- Enrollment
- 2,066
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Frederick, MD
Heather Ridge
Federal NCES profile for Heather Ridge, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 69/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 240033001410
👥 S:T ratio 87
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 90
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Heather Ridge earns 69/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of Maryland schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Maryland.
- #1 of 18
- schools in Frederick · Resource Index
- 69
- Resource Index · Higher
- 3.3:1
- small classes for Maryland
- 73.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Heather Ridge has class sizes smaller than 99% of Maryland schools. Computed live against every Maryland school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Heather Ridge ranks #1 of 18 schools in Frederick, MD.
School address
District: Frederick County Public Schools · Maryland
NCES ID 240033001410 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Heather Ridge grew from 45 students in 2022-23 to 57 in 2023-24 (+26.7%).
Teacher FTE held 15.5 → 15.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+12 students YoY 240033001410 · Frederick, MD Other · SMALL · TRAD
50 enr · 3.3:1 · 73.3% lunch · RII 69
Nearest enrollment peer: Gov. Thomas Johnson High (2,066 students)
Heather Ridge grew from 45 students in 2022-23 to 57 in 2023-24 (+26.7%). Teacher FTE held 15.5 → 15.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Maryland schools → · Find another →
Heather Ridge in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gov. Thomas Jo
Gov. Thomas Johnson High
2,066 students
- Urbana High
Urbana High
1,989 students
- Frederick High
Frederick High
1,821 students
- Tuscarora High
Tuscarora High
1,735 students
- Oakdale High
Oakdale High
1,702 students
- This school 50
Heather Ridge
50 students
What this shows Heather Ridge reports 50 students on the CCD universe file.
How Heather Ridge compares
Heather Ridge is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Maryland and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Maryland | Maryland avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 3.3:1 | ▼ 77% | 14.5:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 73.3% | ▲ 50% | 49.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 50 | top 98% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
3.3:1
Leaner classes than 99% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
50
Bigger than 5% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
73.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the Maryland average of 49.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
3.3:1
students per teacher
- 77% below state mean
Top 1% in Maryland - lower ratio than 99% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$16,233
per pupil, district-wide
- below Maryland avg of $18,753
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 50 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 39 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 98.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 40.8%
Hispanic or Latino 26.5%
White 24.5%
Two or More 8.2%
Largest group: African American at 40.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.7, Heather Ridge is more mixed than the Maryland school average of 52.3.
Programs
District finance for Frederick County Public Schools reports $16,233 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Heather Ridge Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gov. Thomas Johnson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Urbana High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Frederick High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tuscarora High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oakdale High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Heather Ridge's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,989
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,821
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 1,735
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,702
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools in Frederick
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Waverley Elementary
Standard public school
965 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Tuscarora Elementary
Standard public school
793 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Whittier Elementary
Standard public school
779 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Urbana Elementary
Standard public school
736 students 19.4:1 students per teacher
Ballenger Creek Elementary
Standard public school
715 students 17.4:1 students per teacher
North Frederick Elementary
Standard public school
660 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~50 students)
Frequently asked questions about Heather Ridge
How many students attend Heather Ridge?
Heather Ridge has 50 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Frederick, MD. CCD year-over-year: 45 (2022-23) → 57 (2023-24), up 12.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Heather Ridge?
The student-teacher ratio at Heather Ridge is 3.3:1, which is 77% lower than the Maryland average of 14.5:1 and 79% 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 Heather Ridge?
73.3% of students at Heather Ridge are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Maryland average of 49.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Heather Ridge?
The largest demographic group at Heather Ridge is African American at 40.8% of enrollment, in Frederick, MD. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Heather Ridge?
Heather Ridge has a Resource Investment Index of 69/100 (higher 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 Heather Ridge rank among schools in Frederick?
By Resource Investment Index, Heather Ridge ranks #1 of 18 schools in Frederick, MD. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Frederick on the city page.
What other schools are in Frederick County Public Schools?
Besides Heather Ridge, Frederick County Public Schools also operates Gov. Thomas Johnson High (2,066 students), Urbana High (1,989 students), and Frederick High (1,821 students). See the Frederick County Public Schools district page for the complete list.