- Enrollment
- 1,798
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Abilene, TX
Thomas El
Federal NCES profile for Thomas El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 480744002241
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas El earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Texas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #9 of 19
- schools in Abilene · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.5:1
- students per teacher
- 72.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Thomas El has class sizes near the Texas median. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas El ranks #9 of 19 schools in Abilene, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-25 students YoY
Thomas El shrank from 414 students in 2022-23 to 389 in 2023-24 (-6.0%).
Teacher FTE added 26.6 → 27.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-25 students YoY 480744002241 · Abilene, TX Other · SMALL · TRAD
378 enr · 14.5:1 · 72.2% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Abilene H S (1,798 students)
Thomas El shrank from 414 students in 2022-23 to 389 in 2023-24 (-6.0%). Teacher FTE added 26.6 → 27.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Thomas El in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Abilene H S
Abilene H S
1,798 students
- Cooper H S
Cooper H S
1,570 students
- Mann Middle
Mann Middle
776 students
- Craig Middle
Craig Middle
771 students
- Madison Middle
Madison Middle
770 students
- This school 378
Thomas El
378 students
What this shows Thomas El reports 378 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas El compares
Thomas El is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.5:1 | ▼ 1% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.2% | ▲ 17% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 378 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.5:1
Leaner classes than 52% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
378
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
72.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
14.5:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 53% in Texas - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.9%
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
$11,604
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 378 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 37.8%
African American 37.3%
White 19.8%
Two or More 2.9%
Asian 2.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 37.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, Thomas El is more mixed than the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Abilene Isd reports $11,604 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene H S | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cooper H S | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mann Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Craig Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Madison Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas El's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,570
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 776
- Students per teacher
- 13.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 771
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 770
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
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 (~378 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas El
How many students attend Thomas El?
Thomas El has 378 students enrolled. It is a public school in Abilene, TX. CCD year-over-year: 414 (2022-23) → 389 (2023-24), down 25.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas El?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas El is 14.5:1, which is 1% 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 Thomas El?
72.2% of students at Thomas El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas El?
The largest demographic group at Thomas El is Hispanic or Latino at 37.8% of enrollment, in Abilene, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas El?
Thomas 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 El rank among schools in Abilene?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas El ranks #9 of 19 schools in Abilene, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Abilene on the city page.
What other schools are in Abilene Isd?
Besides Thomas El, Abilene Isd also operates Abilene H S (1,798 students), Cooper H S (1,570 students), and Mann Middle (776 students). See the Abilene Isd district page for the complete list.