- Enrollment
- 1,974
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Fort Carson, CO
Mountainside Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Mountainside Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080408000856
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Mountainside Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 81% of Colorado schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Fort Carson · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.4:1
- small classes for Colorado
- 34.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Mountainside Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 81% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Mountainside Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Fort Carson, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080408000856 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-65 students YoY
Mountainside Elementary School shrank from 419 students in 2022-23 to 354 in 2023-24 (-15.5%).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-65 students YoY 080408000856 · Fort Carson, CO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
346 enr · 12.4:1 · 34.8% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Fountain-Fort Carson High School (1,974 students)
Mountainside Elementary School shrank from 419 students in 2022-23 to 354 in 2023-24 (-15.5%). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Mountainside Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Fountain-Fort
Fountain-Fort Carson High School
1,974 students
- Fountain Middl
Fountain Middle School
1,051 students
- Weikel Element
Weikel Elementary School
814 students
- Mesa Elementar 668
Mesa Elementary School
668 students
- Carson Middle 657
Carson Middle School
657 students
- This school 346
Mountainside Elementary School
346 students
What this shows Mountainside Elementary School reports 346 students on the CCD universe file.
How Mountainside Elementary School compares
Mountainside Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.4:1 | ▼ 25% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 34.8% | ▼ 10% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 346 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.4:1
Leaner classes than 72% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
346
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
34.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 10% 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
12.4:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 19% in Colorado - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$14,254
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 346 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 16 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 36.1%
White 34.1%
African American 15.9%
Two or More 9.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 2.0%
Asian 1.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.8, Mountainside Elementary School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fountain School District No. 8 in the County of El Paso an reports $14,254 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Mountainside Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fountain-Fort Carson High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fountain Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weikel Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mesa Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carson Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Mountainside Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,051
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 814
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 668
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 657
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
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 (~346 students)
Frequently asked questions about Mountainside Elementary School
How many students attend Mountainside Elementary School?
Mountainside Elementary School has 346 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Fort Carson, CO. CCD year-over-year: 419 (2022-23) → 354 (2023-24), down 65.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Mountainside Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Mountainside Elementary School is 12.4:1, which is 25% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 21% 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 Mountainside Elementary School?
34.8% of students at Mountainside Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Mountainside Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Mountainside Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 36.1% of enrollment, in Fort Carson, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Mountainside Elementary School?
Mountainside Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Mountainside Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Fort Carson?
By Resource Investment Index, Mountainside Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Fort Carson, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Fountain School District No. 8 in the County of El Paso an?
Besides Mountainside Elementary School, Fountain School District No. 8 in the County of El Paso an also operates Fountain-Fort Carson High School (1,974 students), Fountain Middle School (1,051 students), and Weikel Elementary School (814 students). See the Fountain School District No. 8 in the County of El Paso an district page for the complete list.