- Enrollment
- 2,042
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Thornton, CO
Riverdale Ridge High School
Federal NCES profile for Riverdale Ridge High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080258006738
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Riverdale Ridge High School earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Colorado schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Colorado.
- #6 of 6
- high schools in Thornton · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 29.7:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 20.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Riverdale Ridge High School has class sizes larger than 97% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Riverdale Ridge High School ranks #6 of 6 high schools in Thornton, CO.
School address
District: School District 27j · Colorado
NCES ID 080258006738 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+173 students YoY
Riverdale Ridge High School grew from 1,463 students in 2022-23 to 1,636 in 2023-24 (+11.8%).
Teacher FTE added 60.4 → 77.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+173 students YoY 080258006738 · Thornton, CO High · MID · TRAD
1,784 enr · 29.7:1 · 20.5% lunch · RII 24
Nearest enrollment peer: Colorado Connections Academy (2,042 students)
Riverdale Ridge High School grew from 1,463 students in 2022-23 to 1,636 in 2023-24 (+11.8%). Teacher FTE added 60.4 → 77.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Riverdale Ridge High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Colorado Conne
Colorado Connections Academy
2,042 students
- Prairie View H
Prairie View High School
1,809 students
- This school
Riverdale Ridge High School
1,784 students
- Brighton High
Brighton High School
1,733 students
- Bromley East C
Bromley East Charter School
1,214 students
- Rodger Quist M
Rodger Quist Middle School
855 students
What this shows Riverdale Ridge High School reports 1,784 students on the CCD universe file.
How Riverdale Ridge High School compares
Riverdale Ridge High 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 | 29.7:1 | ▲ 79% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.5% | ▼ 47% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,784 | top 2% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
29.7:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,784
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
29.7:1
students per teacher
- 79% above state mean
Top 97% in Colorado - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
29.5%
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
$10,854
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 1784 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
97
in-school suspensions + 77 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.5%
White 42.4%
Asian 5.9%
Two or More 4.9%
African American 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.6, Riverdale Ridge High School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 12
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for School District 27j reports $10,854 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Riverdale Ridge High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Connections Academy | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Prairie View High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Brighton High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bromley East Charter School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rodger Quist Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Riverdale Ridge High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,809
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,733
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,214
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 855
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
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 (~1,784 students)
Frequently asked questions about Riverdale Ridge High School
How many students attend Riverdale Ridge High School?
Riverdale Ridge High School has 1,784 students enrolled. It is a high school in Thornton, CO. CCD year-over-year: 1,463 (2022-23) → 1,636 (2023-24), up 173.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Riverdale Ridge High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Riverdale Ridge High School is 29.7:1, which is 79% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 89% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Riverdale Ridge High School?
20.5% of students at Riverdale Ridge High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Riverdale Ridge High School?
The largest demographic group at Riverdale Ridge High School is Hispanic or Latino at 44.5% of enrollment, in Thornton, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Riverdale Ridge High School?
Riverdale Ridge High School has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower 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 Riverdale Ridge High School rank among high schools in Thornton?
By Resource Investment Index, Riverdale Ridge High School ranks #6 of 6 high schools in Thornton, 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 Thornton on the city page.
What other schools are in School District 27j?
Besides Riverdale Ridge High School, School District 27j also operates Colorado Connections Academy (2,042 students), Prairie View High School (1,809 students), and Brighton High School (1,733 students). See the School District 27j district page for the complete list.