- Enrollment
- 2,044
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+4 students YoY
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School held near 390 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 26.4 → 27.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+4 students YoY 080399006334 · Fort Collins, CO Other · SMALL · TRAD
406 enr · 15.6:1 · 12.2% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Rocky Mountain High School (2,044 students)
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School held near 390 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+4 headcount). Teacher FTE added 26.4 → 27.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Rocky Mountain
Rocky Mountain High School
2,044 students
- Fossil Ridge H
Fossil Ridge High School
1,846 students
- Fort Collins H
Fort Collins High School
1,836 students
- Liberty Common
Liberty Common Charter School
1,516 students
- Timnath Middle
Timnath Middle-High School
1,456 students
- This school 406
Polaris Expeditionary Learning School
406 students
What this shows Polaris Expeditionary Learning School reports 406 students on the CCD universe file.
How Polaris Expeditionary Learning School compares
Polaris Expeditionary Learning 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 | 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 methodology
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
$14,986
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
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.
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
District finance for Poudre School District R-1 reports $14,986 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 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
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 (~406 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 386 (2022-23) → 390 (2023-24), nearly flat (+4).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.