forest Elementary School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Louisiana 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 St. Tammany Parish?
Besides Whispering Forest Elementary School, St. Tammany Parish also operates Mandeville High School (2,006 students), Slidell High School (1,654 students), and Covington High School (1,600 students). See the St. Tammany Parish 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.