- Enrollment
- 3,192
- Students per teacher
- 51.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cape Coral, FL
Challenger Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Challenger Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 26/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 120108004919
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Challenger Middle School earns 26/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #5 of 7
- middle schools in Cape Coral · Resource Index
- 26
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.9:1
- students per teacher
- 49.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Challenger Middle School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle School ranks #5 of 7 middle schools in Cape Coral, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
Challenger Middle School held near 1,142 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 59.5 → 53.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+18 students YoY 120108004919 · Cape Coral, FL Middle · MID · TRAD
999 enr · 16.9:1 · 49.8% lunch · RII 26
Nearest enrollment peer: Gateway Charter Elementary School (3,192 students)
Challenger Middle School held near 1,142 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+18 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 59.5 → 53.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Challenger Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gateway Charte
Gateway Charter Elementary School
3,192 students
- Lehigh Senior
Lehigh Senior High School
2,550 students
- Gateway High S
Gateway High School
2,343 students
- Ida S. Baker H
Ida S. Baker High School
2,191 students
- East Lee Count
East Lee County High School
2,129 students
- This school 999
Challenger Middle School
999 students
What this shows Challenger Middle School reports 999 students on the CCD universe file.
How Challenger Middle School compares
Challenger Middle School 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 | 49.8% | ▼ 4% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 999 | top 19% | - | - |
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.
999
Bigger than 91% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
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
43.7%
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
$12,108
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 500 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
45
in-school suspensions + 49 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 46.2%
White 41.8%
African American 5.4%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 46.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.6, Challenger Middle School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lee reports $12,108 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gateway Charter Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lehigh Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gateway High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ida S. Baker High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lee County High School | Larger | Higher 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
- 2,550
- Students per teacher
- 23.8:1
- Resource Index
- 23/100
- Enrollment
- 2,343
- Students per teacher
- 31.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,191
- Students per teacher
- 27.4:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 2,129
- Students per teacher
- 26.3:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
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 (~999 students)
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Middle School
How many students attend Challenger Middle School?
Challenger Middle School has 999 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cape Coral, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,124 (2022-23) → 1,142 (2023-24), nearly flat (+18).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Challenger Middle School 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 Middle School?
49.8% of students at Challenger Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Challenger Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Challenger Middle School is Hispanic or Latino at 46.2% of enrollment, in Cape Coral, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Challenger Middle School?
Challenger Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 26/100 (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 School rank among middle schools in Cape Coral?
By Resource Investment Index, Challenger Middle School ranks #5 of 7 middle schools in Cape Coral, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Cape Coral on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee?
Besides Challenger Middle School, Lee also operates Gateway Charter Elementary School (3,192 students), Lehigh Senior High School (2,550 students), and Gateway High School (2,343 students). See the Lee district page for the complete list.