- Enrollment
- 8,641
- Students per teacher
- 28:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Houston, TX
Challenge Early College H S
Federal NCES profile for Challenge Early College H S, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 482364009609
👥 S:T ratio 3
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenge Early College H S earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Texas schools.
- #11 of 102
- high schools in Houston · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 24.3:1
- large classes for Texas
- 79.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenge Early College H S has class sizes larger than 97% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenge Early College H S ranks #11 of 102 high schools in Houston, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
Challenge Early College H S grew from 454 students in 2022-23 to 480 in 2023-24 (+5.7%).
Teacher FTE added 20.8 → 22.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+26 students YoY 482364009609 · Houston, TX High · SMALL · TRAD
485 enr · 24.3:1 · 79.5% lunch · RII 55
Nearest enrollment peer: Texas Connections Academy at Houston (8,641 students)
Challenge Early College H S grew from 454 students in 2022-23 to 480 in 2023-24 (+5.7%). Teacher FTE added 20.8 → 22.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Challenge Early College H S in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Texas Connecti
Texas Connections Academy at Houston
8,641 students
- Bellaire H S 3,216
Bellaire H S
3,216 students
- Lamar H S 2,968
Lamar H S
2,968 students
- Westside H S 2,729
Westside H S
2,729 students
- Heights H S 2,426
Heights H S
2,426 students
- This school 485
Challenge Early College H S
485 students
What this shows Challenge Early College H S reports 485 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenge Early College H S compares
Challenge Early College H S 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 | 24.3:1 | ▲ 65% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.5% | ▲ 28% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 485 | top 52% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
24.3:1
Leaner classes than 6% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
485
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
79.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% 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
24.3:1
students per teacher
- 65% above state mean
Top 97% in Texas - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
3.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$13,072
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 80.0%
African American 8.9%
White 5.8%
Asian 4.7%
Two or More 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.6, Challenge Early College H S is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Houston Isd reports $13,072 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenge Early College H S Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Texas Connections Academy at Houston | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bellaire H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lamar H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westside H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Heights H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenge Early College H S's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,216
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,968
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,729
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 2,426
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Nationwide high 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 (~485 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenge Early College H S
How many students attend Challenge Early College H S?
Challenge Early College H S has 485 students enrolled. It is a high school in Houston, TX. CCD year-over-year: 454 (2022-23) → 480 (2023-24), up 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenge Early College H S?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenge Early College H S is 24.3:1, which is 65% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 55% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Challenge Early College H S?
79.5% of students at Challenge Early College H S are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenge Early College H S?
The largest demographic group at Challenge Early College H S is Hispanic or Latino at 80.0% of enrollment, in Houston, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenge Early College H S?
Challenge Early College H S has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Challenge Early College H S rank among high schools in Houston?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenge Early College H S ranks #11 of 102 high schools in Houston, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Houston on the city page.
What other schools are in Houston Isd?
Besides Challenge Early College H S, Houston Isd also operates Texas Connections Academy at Houston (8,641 students), Bellaire H S (3,216 students), and Lamar H S (2,968 students). See the Houston Isd district page for the complete list.