Enrollment
330
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Colorado Springs, CO
Otero Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Otero Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080453001484
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Otero Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools.
- #58 of 80
- schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 52.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Otero Elementary School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Otero Elementary School ranks #58 of 80 schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080453001484 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
24.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
-17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.7%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
+37% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Otero Elementary School compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at Otero Elementary School
Otero Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Colorado Springs, Colorado, enrolling 330 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.8:1 puts it in the smaller third of Colorado schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 52.7% of students eligible for free meals.
With 330 students, its enrollment sits close to the Colorado median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,922 scored Colorado schools.
Against 266 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #176.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (44%) and White (31%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 647 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
The surrounding Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an spends $11,944 per pupil, 27% below the Colorado average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 91 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 330 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an also operates Harrison High School (1,089 students) and The Vanguard School (Elementary) (949 students) alongside Otero Elementary School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Otero Elementary School compares
Otero Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 17% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.7% | ▲ 37% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 330 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
330
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 37% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 31% in Colorado - lower ratio than 69% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$11,944
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $16,273
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 70 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 43.6%
White 30.6%
African American 12.1%
Two or More 8.8%
Asian 3.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.2, Otero Elementary School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an, which includes Otero Elementary School.
$11,944
Per student
-27%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.7%
State 60.0%
Federal 15.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Otero Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| The Vanguard School (Elementary) | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sierra High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Soaring Eagles Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Creek International School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Otero Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,089
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 949
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 843
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 764
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 595
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Colorado, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~330 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Otero Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Otero Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Otero Elementary School
How many students attend Otero Elementary School?
Otero Elementary School has 330 students enrolled. It is a public school in Colorado Springs, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Otero Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Otero Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 17% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 12% 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 Otero Elementary School?
52.7% of students at Otero Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Otero Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Otero Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 43.6% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Otero Elementary School?
Otero Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Otero Elementary School rank among schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Otero Elementary School ranks #58 of 80 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 schools in Colorado Springs on the city page.
Is Otero Elementary School a good school?
Otero Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an?
Besides Otero Elementary School, Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an also operates Harrison High School (1,089 students), The Vanguard School (Elementary) (949 students), and Sierra High School (843 students). See the Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an district page for the complete list.
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Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.