- Enrollment
- 155
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Merino, CO
Merino Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Merino Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080564000969
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merino Elementary School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools.
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 14.5:1
- students per teacher
- 20.0%
- free-lunch eligible
- 159
- students enrolled
Merino Elementary School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: School District No. Re-4 Buffalo · Colorado
NCES ID 080564000969 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Merino Elementary School held near 164 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 11.0 → 10.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 080564000969 · Merino, CO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
159 enr · 14.5:1 · 20.0% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Merino Junior Senior High School (155 students)
Merino Elementary School held near 164 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 11.0 → 10.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
How Merino Elementary School compares
Merino 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 | 14.5:1 | ▼ 13% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.0% | ▼ 48% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 159 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
159
Bigger than 15% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% 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
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 37% in Colorado - lower ratio than 63% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.3%
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
$15,096
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
2
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 89.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.4%
Two or More 0.6%
Largest group: White at 89.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 18.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 18.3, Merino Elementary School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for School District No. Re-4 Buffalo reports $15,096 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merino Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merino Junior Senior High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merino Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~159 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Merino Elementary School
How many students attend Merino Elementary School?
Merino Elementary School has 159 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Merino, CO. CCD year-over-year: 160 (2022-23) → 164 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merino Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Merino Elementary School is 14.5:1, which is 13% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 8% 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 Merino Elementary School?
20.0% of students at Merino Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merino Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Merino Elementary School is White at 89.9% of enrollment, in Merino, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merino Elementary School?
Merino Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher 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).
What other schools are in School District No. Re-4 Buffalo?
Besides Merino Elementary School, School District No. Re-4 Buffalo also operates Merino Junior Senior High School (155 students). See the School District No. Re-4 Buffalo district page for the complete list.