- Enrollment
- 903
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Mercedes, TX
Mercedes Early College Academy
Federal NCES profile for Mercedes Early College Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 483025012441
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mercedes Early College Academy earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 85% of Texas schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #4 of 6
- high schools in Mercedes · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- large classes for Texas
- 77.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Mercedes Early College Academy has class sizes larger than 85% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mercedes Early College Academy ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Mercedes, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-5 students YoY
Mercedes Early College Academy held near 349 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 20.4 → 22.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-5 students YoY 483025012441 · Mercedes, TX High · SMALL · TRAD
355 enr · 17.8:1 · 77.4% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Mercedes H S (903 students)
Mercedes Early College Academy held near 349 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-5 headcount). Teacher FTE added 20.4 → 22.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Mercedes Early College Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mercedes H S
Mercedes H S
903 students
- Sgt Manuel Cha
Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle
518 students
- Travis El
Travis El
478 students
- Ruben Hinojosa
Ruben Hinojosa El
468 students
- Taylor El
Taylor El
406 students
- This school 355
Mercedes Early College Academy
355 students
What this shows Mercedes Early College Academy reports 355 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mercedes Early College Academy compares
Mercedes Early College Academy held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.8:1 | ▲ 21% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.4% | ▲ 25% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 355 | top 69% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
355
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 85% in Texas - lower ratio than 15% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
23.7%
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
$14,385
per pupil, district-wide
- above Texas avg of $14,348
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 355 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 98.0%
White 1.4%
African American 0.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 98.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 3.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 3.9, Mercedes Early College Academy is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mercedes Isd reports $14,385 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mercedes Early College Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mercedes H S | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Travis El | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ruben Hinojosa El | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Taylor El | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mercedes Early College Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 518
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 478
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 468
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 406
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
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 (~355 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mercedes Early College Academy
How many students attend Mercedes Early College Academy?
Mercedes Early College Academy has 355 students enrolled. It is a high school in Mercedes, TX. CCD year-over-year: 354 (2022-23) → 349 (2023-24), nearly flat (-5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mercedes Early College Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Mercedes Early College Academy is 17.8:1, which is 21% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mercedes Early College Academy?
77.4% of students at Mercedes Early College Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mercedes Early College Academy?
The largest demographic group at Mercedes Early College Academy is Hispanic or Latino at 98.0% of enrollment, in Mercedes, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mercedes Early College Academy?
Mercedes Early College Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical 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 Mercedes Early College Academy rank among high schools in Mercedes?
By Resource Investment Index, Mercedes Early College Academy ranks #4 of 6 high schools in Mercedes, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Mercedes on the city page.
What other schools are in Mercedes Isd?
Besides Mercedes Early College Academy, Mercedes Isd also operates Mercedes H S (903 students), Sgt Manuel Chacon Middle (518 students), and Travis El (478 students). See the Mercedes Isd district page for the complete list.