- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Lancaster, CA
Challenger Middle
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 064281009208
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Middle earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools.
- #14 of 28
- elementary schools in Lancaster · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 19.2:1
- small classes for California
- 92.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Middle has class sizes smaller than 71% of California schools. Computed live against every California school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle ranks #14 of 28 elementary schools in Lancaster, CA.
School address
District: Wilsona Elementary · California
NCES ID 064281009208 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-20 students YoY
Challenger Middle held near 553 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 22.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-20 students YoY 064281009208 · Lancaster, CA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
403 enr · 19.2:1 · 92.0% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Vista San Gabriel Elementary (465 students)
Challenger Middle held near 553 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-20 headcount). Teacher FTE added 22.0 → 22.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · California schools → · Find another →
How Challenger Middle compares
Challenger Middle held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs California and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs California | California avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.2:1 | ▼ 11% | 21.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 92.0% | ▲ 66% | 55.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 403 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
403
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
92.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% above the California average of 55.5%
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
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 29% in California - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
59.6%
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
$20,426
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 403 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 82.9%
White 7.9%
African American 6.5%
Two or More 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 82.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 30.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 30.2, Challenger Middle is less mixed than the California school average of 46.0.
Programs
District finance for Wilsona Elementary reports $20,426 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vista San Gabriel Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower 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
Similar elementary schools in Lancaster
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sundown Elementary
Standard public school
941 students 29.4:1 students per teacher
Monte Vista Elementary
Standard public school
788 students 26.3:1 students per teacher
Ilead Lancaster Charter
Standard public school
771 students 26.6:1 students per teacher
El Dorado Elementary
Standard public school
766 students 26.4:1 students per teacher
Del Sur Senior Elementary
Standard public school
763 students 28.3:1 students per teacher
West Wind Elementary
Standard public school
757 students 29.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~403 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Middle
How many students attend Challenger Middle?
Challenger Middle has 403 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Lancaster, CA. CCD year-over-year: 573 (2022-23) → 553 (2023-24), nearly flat (-20).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle is 19.2:1, which is 11% lower than the California average of 21.5:1 and 22% 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 Middle?
92.0% 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 Hispanic or Latino at 82.9% of enrollment, in Lancaster, CA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Middle?
Challenger Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Middle rank among elementary schools in Lancaster?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle ranks #14 of 28 elementary schools in Lancaster, CA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Lancaster on the city page.
What other schools are in Wilsona Elementary?
Besides Challenger Middle, Wilsona Elementary also operates Vista San Gabriel Elementary (465 students). See the Wilsona Elementary district page for the complete list.