- Enrollment
- 2,134
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mcallen, TX
Castaneda El
Federal NCES profile for Castaneda El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 482967008654
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Castaneda El earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Texas schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #4 of 31
- schools in Mcallen · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.7:1
- small classes for Texas
- 69.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Castaneda El has class sizes smaller than 79% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Castaneda El ranks #4 of 31 schools in Mcallen, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-59 students YoY
Castaneda El shrank from 500 students in 2022-23 to 441 in 2023-24 (-11.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 31.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-59 students YoY 482967008654 · Mcallen, TX Other · SMALL · TRAD
374 enr · 11.7:1 · 69.4% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcallen H S (2,134 students)
Castaneda El shrank from 500 students in 2022-23 to 441 in 2023-24 (-11.8%). Teacher FTE lost 32.1 → 31.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Castaneda El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mcallen H S
Mcallen H S
2,134 students
- Memorial H S
Memorial H S
2,021 students
- Rowe H S
Rowe H S
1,905 students
- Morris Middle
Morris Middle
999 students
- Cathey Middle 827
Cathey Middle
827 students
- This school 374
Castaneda El
374 students
What this shows Castaneda El reports 374 students on the CCD universe file.
How Castaneda El compares
Castaneda El is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.7:1 | ▼ 20% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.4% | ▲ 12% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 374 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
374
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
69.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 21% in Texas - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
23.3%
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
$13,409
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 249 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 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
Hispanic or Latino 93.6%
White 1.6%
African American 1.6%
Asian 1.6%
Two or More 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 93.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 12.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 12.3, Castaneda El is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mcallen Isd reports $13,409 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Castaneda El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcallen H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Memorial H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rowe H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Morris Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cathey Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Castaneda El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,021
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,905
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 827
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
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 (~374 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Castaneda El
How many students attend Castaneda El?
Castaneda El has 374 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mcallen, TX. CCD year-over-year: 500 (2022-23) → 441 (2023-24), down 59.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Castaneda El?
The student-teacher ratio at Castaneda El is 11.7:1, which is 20% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 25% 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 Castaneda El?
69.4% of students at Castaneda El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Castaneda El?
The largest demographic group at Castaneda El is Hispanic or Latino at 93.6% of enrollment, in Mcallen, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Castaneda El?
Castaneda El has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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 Castaneda El rank among schools in Mcallen?
By Resource Investment Index, Castaneda El ranks #4 of 31 schools in Mcallen, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Mcallen on the city page.
What other schools are in Mcallen Isd?
Besides Castaneda El, Mcallen Isd also operates Mcallen H S (2,134 students), Memorial H S (2,021 students), and Rowe H S (1,905 students). See the Mcallen Isd district page for the complete list.