- Enrollment
- 1,853
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Spring Hill, FL
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math
Federal NCES profile for Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 120081005548
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Spring Hill · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- students per teacher
- 28.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Spring Hill, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math held near 1,467 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 86.0 → 86.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 120081005548 · Spring Hill, FL Elementary · MID · TRAD
1,456 enr · 16.9:1 · 28.7% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Frank W. Springstead High School (1,853 students)
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math held near 1,467 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE held 86.0 → 86.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Frank W. Sprin
Frank W. Springstead High School
1,853 students
- Winding Waters
Winding Waters K-8
1,613 students
- Explorer K-8
Explorer K-8
1,544 students
- This school
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math
1,456 students
- Central High S
Central High School
1,444 students
- Weeki Wachee H
Weeki Wachee High School
1,437 students
What this shows Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math reports 1,456 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math compares
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.9:1 | ▼ 5% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 28.7% | ▼ 45% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,456 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,456
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
28.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 54% in Florida - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
14.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$10,856
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 485 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.6%
Hispanic or Latino 22.9%
Two or More 6.2%
African American 3.2%
Asian 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 64.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.5, Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math is about as mixed as the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Hernando reports $10,856 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank W. Springstead High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Winding Waters K-8 | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Explorer K-8 | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weeki Wachee High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,613
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,544
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,444
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,437
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- 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 (~1,456 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math
How many students attend Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math?
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math has 1,456 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Spring Hill, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,477 (2022-23) → 1,467 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math is 16.9:1, which is 5% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 8% 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 K-8 School of Science and Math?
28.7% of students at Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math?
The largest demographic group at Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math is White at 64.6% of enrollment, in Spring Hill, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math?
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 K-8 School of Science and Math rank among elementary schools in Spring Hill?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Spring Hill, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Spring Hill on the city page.
What other schools are in Hernando?
Besides Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math, Hernando also operates Frank W. Springstead High School (1,853 students), Winding Waters K-8 (1,613 students), and Explorer K-8 (1,544 students). See the Hernando district page for the complete list.