- Enrollment
- 856
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Glendale, AZ
Challenger Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 040342001402
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Middle School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arizona median.
- #5 of 17
- elementary schools in Glendale · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.8:1
- students per teacher
- 86.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Middle School has class sizes near the Arizona median. Computed live against every Arizona school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle School ranks #5 of 17 elementary schools in Glendale, AZ.
School address
District: Glendale Elementary District (4271) · Arizona
NCES ID 040342001402 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-98 students YoY
Challenger Middle School shrank from 978 students in 2022-23 to 880 in 2023-24 (-10.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 53.0 → 44.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-98 students YoY 040342001402 · Glendale, AZ Elementary · MID · TRAD
839 enr · 15.8:1 · 86.9% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Horizon School (856 students)
Challenger Middle School shrank from 978 students in 2022-23 to 880 in 2023-24 (-10.0%). Teacher FTE lost 53.0 → 44.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arizona schools → · Find another →
Challenger Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Horizon School
Horizon School
856 students
- This school
Challenger Middle School
839 students
- William C Jack
William C Jack School
811 students
- Bicentennial S
Bicentennial South School
729 students
- Harold W Smith
Harold W Smith School
719 students
- Desert Spirit
Desert Spirit
682 students
What this shows Challenger Middle School reports 839 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Middle School compares
Challenger Middle School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arizona and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arizona | Arizona avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.8:1 | ▼ 7% | 17:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.9% | ▲ 80% | 48.3% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 839 | top 14% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.8:1
Leaner classes than 40% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
839
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
86.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 80% above the Arizona average of 48.3%
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
15.8:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 43% in Arizona - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
53.3%
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
$10,795
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arizona avg of $13,502
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
90
in-school suspensions + 120 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 66.0%
African American 13.9%
White 9.1%
Asian 6.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.0%
Two or More 2.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 66.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.2, Challenger Middle School is more mixed than the Arizona school average of 47.2.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Glendale Elementary District (4271) reports $10,795 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Challenger Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Horizon School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| William C Jack School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bicentennial South School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harold W Smith School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Desert Spirit | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Challenger Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 811
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 729
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 719
- Students per teacher
- 27.7:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 682
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar elementary schools in Glendale
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~839 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Middle School
How many students attend Challenger Middle School?
Challenger Middle School has 839 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Glendale, AZ. CCD year-over-year: 978 (2022-23) → 880 (2023-24), down 98.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle School is 15.8:1, which is 7% lower than the Arizona average of 17:1 and 1% 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 School?
86.9% of students at Challenger Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arizona average of 48.3%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 66.0% of enrollment, in Glendale, AZ. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Middle School?
Challenger Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Challenger Middle School rank among elementary schools in Glendale?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle School ranks #5 of 17 elementary schools in Glendale, AZ. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Glendale on the city page.
What other schools are in Glendale Elementary District (4271)?
Besides Challenger Middle School, Glendale Elementary District (4271) also operates Horizon School (856 students), William C Jack School (811 students), and Bicentennial South School (729 students). See the Glendale Elementary District (4271) district page for the complete list.