- Enrollment
- 1,847
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Huntsville, AL
Challenger Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010180001773
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #18 of 29
- schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.5:1
- students per teacher
- 40.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary School ranks #18 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Huntsville City · Alabama
NCES ID 010180001773 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Challenger Elementary School held near 499 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.5 → 28.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 010180001773 · Huntsville, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
491 enr · 17.5:1 · 40.2% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students)
Challenger Elementary School held near 499 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.5 → 28.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Challenger Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Virgil Grissom
Virgil Grissom High School
1,847 students
- Huntsville Hig
Huntsville High School
1,807 students
- Providence Ele
Providence Elementary
1,152 students
- Goldsmithschif
Goldsmithschiffman Elementary
935 students
- Columbia High
Columbia High School
916 students
- This school 491
Challenger Elementary School
491 students
What this shows Challenger Elementary School reports 491 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Elementary School compares
Challenger Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.5:1 | ▼ 1% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.2% | ▼ 32% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 491 | top 47% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
491
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 52% in Alabama - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,146
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 491 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 49.1%
African American 22.6%
Hispanic or Latino 18.9%
Two or More 7.3%
Asian 2.0%
Largest group: White at 49.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.6, Challenger Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Huntsville City reports $13,146 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenger Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Huntsville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Providence Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goldsmithschiffman Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbia High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenger Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar other schools in Huntsville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Providence Elementary
Standard public school
1,152 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Mt Carmel Elementary School
Standard public school
638 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Central School
Standard public school
610 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Monrovia Elementary School
Standard public school
600 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Blossomwood Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Riverton Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 19.2:1 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 (~491 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Elementary School
How many students attend Challenger Elementary School?
Challenger Elementary School has 491 students enrolled. It is a public school in Huntsville, AL. CCD year-over-year: 503 (2022-23) → 499 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School is 17.5:1, which is 1% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 11% 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 Challenger Elementary School?
40.2% of students at Challenger Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Elementary School is White at 49.1% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Elementary School?
Challenger Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Challenger Elementary School rank among schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary School ranks #18 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Huntsville on the city page.
What other schools are in Huntsville City?
Besides Challenger Elementary School, Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students), Huntsville High School (1,807 students), and Providence Elementary (1,152 students). See the Huntsville City district page for the complete list.