- Enrollment
- 1,909
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Colorado Springs, CO
Challenger Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080192000001
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Middle School earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of Colorado schools.
- #15 of 25
- middle schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.3:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 5.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Middle School has class sizes larger than 81% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle School ranks #15 of 25 middle schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080192000001 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+40 students YoY
Challenger Middle School grew from 612 students in 2022-23 to 652 in 2023-24 (+6.5%).
Teacher FTE added 36.3 → 38.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+40 students YoY 080192000001 · Colorado Springs, CO Middle · MID · TRAD
696 enr · 19.3:1 · 5.1% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: The Classical Academy Charter (1,909 students)
Challenger Middle School grew from 612 students in 2022-23 to 652 in 2023-24 (+6.5%). Teacher FTE added 36.3 → 38.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Challenger Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- The Classical
The Classical Academy Charter
1,909 students
- Pine Creek Hig
Pine Creek High School
1,875 students
- Liberty High S
Liberty High School
1,526 students
- Air Academy Hi
Air Academy High School
1,380 students
- Rampart High S
Rampart High School
1,305 students
- This school 696
Challenger Middle School
696 students
What this shows Challenger Middle School reports 696 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Middle School compares
Challenger Middle School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.3:1 | ▲ 16% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.1% | ▼ 87% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 696 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.3:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
696
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 87% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
19.3:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 81% in Colorado - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$12,090
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 278 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 67.2%
Hispanic or Latino 14.5%
Two or More 7.8%
Asian 6.6%
African American 3.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 67.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.6, Challenger Middle School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Academy School District No. 20 in the County of El Paso an reports $12,090 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| The Classical Academy Charter | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Pine Creek High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| Liberty High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Air Academy High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rampart High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower 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
- 1,875
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,526
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 1,380
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,305
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 (~696 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Middle School
How many students attend Challenger Middle School?
Challenger Middle School has 696 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Colorado Springs, CO. CCD year-over-year: 612 (2022-23) → 652 (2023-24), up 40.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle School is 19.3:1, which is 16% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 23% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Challenger Middle School?
5.1% of students at Challenger Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Middle School is White at 67.2% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Middle School?
Challenger Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Challenger Middle School rank among middle schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle School ranks #15 of 25 middle schools in Colorado Springs, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Colorado Springs on the city page.
What other schools are in Academy School District No. 20 in the County of El Paso an?
Besides Challenger Middle School, Academy School District No. 20 in the County of El Paso an also operates The Classical Academy Charter (1,909 students), Pine Creek High School (1,875 students), and Liberty High School (1,526 students). See the Academy School District No. 20 in the County of El Paso an district page for the complete list.