- Enrollment
- 3,692
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Pasadena, TX
Sparks El
Federal NCES profile for Sparks El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 483432005905
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 26
📋 Attendance 43
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sparks El earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of Texas schools.
- #3 of 24
- schools in Pasadena · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.2:1
- small classes for Texas
- 86.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Sparks El has class sizes smaller than 83% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sparks El ranks #3 of 24 schools in Pasadena, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Sparks El held near 369 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 33.5 → 32.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 483432005905 · Pasadena, TX Other · SMALL · TRAD
370 enr · 11.2:1 · 86.7% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Dobie H S (3,692 students)
Sparks El held near 369 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 33.5 → 32.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Sparks El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Dobie H S
Dobie H S
3,692 students
- Pasadena Memor
Pasadena Memorial H S
3,177 students
- Sam Rayburn H
Sam Rayburn H S
2,627 students
- Pasadena H S
Pasadena H S
2,217 students
- South Houston
South Houston H S
2,185 students
- This school 370
Sparks El
370 students
What this shows Sparks El reports 370 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sparks El compares
Sparks 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 | 11.2:1 | ▼ 24% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.7% | ▲ 40% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 370 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.2:1
Leaner classes than 82% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
370
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
86.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% above the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.2:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 17% in Texas - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
23.0%
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
$13,787
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $14,348
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 370 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 87.6%
White 6.8%
African American 4.6%
Two or More 1.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 87.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.6, Sparks El is less mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pasadena Isd reports $13,787 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sparks El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dobie H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pasadena Memorial H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sam Rayburn H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pasadena H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Houston H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sparks El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,177
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 2,627
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 2,217
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 2,185
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
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 (~370 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sparks El
How many students attend Sparks El?
Sparks El has 370 students enrolled. It is a public school in Pasadena, TX. CCD year-over-year: 362 (2022-23) → 369 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sparks El?
The student-teacher ratio at Sparks El is 11.2:1, which is 24% lower than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 29% 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 Sparks El?
86.7% of students at Sparks El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sparks El?
The largest demographic group at Sparks El is Hispanic or Latino at 87.6% of enrollment, in Pasadena, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sparks El?
Sparks El has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Sparks El rank among schools in Pasadena?
By Resource Investment Index, Sparks El ranks #3 of 24 schools in Pasadena, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Pasadena on the city page.
What other schools are in Pasadena Isd?
Besides Sparks El, Pasadena Isd also operates Dobie H S (3,692 students), Pasadena Memorial H S (3,177 students), and Sam Rayburn H S (2,627 students). See the Pasadena Isd district page for the complete list.