- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Merkel, TX
Merkel H S
Federal NCES profile for Merkel H S, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 483034003396
👥 S:T ratio 67
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Merkel H S earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 95% of Texas schools.
- #2 of 3
- public schools in Merkel · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.3:1
- small classes for Texas
- 39.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Merkel H S has class sizes smaller than 95% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Merkel H S ranks #2 of 3 public schools in Merkel, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Merkel H S shrank from 327 students in 2022-23 to 295 in 2023-24 (-9.8%).
Teacher FTE held 34.4 → 34.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 483034003396 · Merkel, TX High · SMALL · TRAD
281 enr · 8.3:1 · 39.4% lunch · RII 53
Nearest enrollment peer: Merkel El (563 students)
Merkel H S shrank from 327 students in 2022-23 to 295 in 2023-24 (-9.8%). Teacher FTE held 34.4 → 34.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Merkel H S in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Merkel El
Merkel El
563 students
- This school
Merkel H S
281 students
- Merkel Middle
Merkel Middle
246 students
What this shows Merkel H S reports 281 students on the CCD universe file.
How Merkel H S compares
Merkel H S is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 8.3:1 | ▼ 44% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.4% | ▼ 36% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 281 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.3:1
Leaner classes than 94% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
281
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 36% below the Texas average of 61.9%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
8.3:1
students per teacher
- 44% below state mean
Top 5% in Texas - lower ratio than 95% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
28.1%
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
$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 281 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
61
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.3%
Two or More 2.5%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.1%
Largest group: White at 70.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.4, Merkel H S is about as mixed as the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 4
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 H S Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Merkel El | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Merkel Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Merkel H S'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 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 (~281 students)
Frequently asked questions about Merkel H S
How many students attend Merkel H S?
Merkel H S has 281 students enrolled. It is a high school in Merkel, TX. CCD year-over-year: 327 (2022-23) → 295 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Merkel H S?
The student-teacher ratio at Merkel H S is 8.3:1, which is 44% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 47% 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 H S?
39.4% of students at Merkel H S are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Merkel H S?
The largest demographic group at Merkel H S is White at 70.1% of enrollment, in Merkel, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Merkel H S?
Merkel H S has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher 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 H S rank among public schools in Merkel?
By Resource Investment Index, Merkel H S ranks #2 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 H S, Merkel Isd also operates Merkel El (563 students) and Merkel Middle (246 students). See the Merkel Isd district page for the complete list.