- Enrollment
- 1,885
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waco, TX
Challenge Academy
Federal NCES profile for Challenge Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 484428007397
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 90
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenge Academy earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Texas schools.
- #13 of 32
- schools in Waco · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.3:1
- large classes for Texas
- 88.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenge Academy has class sizes larger than 82% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenge Academy ranks #13 of 32 schools in Waco, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Challenge Academy grew from 25 students in 2022-23 to 30 in 2023-24 (+20.0%).
Teacher FTE held 3.0 → 3.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+5 students YoY 484428007397 · Waco, TX Other · SMALL · TRAD
52 enr · 17.3:1 · 88.0% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Waco H S (1,885 students)
Challenge Academy grew from 25 students in 2022-23 to 30 in 2023-24 (+20.0%). Teacher FTE held 3.0 → 3.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Challenge Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Waco H S
Waco H S
1,885 students
- University H S
University H S
1,752 students
- Tennyson Middl
Tennyson Middle
963 students
- Bell's Hill El
Bell's Hill El
786 students
- Cesar Chavez M
Cesar Chavez Middle
786 students
- This school 52
Challenge Academy
52 students
What this shows Challenge Academy reports 52 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenge Academy compares
Challenge Academy is a growing 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 | 17.3:1 | ▲ 18% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.0% | ▲ 42% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 52 | top 94% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
52
Bigger than 6% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
88.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 42% 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
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 82% in Texas - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
84.6%
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
$14,294
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 52 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.9%
African American 42.3%
White 5.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.8, Challenge Academy is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Waco Isd reports $14,294 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenge Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| University H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tennyson Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bell's Hill El | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cesar Chavez Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenge Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,752
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 963
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
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 (~52 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenge Academy
How many students attend Challenge Academy?
Challenge Academy has 52 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Waco, TX. CCD year-over-year: 25 (2022-23) → 30 (2023-24), up 5.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenge Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenge Academy is 17.3:1, which is 18% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 10% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Challenge Academy?
88.0% of students at Challenge Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenge Academy?
The largest demographic group at Challenge Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 51.9% of enrollment, in Waco, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenge Academy?
Challenge Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical 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 Challenge Academy rank among schools in Waco?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenge Academy ranks #13 of 32 schools in Waco, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waco on the city page.
What other schools are in Waco Isd?
Besides Challenge Academy, Waco Isd also operates Waco H S (1,885 students), University H S (1,752 students), and Tennyson Middle (963 students). See the Waco Isd district page for the complete list.