- Enrollment
- 449
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Salida, CO
Horizons Exploratory Academy
Federal NCES profile for Horizons Exploratory Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 58/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080633006413
👥 S:T ratio 68
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 88
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Horizons Exploratory Academy earns 58/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 96% of Colorado schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Colorado.
- #3 of 7
- public schools in Salida · Resource Index
- 58
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8:1
- small classes for Colorado
- 38.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Horizons Exploratory Academy has class sizes smaller than 96% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Horizons Exploratory Academy ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Salida, CO.
School address
District: Salida School District No. R-32 · Colorado
NCES ID 080633006413 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Horizons Exploratory Academy grew from 34 students in 2022-23 to 38 in 2023-24 (+11.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 4.0 → 3.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+4 students YoY 080633006413 · Salida, CO High · SMALL · TRAD
32 enr · 8:1 · 38.2% lunch · RII 58
Nearest enrollment peer: Longfellow Elementary School (449 students)
Horizons Exploratory Academy grew from 34 students in 2022-23 to 38 in 2023-24 (+11.8%). Teacher FTE lost 4.0 → 3.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Horizons Exploratory Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Longfellow Ele
Longfellow Elementary School
449 students
- Salida High Sc
Salida High School
409 students
- Salida Middle
Salida Middle School
327 students
- Salida Early C 74
Salida Early Childhood Center
74 students
- Crest Academy 60
Crest Academy
60 students
- This school 32
Horizons Exploratory Academy
32 students
What this shows Horizons Exploratory Academy reports 32 students on the CCD universe file.
How Horizons Exploratory Academy compares
Horizons Exploratory Academy is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8:1 | ▼ 52% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 38.2% | ▼ 1% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 32 | top 97% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
32
Bigger than 4% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
38.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8:1
students per teacher
- 52% below state mean
Top 4% in Colorado - lower ratio than 96% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
37.5%
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
$16,274
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.5%
Two or More 6.3%
African American 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino 3.1%
Largest group: White at 87.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.8, Horizons Exploratory Academy is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Salida School District No. R-32 reports $16,274 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Horizons Exploratory Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Longfellow Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Salida High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Salida Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Salida Early Childhood Center | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crest Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Horizons Exploratory Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 409
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 327
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 74
- Students per teacher
- 10.6:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 60
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 64/100
Nationwide high 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 (~32 students)
Frequently asked questions about Horizons Exploratory Academy
How many students attend Horizons Exploratory Academy?
Horizons Exploratory Academy has 32 students enrolled. It is a high school in Salida, CO. CCD year-over-year: 34 (2022-23) → 38 (2023-24), up 4.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Horizons Exploratory Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Horizons Exploratory Academy is 8:1, which is 52% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 49% 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 Horizons Exploratory Academy?
38.2% of students at Horizons Exploratory Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Horizons Exploratory Academy?
The largest demographic group at Horizons Exploratory Academy is White at 87.5% of enrollment, in Salida, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Horizons Exploratory Academy?
Horizons Exploratory Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 58/100 (higher 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 Horizons Exploratory Academy rank among public schools in Salida?
By Resource Investment Index, Horizons Exploratory Academy ranks #3 of 7 public schools in Salida, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Salida on the city page.
What other schools are in Salida School District No. R-32?
Besides Horizons Exploratory Academy, Salida School District No. R-32 also operates Longfellow Elementary School (449 students), Salida High School (409 students), and Salida Middle School (327 students). See the Salida School District No. R-32 district page for the complete list.