Enrollment
406
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fort Collins, CO
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
Federal NCES profile for Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080399006334
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 59
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #9 of 29
- schools in Fort Collins · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- students per teacher
- 12.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School ranks #9 of 29 schools in Fort Collins, CO.
School address
District: Poudre School District R-1 · Colorado
NCES ID 080399006334 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.6:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
12.2%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
-68% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Polaris Expeditionary Learning School compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Fort Collins, Colorado, enrolling 406 students.
At 15.6:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Colorado median, within a few percentage points of the 16.6:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 12.2% free-meal eligibility runs 68% below the Colorado average.
With 406 students, its enrollment sits close to the Colorado median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,922 scored Colorado schools.
Against 345 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #115.
Its student body is predominantly White (86% of enrollment) (diversity index 25/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 203 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 30.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Poudre School District R-1 also operates Rocky Mountain High School (2,044 students) and Fossil Ridge High School (1,846 students) alongside Polaris Expeditionary Learning 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 Polaris Expeditionary Learning School compares
Polaris Expeditionary Learning 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 | 15.6:1 | ▼ 6% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 12.2% | ▼ 68% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 406 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
406
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
12.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 48% in Colorado - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
30.8%
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
$13,223
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 203 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
White 86.4%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Two or More 6.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
African American 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 86.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 24.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 24.6, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 1
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Poudre School District R-1, which includes Polaris Expeditionary Learning School.
$13,223
Per student
-19%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 57.5%
State 35.4%
Federal 7.1%
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 Polaris Expeditionary Learning School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Mountain High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fossil Ridge High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fort Collins High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Liberty Common Charter School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Timnath Middle-High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Polaris Expeditionary Learning School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,044
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,846
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,836
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 1,516
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,456
- Students per teacher
- 28:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
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 (~406 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Polaris Expeditionary Learning School's federal record.
- Compare Polaris Expeditionary Learning School against another school. Compare schools
- Poudre School District R-1'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 Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
How many students attend Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School has 406 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Fort Collins, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
The student-teacher ratio at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is 15.6:1, which is 6% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 1% 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 Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
12.2% of students at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
The largest demographic group at Polaris Expeditionary Learning School is White at 86.4% of enrollment, in Fort Collins, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Polaris Expeditionary Learning School?
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Polaris Expeditionary Learning School rank among schools in Fort Collins?
By Resource Investment Index, Polaris Expeditionary Learning School ranks #9 of 29 schools in Fort Collins, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fort Collins on the city page.
Is Polaris Expeditionary Learning School a good school?
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. 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 Poudre School District R-1?
Besides Polaris Expeditionary Learning School, Poudre School District R-1 also operates Rocky Mountain High School (2,044 students), Fossil Ridge High School (1,846 students), and Fort Collins High School (1,836 students). See the Poudre School District R-1 district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.