- Enrollment
- 1,853
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Spring Hill, FL
Explorer K-8
Federal NCES profile for Explorer K-8, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 18/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120081007491
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Explorer K-8 earns 18/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 71% of Florida schools.
- #12 of 12
- schools in Spring Hill · Resource Index
- 18
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.6:1
- small classes for Florida
- 63.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Explorer K-8 has class sizes smaller than 71% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Explorer K-8 ranks #12 of 12 schools in Spring Hill, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Explorer K-8 held near 1,578 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-39 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 106.0 → 107.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-39 students YoY 120081007491 · Spring Hill, FL Other · MID · TRAD
1,544 enr · 14.6:1 · 63.8% lunch · RII 18
Nearest enrollment peer: Frank W. Springstead High School (1,853 students)
Explorer K-8 held near 1,578 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-39 headcount). Teacher FTE added 106.0 → 107.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Explorer K-8 in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Frank W. Sprin
Frank W. Springstead High School
1,853 students
- Winding Waters
Winding Waters K-8
1,613 students
- This school
Explorer K-8
1,544 students
- Challenger K-8
Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math
1,456 students
- Central High S
Central High School
1,444 students
- Weeki Wachee H
Weeki Wachee High School
1,437 students
What this shows Explorer K-8 reports 1,544 students on the CCD universe file.
How Explorer K-8 compares
Explorer K-8 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 | 14.6:1 | ▼ 18% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.8% | ▲ 23% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,544 | top 8% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,544
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 29% in Florida - lower ratio than 71% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
42.7%
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
$10,856
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 1544 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
149
in-school suspensions + 144 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 42.7%
Hispanic or Latino 40.2%
African American 9.8%
Two or More 5.7%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 42.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.3, Explorer K-8 is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
District finance for Hernando reports $10,856 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Explorer K-8 Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frank W. Springstead High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Winding Waters K-8 | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weeki Wachee High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Explorer K-8's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,613
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 1,456
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,444
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,437
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
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 (~1,544 students)
Frequently asked questions about Explorer K-8
How many students attend Explorer K-8?
Explorer K-8 has 1,544 students enrolled. It is a public school in Spring Hill, FL. CCD year-over-year: 1,617 (2022-23) → 1,578 (2023-24), nearly flat (-39).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Explorer K-8?
The student-teacher ratio at Explorer K-8 is 14.6:1, which is 18% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 7% lower 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 Explorer K-8?
63.8% of students at Explorer K-8 are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Explorer K-8?
The largest demographic group at Explorer K-8 is White at 42.7% of enrollment, in Spring Hill, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Explorer K-8?
Explorer K-8 has a Resource Investment Index of 18/100 (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 Explorer K-8 rank among schools in Spring Hill?
By Resource Investment Index, Explorer K-8 ranks #12 of 12 schools in Spring Hill, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Spring Hill on the city page.
What other schools are in Hernando?
Besides Explorer K-8, Hernando also operates Frank W. Springstead High School (1,853 students), Winding Waters K-8 (1,613 students), and Challenger K-8 School of Science and Math (1,456 students). See the Hernando district page for the complete list.