- Enrollment
- 1,885
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waco, TX
South Waco El
Federal NCES profile for South Waco El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 484428006798
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 10
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Waco El earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median.
- #22 of 32
- schools in Waco · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.4:1
- students per teacher
- 94.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Waco El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Waco El ranks #22 of 32 schools in Waco, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
South Waco El held near 477 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 34.3 → 33.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 484428006798 · Waco, TX Other · SMALL · TRAD
490 enr · 14.4:1 · 94.6% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Waco H S (1,885 students)
South Waco El held near 477 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 34.3 → 33.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
South Waco El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Waco H S
Waco H S
1,885 students
- University H S
University H S
1,752 students
- Tennyson Middl
Tennyson Middle
963 students
- Bell's Hill El
Bell's Hill El
786 students
- Cesar Chavez M
Cesar Chavez Middle
786 students
- This school 490
South Waco El
490 students
What this shows South Waco El reports 490 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Waco El compares
South Waco El held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.4:1 | ▼ 2% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 94.6% | ▲ 53% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 490 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
490
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
94.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 53% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 52% in Texas - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
36.1%
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
$14,294
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 245 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
96
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 19.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 24.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 7 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 51.2%
Hispanic or Latino 37.1%
White 5.3%
Two or More 3.5%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: African American at 51.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.6, South Waco El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Waco Isd reports $14,294 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Waco El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| University H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Tennyson Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bell's Hill El | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cesar Chavez Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Waco El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,752
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 963
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
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 (~490 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Waco El
How many students attend South Waco El?
South Waco El has 490 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waco, TX. CCD year-over-year: 462 (2022-23) → 477 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Waco El?
The student-teacher ratio at South Waco El is 14.4:1, which is 2% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 8% lower 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 Waco El?
94.6% of students at South Waco El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Waco El?
The largest demographic group at South Waco El is African American at 51.2% of enrollment, in Waco, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Waco El?
South Waco El has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Waco El rank among schools in Waco?
By Resource Investment Index, South Waco El ranks #22 of 32 schools in Waco, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waco on the city page.
What other schools are in Waco Isd?
Besides South Waco El, Waco Isd also operates Waco H S (1,885 students), University H S (1,752 students), and Tennyson Middle (963 students). See the Waco Isd district page for the complete list.