- Enrollment
- 2,052
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Thornton, CO
Rocky Top Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Rocky Top Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080690001726
👥 S:T ratio 25
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rocky Top Middle School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Colorado schools.
- #1 of 5
- middle schools in Thornton · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.8:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 15.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Rocky Top Middle School has class sizes larger than 78% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rocky Top Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle schools in Thornton, CO.
School address
District: Adams 12 Five Star Schools · Colorado
NCES ID 080690001726 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+59 students YoY
Rocky Top Middle School grew from 1,001 students in 2022-23 to 1,060 in 2023-24 (+5.9%).
Teacher FTE added 56.5 → 56.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+59 students YoY 080690001726 · Thornton, CO Middle · MID · TRAD
1,052 enr · 18.8:1 · 15.2% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Legacy High School (2,052 students)
Rocky Top Middle School grew from 1,001 students in 2022-23 to 1,060 in 2023-24 (+5.9%). Teacher FTE added 56.5 → 56.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Rocky Top Middle School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Legacy High Sc
Legacy High School
2,052 students
- Horizon High S
Horizon High School
1,966 students
- Northglenn Hig
Northglenn High School
1,844 students
- Mountain Range
Mountain Range High School
1,788 students
- Stargate Chart
Stargate Charter School
1,572 students
- This school
Rocky Top Middle School
1,052 students
What this shows Rocky Top Middle School reports 1,052 students on the CCD universe file.
How Rocky Top Middle School compares
Rocky Top Middle 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 | 18.8:1 | ▲ 13% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 15.2% | ▼ 61% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,052 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.8:1
Leaner classes than 21% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,052
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
15.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 61% 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
18.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 78% in Colorado - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
30.3%
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
$14,748
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
78
in-school suspensions + 106 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 55.6%
Hispanic or Latino 27.9%
Asian 7.7%
Two or More 6.9%
African American 1.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 55.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.2, Rocky Top Middle School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Adams 12 Five Star Schools reports $14,748 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Rocky Top Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Legacy High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Horizon High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northglenn High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain Range High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Stargate Charter School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rocky Top Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,966
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,844
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 1,788
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,572
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~1,052 students)
Frequently asked questions about Rocky Top Middle School
How many students attend Rocky Top Middle School?
Rocky Top Middle School has 1,052 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Thornton, CO. CCD year-over-year: 1,001 (2022-23) → 1,060 (2023-24), up 59.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rocky Top Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Rocky Top Middle School is 18.8:1, which is 13% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 20% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Rocky Top Middle School?
15.2% of students at Rocky Top Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rocky Top Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Rocky Top Middle School is White at 55.6% of enrollment, in Thornton, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rocky Top Middle School?
Rocky Top Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Rocky Top Middle School rank among middle schools in Thornton?
By Resource Investment Index, Rocky Top Middle School ranks #1 of 5 middle 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 middle schools in Thornton on the city page.
What other schools are in Adams 12 Five Star Schools?
Besides Rocky Top Middle School, Adams 12 Five Star Schools also operates Legacy High School (2,052 students), Horizon High School (1,966 students), and Northglenn High School (1,844 students). See the Adams 12 Five Star Schools district page for the complete list.