- Enrollment
- 2,042
- Students per teacher
- 25.8:1
- Resource Index
- 0/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Commerce City, CO
The Stead School
Federal NCES profile for The Stead School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080258006832Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 87
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
The Stead School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 97% of Colorado schools.
- #3 of 4
- high schools in Commerce City · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 30.1:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 13.2%
- free-lunch eligible
The Stead School has class sizes larger than 97% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, The Stead School ranks #3 of 4 high schools in Commerce City, CO.
School address
District: School District 27j · Colorado
NCES ID 080258006832 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+113 students YoY
The Stead School grew from 257 students in 2022-23 to 370 in 2023-24 (+44.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 14.2 → 6.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+113 students YoY 080258006832 · Commerce City, CO High · SMALL · CHARTER
421 enr · 30.1:1 · 13.2% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Colorado Connections Academy (2,042 students)
The Stead School grew from 257 students in 2022-23 to 370 in 2023-24 (+44.0%). Teacher FTE lost 14.2 → 6.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
The Stead School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Colorado Conne
Colorado Connections Academy
2,042 students
- Prairie View H
Prairie View High School
1,809 students
- Riverdale Ridg
Riverdale Ridge High School
1,784 students
- Brighton High
Brighton High School
1,733 students
- Bromley East C
Bromley East Charter School
1,214 students
- This school 421
The Stead School
421 students
What this shows The Stead School reports 421 students on the CCD universe file.
How The Stead School compares
The Stead 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 | 30.1:1 | ▲ 81% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 13.2% | ▼ 66% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 421 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
30.1:1
Leaner classes than 2% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
421
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 66% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
30.1:1
students per teacher
- 81% above state mean
Top 97% in Colorado - lower ratio than 3% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
5.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$10,854
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 421 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
7
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 46.2%
Hispanic or Latino 43.3%
Two or More 4.0%
African American 3.1%
Asian 2.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 46.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.6, The Stead School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for School District 27j reports $10,854 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How The Stead School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Colorado Connections Academy | Larger | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Prairie View High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Riverdale Ridge High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Brighton High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bromley East Charter School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to The Stead School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,809
- Students per teacher
- 24.1:1
- Resource Index
- 18/100
- Enrollment
- 1,784
- Students per teacher
- 29.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,733
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 1,214
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Nationwide high 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 (~421 students)
Frequently asked questions about The Stead School
How many students attend The Stead School?
The Stead School has 421 students enrolled. It is a high school in Commerce City, CO. CCD year-over-year: 257 (2022-23) → 370 (2023-24), up 113.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Stead School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Stead School is 30.1:1, which is 81% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 92% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at The Stead School?
13.2% of students at The Stead School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of The Stead School?
The largest demographic group at The Stead School is White at 46.2% of enrollment, in Commerce City, CO. 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 The Stead School?
The Stead School 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 The Stead School rank among high schools in Commerce City?
By Resource Investment Index, The Stead School ranks #3 of 4 high schools in Commerce City, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Commerce City on the city page.
What other schools are in School District 27j?
Besides The Stead School, School District 27j also operates Colorado Connections Academy (2,042 students), Prairie View High School (1,809 students), and Riverdale Ridge High School (1,784 students). See the School District 27j district page for the complete list.