- Enrollment
- 2,052
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Thornton, CO
Mcelwain Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mcelwain Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 25/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080690001182
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mcelwain Elementary School earns 25/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #8 of 8
- elementary schools in Thornton · Resource Index
- 25
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.9:1
- students per teacher
- 79.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Mcelwain Elementary School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mcelwain Elementary School ranks #8 of 8 elementary schools in Thornton, CO.
School address
District: Adams 12 Five Star Schools · Colorado
NCES ID 080690001182 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Mcelwain Elementary School held near 358 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 26.0 → 26.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 080690001182 · Thornton, CO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
361 enr · 13.9:1 · 79.9% lunch · RII 25
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (2,052 students)
Mcelwain Elementary School held near 358 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE added 26.0 → 26.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Mcelwain Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Legacy High Sc
Legacy High School
2,052 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,966 students
- Northglenn Hig
Northglenn High School
1,844 students
- Mountain Range
Mountain Range High School
1,788 students
- Stargate Chart
Stargate Charter School
1,572 students
- This school 361
Mcelwain Elementary School
361 students
What this shows Mcelwain Elementary School reports 361 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mcelwain Elementary School compares
Mcelwain Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▼ 16% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.9% | ▲ 108% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 361 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
361
Bigger than 41% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
79.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 108% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 31% in Colorado - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
63.4%
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
$14,748
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 51.2%
Asian 31.0%
White 13.3%
Two or More 3.6%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 51.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.3, Mcelwain Elementary School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
District finance for Adams 12 Five Star Schools reports $14,748 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mcelwain Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northglenn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain Range High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stargate Charter School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mcelwain Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,844
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 1,788
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,572
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~361 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mcelwain Elementary School
How many students attend Mcelwain Elementary School?
Mcelwain Elementary School has 361 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Thornton, CO. CCD year-over-year: 369 (2022-23) → 358 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mcelwain Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mcelwain Elementary School is 13.9:1, which is 16% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 11% 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 Mcelwain Elementary School?
79.9% of students at Mcelwain Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mcelwain Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mcelwain Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 51.2% of enrollment, in Thornton, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mcelwain Elementary School?
Mcelwain Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 25/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mcelwain Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Thornton?
By Resource Investment Index, Mcelwain Elementary School ranks #8 of 8 elementary 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 elementary schools in Thornton on the city page.
What other schools are in Adams 12 Five Star Schools?
Besides Mcelwain Elementary School, Adams 12 Five Star Schools also operates Legacy High School (2,052 students), Horizon High School (1,966 students), and Northglenn High School (1,844 students). See the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district page for the complete list.