- Enrollment
- 2,087
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Spanaway, WA
Challenger High School
Federal NCES profile for Challenger High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 530048002200
👥 S:T ratio 33
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger High School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Washington median.
- #14 of 14
- public schools in Spanaway · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.7:1
- students per teacher
- 57.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger High School has class sizes near the Washington median. Computed live against every Washington school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger High School ranks #14 of 14 public schools in Spanaway, WA.
School address
District: Bethel School District · Washington
NCES ID 530048002200 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+95 students YoY
Challenger High School grew from 271 students in 2022-23 to 366 in 2023-24 (+35.1%).
Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+95 students YoY 530048002200 · Spanaway, WA Other · SMALL · TRAD
318 enr · 16.7:1 · 57.6% lunch · RII 35
Nearest enrollment peer: Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students)
Challenger High School grew from 271 students in 2022-23 to 366 in 2023-24 (+35.1%). Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Washington schools → · Find another →
Challenger High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Graham Kapowsi
Graham Kapowsin High School
2,087 students
- Spanaway Lake
Spanaway Lake High School
1,787 students
- Bethel High Sc
Bethel High School
1,688 students
- Liberty Middle
Liberty Middle School
857 students
- Spanaway Middl 766
Spanaway Middle School
766 students
- This school 318
Challenger High School
318 students
What this shows Challenger High School reports 318 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger High School compares
Challenger High School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Washington and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Washington | Washington avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.7:1 | ▼ 5% | 17.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.6% | ▲ 28% | 45.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 318 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.7:1
Leaner classes than 33% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
318
Bigger than 35% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 28% above the Washington average of 45.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.7:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 53% in Washington - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
54.7%
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
$15,370
per pupil, district-wide
- below Washington avg of $20,912
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 318 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 50.0%
Hispanic or Latino 24.2%
Two or More 16.6%
African American 4.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.6%
Asian 1.3%
Largest group: White at 50.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, Challenger High School is more mixed than the Washington school average of 53.3.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bethel School District reports $15,370 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenger High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Graham Kapowsin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Lake High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bethel High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Liberty Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Spanaway Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenger High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,787
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,688
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 766
- Students per teacher
- 22.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar other schools in Spanaway
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~318 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger High School
How many students attend Challenger High School?
Challenger High School has 318 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Spanaway, WA. CCD year-over-year: 271 (2022-23) → 366 (2023-24), up 95.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger High School is 16.7:1, which is 5% lower than the Washington average of 17.6:1 and 6% 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 High School?
57.6% of students at Challenger High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Washington average of 45.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger High School?
The largest demographic group at Challenger High School is White at 50.0% of enrollment, in Spanaway, WA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger High School?
Challenger High School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 High School rank among public schools in Spanaway?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger High School ranks #14 of 14 public schools in Spanaway, WA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Spanaway on the city page.
What other schools are in Bethel School District?
Besides Challenger High School, Bethel School District also operates Graham Kapowsin High School (2,087 students), Spanaway Lake High School (1,787 students), and Bethel High School (1,688 students). See the Bethel School District district page for the complete list.