- Enrollment
- 1,885
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waco, TX
Dean Highland El
Federal NCES profile for Dean Highland El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 484428005034
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 38
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dean Highland El earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Texas schools.
- #26 of 32
- schools in Waco · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.3:1
- large classes for Texas
- 89.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Dean Highland El has class sizes larger than 91% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dean Highland El ranks #26 of 32 schools in Waco, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
Dean Highland El held near 597 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 32.7 → 36.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 484428005034 · Waco, TX Other · MID · TRAD
617 enr · 19.3:1 · 89.6% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Waco H S (1,885 students)
Dean Highland El held near 597 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 32.7 → 36.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Dean Highland El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Waco H S
Waco H S
1,885 students
- University H S
University H S
1,752 students
- Tennyson Middl
Tennyson Middle
963 students
- Bell's Hill El
Bell's Hill El
786 students
- Cesar Chavez M
Cesar Chavez Middle
786 students
- This school 617
Dean Highland El
617 students
What this shows Dean Highland El reports 617 students on the CCD universe file.
How Dean Highland El compares
Dean Highland El held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.3:1 | ▲ 31% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 89.6% | ▲ 45% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 617 | top 35% | - | - |
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.
617
Bigger than 74% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
89.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% above the Texas average of 61.9%
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
19.3:1
students per teacher
- 31% above state mean
Top 91% in Texas - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.3%
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
$14,294
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 309 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 67.3%
African American 24.1%
White 5.2%
Two or More 3.1%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 67.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 48.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 48.5, Dean Highland El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Waco Isd reports $14,294 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Dean Highland El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| University H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tennyson Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bell's Hill El | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cesar Chavez Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dean Highland El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,752
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 963
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Nationwide other 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 (~617 students)
Frequently asked questions about Dean Highland El
How many students attend Dean Highland El?
Dean Highland El has 617 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waco, TX. CCD year-over-year: 598 (2022-23) → 597 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dean Highland El?
The student-teacher ratio at Dean Highland El is 19.3:1, which is 31% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 23% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dean Highland El?
89.6% of students at Dean Highland El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dean Highland El?
The largest demographic group at Dean Highland El is Hispanic or Latino at 67.3% of enrollment, in Waco, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dean Highland El?
Dean Highland El has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Dean Highland El rank among schools in Waco?
By Resource Investment Index, Dean Highland El ranks #26 of 32 schools in Waco, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waco on the city page.
What other schools are in Waco Isd?
Besides Dean Highland El, Waco Isd also operates Waco H S (1,885 students), University H S (1,752 students), and Tennyson Middle (963 students). See the Waco Isd district page for the complete list.