Enrollment
557
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Thornton, CO
Explore Pk-8
Federal NCES profile for Explore Pk-8, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080555002007
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Explore Pk-8 earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Colorado schools.
- #7 of 21
- schools in Thornton · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.6:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 44.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Explore Pk-8 has class sizes larger than 88% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Explore Pk-8 ranks #7 of 21 schools in Thornton, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080555002007 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20.6:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
+24% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
44.2%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
+15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Explore Pk-8 compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at Explore Pk-8
Explore Pk-8 is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Thornton, Colorado, enrolling 557 students.
Class loads run heavy: 20.6:1 is larger than about 88% of Colorado schools and 24% above the 16.6:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 44.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 557 puts it in the larger third of Colorado schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,922 scored Colorado schools.
Against 239 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #65.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (68%) and White (19%) (diversity index 49/100).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Mapleton School District No. 1 in the County of Adams & St also operates York International (776 students) and Trailside Academy (492 students) alongside Explore Pk-8.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Explore Pk-8 compares
Explore Pk-8 on the metrics families compare, against Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.6:1 | ▲ 24% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 44.2% | ▲ 15% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 557 | top 23% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.6:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
557
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
44.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20.6:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 88% in Colorado - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$13,143
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $16,273
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
0
in-school suspensions + 39 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 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.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 67.9%
White 19.4%
Asian 7.2%
Two or More 3.8%
African American 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 67.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.4, Explore Pk-8 is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Mapleton School District No. 1 in the County of Adams & St, which includes Explore Pk-8.
$13,143
Per student
-19%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.2%
State 50.0%
Federal 12.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Explore Pk-8 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| York International | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Trailside Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Monterey Community School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Clayton Partnership School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Adventure Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Explore Pk-8's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 776
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 492
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 440
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 430
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 429
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Colorado, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~557 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Explore Pk-8's federal record.
- Compare Explore Pk-8 against another school. Compare schools
- Mapleton School District No. 1 in the County of Adams & St's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Explore Pk-8
How many students attend Explore Pk-8?
Explore Pk-8 has 557 students enrolled. It is a public school in Thornton, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Explore Pk-8?
The student-teacher ratio at Explore Pk-8 is 20.6:1, which is 24% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Explore Pk-8?
44.2% of students at Explore Pk-8 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Explore Pk-8?
The largest demographic group at Explore Pk-8 is Hispanic or Latino at 67.9% of enrollment, in Thornton, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Explore Pk-8?
Explore Pk-8 has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does Explore Pk-8 rank among schools in Thornton?
By Resource Investment Index, Explore Pk-8 ranks #7 of 21 schools in Thornton, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Thornton on the city page.
Is Explore Pk-8 a good school?
Explore Pk-8 earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of Colorado schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Mapleton School District No. 1 in the County of Adams & St?
Besides Explore Pk-8, Mapleton School District No. 1 in the County of Adams & St also operates York International (776 students), Trailside Academy (492 students), and Monterey Community School (440 students). See the Mapleton School District No. 1 in the County of Adams & St district page for the complete list.
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Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.