- Enrollment
- 1,964
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Howell, MI
Challenger Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 19/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 261872000042
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Elementary School earns 19/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Michigan median.
- #11 of 12
- public schools in Howell · Resource Index
- 19
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.6:1
- students per teacher
- 30.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Elementary School has class sizes near the Michigan median. Computed live against every Michigan school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary School ranks #11 of 12 public schools in Howell, MI.
School address
District: Howell Public Schools · Michigan
NCES ID 261872000042 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-27 students YoY
Challenger Elementary School shrank from 486 students in 2022-23 to 459 in 2023-24 (-5.6%).
Teacher FTE added 25.9 → 33.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-27 students YoY 261872000042 · Howell, MI Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
465 enr · 18.6:1 · 30.9% lunch · RII 19
Nearest enrollment peer: Howell High School (1,964 students)
Challenger Elementary School shrank from 486 students in 2022-23 to 459 in 2023-24 (-5.6%). Teacher FTE added 25.9 → 33.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Michigan schools → · Find another →
Challenger Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Howell High Sc
Howell High School
1,964 students
- Parker Middle
Parker Middle School
1,011 students
- Highlander Way
Highlander Way Middle School
789 students
- Three Fires El 753
Three Fires Elementary
753 students
- Southwest Elem 526
Southwest Elementary School
526 students
- This school 465
Challenger Elementary School
465 students
What this shows Challenger Elementary School reports 465 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Elementary School compares
Challenger Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Michigan and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Michigan | Michigan avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.6:1 | ▲ 6% | 17.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.9% | ▼ 43% | 54.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 465 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
465
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 43% below the Michigan average of 54.3%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 69% in Michigan - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
34.2%
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
$13,222
per pupil, district-wide
- below Michigan avg of $15,012
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 465 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
White 92.9%
Hispanic or Latino 3.4%
Two or More 3.4%
African American 0.2%
Largest group: White at 92.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 13.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 13.5, Challenger Elementary School is less mixed than the Michigan school average of 36.2.
Programs
District finance for Howell Public Schools reports $13,222 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Howell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parker Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Highlander Way Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Three Fires Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southwest Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower 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
- 1,011
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 789
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 753
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 526
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
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 (~465 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Elementary School
How many students attend Challenger Elementary School?
Challenger Elementary School has 465 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Howell, MI. CCD year-over-year: 486 (2022-23) → 459 (2023-24), down 27.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School is 18.6:1, which is 6% higher than the Michigan average of 17.5:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Challenger Elementary School?
30.9% of students at Challenger Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Michigan average of 54.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Elementary School is White at 92.9% of enrollment, in Howell, MI.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Elementary School?
Challenger Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 19/100 (lower 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 public schools in Howell?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Elementary School ranks #11 of 12 public schools in Howell, MI. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Howell on the city page.
What other schools are in Howell Public Schools?
Besides Challenger Elementary School, Howell Public Schools also operates Howell High School (1,964 students), Parker Middle School (1,011 students), and Highlander Way Middle School (789 students). See the Howell Public Schools district page for the complete list.