- Enrollment
- 281
- Students per teacher
- 8.3:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Merkel, TX
Merkel El
Federal NCES profile for Merkel El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 483034003395
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merkel El earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Merkel · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.4:1
- students per teacher
- 57.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Merkel El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merkel El ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Merkel, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+24 students YoY
Merkel El held near 589 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 39.5 → 39.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+24 students YoY 483034003395 · Merkel, TX Other · MID · TRAD
563 enr · 14.4:1 · 57.9% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Merkel H S (281 students)
Merkel El held near 589 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+24 headcount). Teacher FTE held 39.5 → 39.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Merkel El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Merkel El
563 students
- Merkel H S
Merkel H S
281 students
- Merkel Middle
Merkel Middle
246 students
What this shows Merkel El reports 563 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merkel El compares
Merkel El 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 | 14.4:1 | ▼ 2% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.9% | ▼ 6% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 563 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
563
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% below the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 52% in Texas - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,577
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 563 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
37
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.7%
Hispanic or Latino 24.5%
Two or More 3.0%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 70.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 43.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 43.9, Merkel El is about as mixed as the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Merkel Isd reports $11,577 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Merkel El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merkel H S | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Merkel Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merkel El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 246
- Students per teacher
- 9.8:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Nationwide other 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 (~563 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merkel El
How many students attend Merkel El?
Merkel El has 563 students enrolled. It is a public school in Merkel, TX. CCD year-over-year: 565 (2022-23) → 589 (2023-24), nearly flat (+24).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merkel El?
The student-teacher ratio at Merkel El is 14.4:1, which is 2% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 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 Merkel El?
57.9% of students at Merkel El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merkel El?
The largest demographic group at Merkel El is White at 70.7% of enrollment, in Merkel, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merkel El?
Merkel El 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 Merkel El rank among public schools in Merkel?
By Resource Investment Index, Merkel El ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Merkel, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Merkel Isd?
Besides Merkel El, Merkel Isd also operates Merkel H S (281 students) and Merkel Middle (246 students). See the Merkel Isd district page for the complete list.