- Enrollment
- 1,774
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Nogales, AZ
Challenger Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040553001310
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arizona schools.
- #2 of 7
- elementary schools in Nogales · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 75.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Elementary School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary School ranks #2 of 7 elementary schools in Nogales, AZ.
School address
District: Nogales Unified District (4457) · Arizona
NCES ID 040553001310 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Challenger Elementary School held near 376 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 26.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 040553001310 · Nogales, AZ Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
380 enr · 14.6:1 · 75.9% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Nogales High School (1,774 students)
Challenger Elementary School held near 376 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 26.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Challenger Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Nogales High S
Nogales High School
1,774 students
- Desert Shadows
Desert Shadows Middle School
784 students
- Wade Carpenter 547
Wade Carpenter Middle School
547 students
- Francisco Vasq 508
Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary School
508 students
- Lincoln Elemen 421
Lincoln Elementary School
421 students
- This school 380
Challenger Elementary School
380 students
What this shows Challenger Elementary School reports 380 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 Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 75.9% | ▲ 57% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 380 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
380
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
75.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 57% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 32% in Arizona - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
43.2%
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
$9,157
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
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 + 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 99.7%
White 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 99.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 0.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 0.6, Challenger Elementary School is less mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Nogales Unified District (4457) reports $9,157 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nogales High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Shadows Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wade Carpenter Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincoln Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher 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
- 784
- Students per teacher
- 22.4:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 547
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 508
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 421
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~380 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Elementary School
How many students attend Challenger Elementary School?
Challenger Elementary School has 380 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Nogales, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 374 (2022-23) → 376 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School is 14.6:1, which is 14% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 7% 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 Challenger Elementary School?
75.9% of students at Challenger Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 99.7% of enrollment, in Nogales, AZ.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Elementary School?
Challenger Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 Challenger Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Nogales?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary School ranks #2 of 7 elementary schools in Nogales, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Nogales on the city page.
What other schools are in Nogales Unified District (4457)?
Besides Challenger Elementary School, Nogales Unified District (4457) also operates Nogales High School (1,774 students), Desert Shadows Middle School (784 students), and Wade Carpenter Middle School (547 students). See the Nogales Unified District (4457) district page for the complete list.