- Enrollment
- 1,578
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Topeka, KS
Whitson Elem
Federal NCES profile for Whitson Elem, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 201226001466
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whitson Elem earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Kansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Kansas schools.
- #3 of 21
- schools in Topeka · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.4:1
- students per teacher
- 56.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Whitson Elem has class sizes near the Kansas median. Computed live against every Kansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whitson Elem ranks #3 of 21 schools in Topeka, KS.
School address
District: Topeka Public Schools · Kansas
NCES ID 201226001466 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Whitson Elem held near 434 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 31.8 → 31.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 201226001466 · Topeka, KS Other · SMALL · TRAD
416 enr · 13.4:1 · 56.9% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Topeka High (1,578 students)
Whitson Elem held near 434 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 31.8 → 31.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Kansas schools → · Find another →
Whitson Elem in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Topeka High
Topeka High
1,578 students
- Topeka West Hi
Topeka West High
971 students
- Highland Park
Highland Park High
835 students
- Jardine Elemen
Jardine Elementary
729 students
- Ross Elementar 563
Ross Elementary
563 students
- This school 416
Whitson Elem
416 students
What this shows Whitson Elem reports 416 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whitson Elem compares
Whitson Elem 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 | 13.4:1 | ▼ 3% | 13.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.9% | ▲ 33% | 42.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 416 | top 28% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.4:1
Leaner classes than 63% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
416
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
56.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% 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
13.4:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 52% in Kansas - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$17,228
per pupil, district-wide
- above Kansas avg of $15,788
Close to the U.S. public-school average per-pupil spend.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 208 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 49.8%
Hispanic or Latino 30.3%
Two or More 11.5%
African American 7.5%
Asian 1.0%
Largest group: White at 49.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.1, Whitson Elem is more mixed than the Kansas school average of 39.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Topeka Public Schools reports $17,228 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Whitson Elem Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topeka High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Topeka West High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highland Park High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jardine Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ross Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whitson Elem's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 971
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 835
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 13.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Similar other schools in Topeka
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Jardine Elementary
Standard public school
729 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Farley Elementary
Standard public school
596 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Ross Elementary
Standard public school
563 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Logan Elementary
Standard public school
558 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Wanamaker Elem
Standard public school
475 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Williams Science and Fine Arts Magnet School
Standard public school
447 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
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 (~416 students)
Frequently asked questions about Whitson Elem
How many students attend Whitson Elem?
Whitson Elem has 416 students enrolled. It is a public school in Topeka, KS. CCD year-over-year: 450 (2022-23) → 434 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whitson Elem?
The student-teacher ratio at Whitson Elem is 13.4:1, which is 3% lower than the Kansas average of 13.8:1 and 15% 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 Whitson Elem?
56.9% of students at Whitson Elem are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Kansas average of 42.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whitson Elem?
The largest demographic group at Whitson Elem is White at 49.8% of enrollment, in Topeka, KS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whitson Elem?
Whitson Elem has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher 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).
How does Whitson Elem rank among schools in Topeka?
By Resource Investment Index, Whitson Elem ranks #3 of 21 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 schools in Topeka on the city page.
What other schools are in Topeka Public Schools?
Besides Whitson Elem, Topeka Public Schools also operates Topeka High (1,578 students), Topeka West High (971 students), and Highland Park High (835 students). See the Topeka Public Schools district page for the complete list.