- Enrollment
- 769
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Salado, TX
Thomas Arnold El
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Arnold El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 483858013806
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 64
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Arnold El earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 71% of Texas schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Salado · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- large classes for Texas
- 27.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas Arnold El has class sizes larger than 71% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Arnold El ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Salado, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Thomas Arnold El held near 1,031 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 67.3 → 66.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 483858013806 · Salado, TX Other · MID · TRAD
1,073 enr · 16:1 · 27.4% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Salado H S (769 students)
Thomas Arnold El held near 1,031 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 67.3 → 66.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Thomas Arnold El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Thomas Arnold El
1,073 students
- Salado H S
Salado H S
769 students
- Salado Middle
Salado Middle
587 students
What this shows Thomas Arnold El reports 1,073 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas Arnold El compares
Thomas Arnold 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 | 16:1 | ▲ 9% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 27.4% | ▼ 56% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,073 | top 9% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,073
Bigger than 92% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
27.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% below the Texas average of 61.9%
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
16:1
students per teacher
- 9% above state mean
Top 71% in Texas - lower ratio than 29% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$9,952
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 537 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.6%
Hispanic or Latino 28.3%
Two or More 4.9%
African American 1.3%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 64.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.0, Thomas Arnold El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Salado Isd reports $9,952 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas Arnold El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Salado H S | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Salado Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Arnold El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 587
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- 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 (~1,073 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Arnold El
How many students attend Thomas Arnold El?
Thomas Arnold El has 1,073 students enrolled. It is a public school in Salado, TX. CCD year-over-year: 1,029 (2022-23) → 1,031 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Arnold El?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Arnold El is 16:1, which is 9% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 2% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Thomas Arnold El?
27.4% of students at Thomas Arnold El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Arnold El?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Arnold El is White at 64.6% of enrollment, in Salado, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Arnold El?
Thomas Arnold 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 Thomas Arnold El rank among public schools in Salado?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Arnold El ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Salado, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Salado Isd?
Besides Thomas Arnold El, Salado Isd also operates Salado H S (769 students) and Salado Middle (587 students). See the Salado Isd district page for the complete list.