Enrollment
949
Colorado · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Colorado Springs, CO
The Vanguard School (Elementary)
Federal NCES profile for The Vanguard School (Elementary), including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 080453001326Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
The Vanguard School (Elementary) earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools.
- #8 of 51
- elementary schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.3:1
- students per teacher
- 12.3%
- free-lunch eligible
The Vanguard School (Elementary) has class sizes near the Colorado median. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, The Vanguard School (Elementary) ranks #8 of 51 elementary schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080453001326 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
62.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.3:1
vs 16.6:1 Colorado avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
12.3%
vs 38.5% Colorado avg
-68% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How The Vanguard School (Elementary) compares with Colorado and U.S. medians
What stands out at The Vanguard School (Elementary)
The Vanguard School (Elementary) is a lower-poverty, large charter elementary school in Colorado Springs, Colorado, enrolling 949 students.
At 15.3:1, 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.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 12.3% free-meal eligibility runs 68% below the Colorado average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Colorado, bigger than 91% of state schools at 949 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,922 scored Colorado schools.
Among 167 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Colorado schools statewide, it ranks #10, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and Hispanic or Latino (32%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 68/100).
The surrounding Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an spends $11,944 per pupil, 27% below the Colorado average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an also operates Harrison High School (1,089 students) and Sierra High School (843 students) alongside The Vanguard School (Elementary).
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 The Vanguard School (Elementary) compares
The Vanguard School (Elementary) on the metrics families compare, against Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.3:1 | ▼ 8% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 12.3% | ▼ 68% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 949 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
949
Bigger than 90% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
12.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 68% 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
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 45% in Colorado - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Funding equity
$11,944
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
Counselors0.4 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 58 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.1 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
White 44.9%
Hispanic or Latino 31.6%
Two or More 10.6%
Asian 6.6%
African American 5.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: White at 44.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.0, The Vanguard School (Elementary) is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an, which includes The Vanguard School (Elementary).
$11,944
Per student
-27%
vs Colorado
Avg $16,273
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 24.7%
State 60.0%
Federal 15.3%
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 The Vanguard School (Elementary) Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sierra High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Soaring Eagles Elementary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sand Creek International School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain Vista Community School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to The Vanguard School (Elementary)'s own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,089
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 843
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 57/100
- Enrollment
- 764
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 595
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 590
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Similar elementary 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 (~949 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on The Vanguard School (Elementary)'s federal record.
- Compare The Vanguard School (Elementary) against another school. Compare schools
- Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an'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 The Vanguard School (Elementary)
How many students attend The Vanguard School (Elementary)?
The Vanguard School (Elementary) has 949 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Colorado Springs, CO.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Vanguard School (Elementary)?
The student-teacher ratio at The Vanguard School (Elementary) is 15.3:1, which is 8% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 3% 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 The Vanguard School (Elementary)?
12.3% of students at The Vanguard School (Elementary) are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of The Vanguard School (Elementary)?
The largest demographic group at The Vanguard School (Elementary) is White at 44.9% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for The Vanguard School (Elementary)?
The Vanguard School (Elementary) has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 2 factors: student-teacher ratio. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology). Limited indicators were available, so the index reflects partial data.
How does The Vanguard School (Elementary) rank among elementary schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, The Vanguard School (Elementary) ranks #8 of 51 elementary schools in Colorado Springs, CO. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Colorado Springs on the city page.
Is The Vanguard School (Elementary) a good school?
The Vanguard School (Elementary) earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Colorado median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Colorado schools. 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 Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an?
Besides The Vanguard School (Elementary), Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an also operates Harrison High School (1,089 students), Sierra High School (843 students), and Soaring Eagles Elementary School (764 students). See the Harrison School District No. 2 in the County of El Paso an district page for the complete list.
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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.