Enrollment
323
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Pueblo, CO
South Mesa Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Mesa Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 080615001083
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 28
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Mesa Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median.
- #18 of 24
- schools in Pueblo · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.1:1
- students per teacher
- 57.1%
- free-lunch eligible
South Mesa Elementary School has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Mesa Elementary School ranks #18 of 24 schools in Pueblo, CO.
School address
District: Pueblo County School District 70 · Colorado
NCES ID 080615001083 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.1:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
57.1%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
+48% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Mesa Elementary School compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Mesa Elementary School
South Mesa Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Pueblo, Colorado, enrolling 323 students.
At 16.1:1, 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.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 57.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 323 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 249 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #123.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (61%) and White (34%) (diversity index 51/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 323 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Pueblo County School District 70 spends $10,558 per pupil, 35% below the Colorado average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Pueblo County School District 70 also operates Pueblo West High School (1,540 students) and Pueblo County High School (1,148 students) alongside South Mesa Elementary 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 South Mesa Elementary School compares
South Mesa Elementary 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 | 16.1:1 | ▼ 3% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.1% | ▲ 48% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 323 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
323
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
57.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% above the Colorado average of 38.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 54% in Colorado - lower ratio than 46% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.8%
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
$10,558
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 323 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
Hispanic or Latino 60.7%
White 34.4%
Two or More 4.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 60.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.1, South Mesa Elementary School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Pueblo County School District 70, which includes South Mesa Elementary School.
$10,558
Per student
-35%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 31.7%
State 53.2%
Federal 15.1%
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 South Mesa Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pueblo West High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pueblo County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Swallows Charter Academy | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sky View Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Prairie Winds Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Mesa Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,540
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 1,148
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 677
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 565
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 477
- Students per teacher
- 20.7:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
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 (~323 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Mesa Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Mesa Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Pueblo County School District 70'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 South Mesa Elementary School
How many students attend South Mesa Elementary School?
South Mesa Elementary School has 323 students enrolled. It is a public school in Pueblo, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Mesa Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Mesa Elementary School is 16.1:1, which is 3% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 3% higher 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 South Mesa Elementary School?
57.1% of students at South Mesa Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Mesa Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Mesa Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 60.7% of enrollment, in Pueblo, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Mesa Elementary School?
South Mesa Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Mesa Elementary School rank among schools in Pueblo?
By Resource Investment Index, South Mesa Elementary School ranks #18 of 24 schools in Pueblo, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Pueblo on the city page.
Is South Mesa Elementary School a good school?
South Mesa Elementary School earns 42/100 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 Pueblo County School District 70?
Besides South Mesa Elementary School, Pueblo County School District 70 also operates Pueblo West High School (1,540 students), Pueblo County High School (1,148 students), and Swallows Charter Academy (677 students). See the Pueblo County School District 70 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.