- Enrollment
- 2,485
- Students per teacher
- 25.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · San Diego, CA
Challenger Middle
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 063432009189
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 52
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Middle earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most California schools.
- #6 of 37
- middle schools in San Diego · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 26.7:1
- large classes for California
- 32.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Middle has class sizes larger than 88% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle ranks #6 of 37 middle schools in San Diego, CA.
School address
District: San Diego Unified · California
NCES ID 063432009189 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+77 students YoY
Challenger Middle grew from 841 students in 2022-23 to 918 in 2023-24 (+9.2%).
Teacher FTE added 36.0 → 38.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+77 students YoY 063432009189 · San Diego, CA Middle · MID · TRAD
960 enr · 26.7:1 · 32.5% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Henry High (2,485 students)
Challenger Middle grew from 841 students in 2022-23 to 918 in 2023-24 (+9.2%). Teacher FTE added 36.0 → 38.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
Challenger Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Henry High
Henry High
2,485 students
- Mira Mesa High
Mira Mesa High
2,187 students
- Hoover High
Hoover High
2,011 students
- Scripps Ranch
Scripps Ranch High
1,890 students
- Point Loma Hig
Point Loma High
1,724 students
- This school 960
Challenger Middle
960 students
What this shows Challenger Middle reports 960 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Middle compares
Challenger Middle is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 26.7:1 | ▲ 24% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 32.5% | ▼ 41% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 960 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
26.7:1
Leaner classes than 3% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
960
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
32.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% below the California average of 55.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
26.7:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 88% in California - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
16.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$20,783
per pupil, district-wide
- above California avg of $18,665
Somewhat above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 240 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 15 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 47.4%
Hispanic or Latino 19.7%
White 15.4%
Two or More 14.4%
African American 2.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 47.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.1, Challenger Middle is more mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for San Diego Unified reports $20,783 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenger Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Henry High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mira Mesa High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hoover High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Scripps Ranch High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Point Loma High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenger Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,187
- Students per teacher
- 24.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,011
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 12/100
- Enrollment
- 1,890
- Students per teacher
- 27:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,724
- Students per teacher
- 26.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar middle schools in San Diego
6 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Oak Valley Middle
Standard public school
1,503 students 24.6:1 students per teacher
Bernardo Heights Middle
Standard public school
1,487 students 24.4:1 students per teacher
Marshall Middle
Standard public school
1,390 students 27.3:1 students per teacher
Mesa Verde Middle
Standard public school
1,178 students 28.7:1 students per teacher
Black Mountain Middle
Standard public school
1,077 students 22.9:1 students per teacher
Lewis Middle
Standard public school
1,013 students 25.3:1 students per teacher
Nationwide middle 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 (~960 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Middle
How many students attend Challenger Middle?
Challenger Middle has 960 students enrolled. It is a middle school in San Diego, CA. CCD year-over-year: 841 (2022-23) → 918 (2023-24), up 77.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle is 26.7:1, which is 24% higher than the California average of 21.5:1 and 70% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Challenger Middle?
32.5% of students at Challenger Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the California average of 55.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Middle?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Middle is Asian at 47.4% of enrollment, in San Diego, CA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Middle?
Challenger Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Middle rank among middle schools in San Diego?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle ranks #6 of 37 middle schools in San Diego, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in San Diego on the city page.
What other schools are in San Diego Unified?
Besides Challenger Middle, San Diego Unified also operates Henry High (2,485 students), Mira Mesa High (2,187 students), and Hoover High (2,011 students). See the San Diego Unified district page for the complete list.