- Enrollment
- 1,923
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Golden, CO
Ralston Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Ralston Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080480000777
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ralston Elementary School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Colorado schools.
- #3 of 5
- elementary schools in Golden · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.1:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 5.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Ralston Elementary School has class sizes larger than 73% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ralston Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Golden, CO.
School address
District: Jefferson County School District No. R-1 · Colorado
NCES ID 080480000777 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Ralston Elementary School grew from 274 students in 2022-23 to 288 in 2023-24 (+5.1%).
Teacher FTE held 16.7 → 16.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+14 students YoY 080480000777 · Golden, CO Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
289 enr · 18.1:1 · 5.8% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Arvada West High School (1,923 students)
Ralston Elementary School grew from 274 students in 2022-23 to 288 in 2023-24 (+5.1%). Teacher FTE held 16.7 → 16.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Ralston Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Arvada West Hi
Arvada West High School
1,923 students
- Ralston Valley
Ralston Valley Senior High School
1,875 students
- Chatfield High
Chatfield High School
1,808 students
- Lakewood High
Lakewood High School
1,735 students
- Columbine High
Columbine High School
1,710 students
- This school 289
Ralston Elementary School
289 students
What this shows Ralston Elementary School reports 289 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ralston Elementary School compares
Ralston Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.1:1 | ▲ 9% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 5.8% | ▼ 85% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 289 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
289
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
5.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 85% 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
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 73% in Colorado - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,483
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.1%
Two or More 8.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Asian 1.0%
African American 0.3%
Largest group: White at 84.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.2, Ralston Elementary School is less mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Jefferson County School District No. R-1 reports $14,483 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ralston Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arvada West High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ralston Valley Senior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chatfield High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lakewood High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Columbine High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ralston Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,875
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,808
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,735
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 1,710
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~289 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ralston Elementary School
How many students attend Ralston Elementary School?
Ralston Elementary School has 289 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Golden, CO. CCD year-over-year: 274 (2022-23) → 288 (2023-24), up 14.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ralston Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Ralston Elementary School is 18.1:1, which is 9% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ralston Elementary School?
5.8% of students at Ralston Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ralston Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Ralston Elementary School is White at 84.1% of enrollment, in Golden, CO.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ralston Elementary School?
Ralston Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Ralston Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Golden?
By Resource Investment Index, Ralston Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 elementary schools in Golden, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Golden on the city page.
What other schools are in Jefferson County School District No. R-1?
Besides Ralston Elementary School, Jefferson County School District No. R-1 also operates Arvada West High School (1,923 students), Ralston Valley Senior High School (1,875 students), and Chatfield High School (1,808 students). See the Jefferson County School District No. R-1 district page for the complete list.