- Enrollment
- 1,193
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Colorado Springs, CO
Mesa Ridge High School
Federal NCES profile for Mesa Ridge High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080648001588
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 6
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mesa Ridge High School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 87% of Colorado schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Colorado.
- #28 of 29
- high schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.4:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 16.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Mesa Ridge High School has class sizes larger than 87% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mesa Ridge High School ranks #28 of 29 high schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080648001588 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Mesa Ridge High School held near 1,255 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 64.8 → 69.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 080648001588 · Colorado Springs, CO High · MID · TRAD
1,304 enr · 20.4:1 · 16.9% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Widefield High School (1,193 students)
Mesa Ridge High School held near 1,255 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 64.8 → 69.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Mesa Ridge High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Mesa Ridge High School
1,304 students
- Widefield High
Widefield High School
1,193 students
- Grand Mountain
Grand Mountain School
1,044 students
- Janitell Junio
Janitell Junior High School
658 students
- Webster Elemen
Webster Elementary School
582 students
- Sunrise Elemen 506
Sunrise Elementary School
506 students
What this shows Mesa Ridge High School reports 1,304 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mesa Ridge High School compares
Mesa Ridge High 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 | 20.4:1 | ▲ 23% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.9% | ▼ 56% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,304 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.4:1
Leaner classes than 15% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,304
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
16.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% 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
20.4:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 87% in Colorado - lower ratio than 13% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
37.7%
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
$12,730
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 326 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 223 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 6 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 38.7%
Hispanic or Latino 33.7%
African American 12.1%
Two or More 11.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.5%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.2%
Largest group: White at 38.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.8, Mesa Ridge High School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of reports $12,730 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mesa Ridge High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Widefield High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Grand Mountain School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Janitell Junior High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Webster Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sunrise Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mesa Ridge High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,044
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 582
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 506
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
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 (~1,304 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20.4:1)
Frequently asked questions about Mesa Ridge High School
How many students attend Mesa Ridge High School?
Mesa Ridge High School has 1,304 students enrolled. It is a high school in Colorado Springs, CO. CCD year-over-year: 1,269 (2022-23) → 1,255 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mesa Ridge High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mesa Ridge High School is 20.4:1, which is 23% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 30% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Mesa Ridge High School?
16.9% of students at Mesa Ridge High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mesa Ridge High School?
The largest demographic group at Mesa Ridge High School is White at 38.7% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mesa Ridge High School?
Mesa Ridge High School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Mesa Ridge High School rank among high schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Mesa Ridge High School ranks #28 of 29 high schools in Colorado Springs, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Colorado Springs on the city page.
What other schools are in School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of?
Besides Mesa Ridge High School, School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of also operates Widefield High School (1,193 students), Grand Mountain School (1,044 students), and Janitell Junior High School (658 students). See the School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of district page for the complete list.