- Enrollment
- 1,715
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Colorado Springs, CO
Palmer High School
Federal NCES profile for Palmer High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080306000257
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 68
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Palmer High School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also one of the largest schools in Colorado.
- #8 of 29
- high schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.6:1
- students per teacher
- 45.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Palmer High School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer High School ranks #8 of 29 high schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080306000257 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-40 students YoY
Palmer High School held near 1,344 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-40 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 72.2 → 69.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-40 students YoY 080306000257 · Colorado Springs, CO High · MID · TRAD
1,265 enr · 17.6:1 · 45.9% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Doherty High School (1,715 students)
Palmer High School held near 1,344 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-40 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 72.2 → 69.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Palmer High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Doherty High S
Doherty High School
1,715 students
- Coronado High
Coronado High School
1,279 students
- This school
Palmer High School
1,265 students
- Jenkins Middle
Jenkins Middle School
791 students
- Mitchell High
Mitchell High School
757 students
- North Middle S 636
North Middle School
636 students
What this shows Palmer High School reports 1,265 students on the CCD universe file.
How Palmer High School compares
Palmer 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 | 17.6:1 | ▲ 6% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.9% | ▲ 19% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,265 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.6:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,265
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
45.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% 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
17.6:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 68% in Colorado - lower ratio than 32% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Funding equity
$15,835
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
Counselors8.0 FTE
Per 158 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
114
in-school suspensions + 148 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 20.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 41.0%
White 39.1%
African American 9.6%
Two or More 8.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Asian 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 41.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.2, Palmer High School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the County of E reports $15,835 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Palmer High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Doherty High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Coronado High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jenkins Middle School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mitchell High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Palmer High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,279
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 791
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 757
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
- Enrollment
- 636
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
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 (~1,265 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~17.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Palmer High School
How many students attend Palmer High School?
Palmer High School has 1,265 students enrolled. It is a high school in Colorado Springs, CO. CCD year-over-year: 1,384 (2022-23) → 1,344 (2023-24), nearly flat (-40).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Palmer High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Palmer High School is 17.6:1, which is 6% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 12% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Palmer High School?
45.9% of students at Palmer High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Palmer High School?
The largest demographic group at Palmer High School is Hispanic or Latino at 41.0% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Palmer High School?
Palmer High School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Palmer High School rank among high schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Palmer High School ranks #8 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 Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the County of E?
Besides Palmer High School, Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the County of E also operates Doherty High School (1,715 students), Coronado High School (1,279 students), and Jenkins Middle School (791 students). See the Colorado Springs School District No. 11 in the County of E district page for the complete list.