- Enrollment
- 2,812
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Denton, TX
Nelson El
Federal NCES profile for Nelson El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 481674011447
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nelson El earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #10 of 20
- schools in Denton · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 36.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Nelson El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nelson El ranks #10 of 20 schools in Denton, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Nelson El held near 524 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 39.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 481674011447 · Denton, TX Other · MID · TRAD
527 enr · 12.9:1 · 36.3% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Ray Braswell H S (2,812 students)
Nelson El held near 524 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 39.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Nelson El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ray Braswell H
Ray Braswell H S
2,812 students
- Guyer H S
Guyer H S
2,577 students
- Denton H S
Denton H S
2,083 students
- Ryan H S
Ryan H S
2,051 students
- Strickland Mid 956
Strickland Middle
956 students
- This school 527
Nelson El
527 students
What this shows Nelson El reports 527 students on the CCD universe file.
How Nelson El compares
Nelson 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 12% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 36.3% | ▼ 41% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 527 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
527
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
36.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% 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
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 33% in Texas - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
12.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,484
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 527 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 40.4%
Hispanic or Latino 34.3%
African American 12.3%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 4.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 40.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.6, Nelson El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Denton Isd reports $11,484 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Nelson El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ray Braswell H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Guyer H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Denton H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ryan H S | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Strickland Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nelson El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,577
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 2,083
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,051
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 956
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
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 (~527 students)
Frequently asked questions about Nelson El
How many students attend Nelson El?
Nelson El has 527 students enrolled. It is a public school in Denton, TX. CCD year-over-year: 520 (2022-23) → 524 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nelson El?
The student-teacher ratio at Nelson El is 12.9:1, which is 12% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 18% 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 Nelson El?
36.3% of students at Nelson El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nelson El?
The largest demographic group at Nelson El is White at 40.4% of enrollment, in Denton, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nelson El?
Nelson El has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 Nelson El rank among schools in Denton?
By Resource Investment Index, Nelson El ranks #10 of 20 schools in Denton, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Denton on the city page.
What other schools are in Denton Isd?
Besides Nelson El, Denton Isd also operates Ray Braswell H S (2,812 students), Guyer H S (2,577 students), and Denton H S (2,083 students). See the Denton Isd district page for the complete list.