Enrollment
443
Michigan · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Rapids, MI
Zinser Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Zinser Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 262028005705
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 21
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Zinser Elementary School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #14 of 44
- schools in Grand Rapids · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 17:1
- students per teacher
- 32.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Zinser Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Zinser Elementary School ranks #14 of 44 schools in Grand Rapids, MI.
School address
District: Kenowa Hills Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 262028005705 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17:1
vs 17.5:1 Michigan avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
32.8%
vs 54.3% Michigan avg
-40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Zinser Elementary School compares with Michigan and U.S. medians
What stands out at Zinser Elementary School
Zinser Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Grand Rapids, Michigan, enrolling 443 students.
At 17:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Michigan median, within a few percentage points of the 17.5:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 32.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 443 puts it in the larger third of Michigan schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,375 scored Michigan schools.
Against 611 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #329.
Its student body is led by White (78%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%) (diversity index 37/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Among Grand Rapids's public schools, it stands alongside City Middlehigh (955 students): Zinser Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17:1 vs 24.5:1).
Kenowa Hills Public Schools also operates Kenowa Hills High School (876 students) and Kenowa Hills Middle School (634 students) alongside Zinser 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 Zinser Elementary School compares
Zinser Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17:1 | ▼ 3% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.8% | ▼ 40% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 443 | top 34% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
443
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
32.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 53% in Michigan - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.8%
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
$13,452
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $13,507
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 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 78.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.9%
African American 3.4%
Two or More 3.4%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 78.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.8, Zinser Elementary School is about as mixed as the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Kenowa Hills Public Schools, which includes Zinser Elementary School.
$13,452
Per student
0%
vs Michigan
Avg $13,507
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.8%
State 39.5%
Federal 13.8%
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 Zinser Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kenowa Hills High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kenowa Hills Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Alpine Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Kenowa Hills Pathways High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Zinser Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 876
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
- Enrollment
- 538
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 323
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 99
- Students per teacher
- 33:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Grand Rapids
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
City Middlehigh
Standard public school
955 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Harrison Park Academy
Standard public school
708 students 20.8:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids University Preparatory Academy
Standard public school
494 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Grand Rapids Child Discovery Center
Standard public school
287 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Hope Academy of West Michigan
Standard public school
284 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Mulick Park Elementary School
Standard public school
264 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Michigan, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~443 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Zinser Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Zinser Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Kenowa Hills Public Schools'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 Zinser Elementary School
How many students attend Zinser Elementary School?
Zinser Elementary School has 443 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Zinser Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Zinser Elementary School is 17:1, which is 3% lower than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 8% higher 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 Zinser Elementary School?
32.8% of students at Zinser Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Zinser Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Zinser Elementary School is White at 78.3% of enrollment, in Grand Rapids, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Zinser Elementary School?
Zinser Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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 Zinser Elementary School rank among schools in Grand Rapids?
By Resource Investment Index, Zinser Elementary School ranks #14 of 44 schools in Grand Rapids, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Grand Rapids on the city page.
Is Zinser Elementary School a good school?
Zinser Elementary School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan 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 Kenowa Hills Public Schools?
Besides Zinser Elementary School, Kenowa Hills Public Schools also operates Kenowa Hills High School (876 students), Kenowa Hills Middle School (634 students), and Kenowa Hills Central Elementary School (538 students). See the Kenowa Hills Public Schools 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.