Enrollment
425
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Colorado Springs, CO
James Irwin Charter High School
Federal NCES profile for James Irwin Charter High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080453001781Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 29
📚 AP courses 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Irwin Charter High School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #5 of 29
- high schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.7:1
- students per teacher
- 23.6%
- free-lunch eligible
James Irwin Charter High School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Irwin Charter High School ranks #5 of 29 high schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080453001781 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.7:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
+7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
23.6%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
-39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How James Irwin Charter High School compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at James Irwin Charter High School
James Irwin Charter High School is a mid-sized charter high school in Colorado Springs, Colorado, enrolling 425 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17.7:1 puts it in the larger third of Colorado schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 23.6% of students eligible for free meals.
With 425 students, its enrollment sits close to the Colorado median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,922 scored Colorado schools.
Among 392 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Colorado schools statewide, it ranks #15, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (51%) and White (26%) (diversity index 65/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 7 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 131 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
The surrounding Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an spends $11,944 per pupil, 27% below the Colorado average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an also operates Harrison High School (1,089 students) and The Vanguard School (Elementary) (949 students) alongside James Irwin Charter High School.
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 James Irwin Charter High School compares
James Irwin Charter High School on the metrics families compare, against Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.7:1 | ▲ 7% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.6% | ▼ 39% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 425 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
425
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
23.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 69% in Colorado - lower ratio than 31% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$11,944
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
Counselors3.2 FTE
Per 131 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 50.6%
White 26.1%
Two or More 12.2%
African American 8.0%
Asian 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.4, James Irwin Charter High School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an, which includes James Irwin Charter High School.
$11,944
Per student
-27%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.7%
State 60.0%
Federal 15.3%
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 James Irwin Charter High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| The Vanguard School (Elementary) | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sierra High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Soaring Eagles Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Creek International School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Irwin Charter High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,089
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 949
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 843
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 764
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 595
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar high 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 (~425 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on James Irwin Charter High School's federal record.
- Compare James Irwin Charter High School against another school. Compare schools
- Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an'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 James Irwin Charter High School
How many students attend James Irwin Charter High School?
James Irwin Charter High School has 425 students enrolled. It is a high school in Colorado Springs, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Irwin Charter High School?
The student-teacher ratio at James Irwin Charter High School is 17.7:1, which is 7% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Irwin Charter High School?
23.6% of students at James Irwin Charter High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Irwin Charter High School?
The largest demographic group at James Irwin Charter High School is Hispanic or Latino at 50.6% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Irwin Charter High School?
James Irwin Charter High School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does James Irwin Charter High School rank among high schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, James Irwin Charter High School ranks #5 of 29 high schools in Colorado Springs, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Colorado Springs on the city page.
Is James Irwin Charter High School a good school?
James Irwin Charter High School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. 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 Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an?
Besides James Irwin Charter High School, Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an also operates Harrison High School (1,089 students), The Vanguard School (Elementary) (949 students), and Sierra High School (843 students). See the Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an 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.