- Enrollment
- 1,540
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
South Mesa Elementary School held near 327 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 20.2 → 20.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 080615001083 · Pueblo, CO Other · SMALL · TRAD
323 enr · 16.1:1 · 57.1% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Pueblo West High School (1,540 students)
South Mesa Elementary School held near 327 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE held 20.2 → 20.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
South Mesa Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pueblo West Hi
Pueblo West High School
1,540 students
- Pueblo County
Pueblo County High School
1,148 students
- Swallows Chart
Swallows Charter Academy
677 students
- Sky View Middl 565
Sky View Middle School
565 students
- Prairie Winds 477
Prairie Winds Elementary School
477 students
- This school 323
South Mesa Elementary School
323 students
What this shows South Mesa Elementary School reports 323 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Mesa Elementary School compares
South Mesa Elementary 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 | 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 methodology
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
$11,559
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 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.
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
District finance for Pueblo County School District 70 reports $11,559 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,148
- 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
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 (~323 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 331 (2022-23) → 327 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.