- Enrollment
- 2,334
- Students per teacher
- 22.9:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Merritt Island, FL
Tropical Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Tropical Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120015000121
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 18
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Tropical Elementary School earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Florida median.
- #6 of 6
- schools in Merritt Island · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 46.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Tropical Elementary School has class sizes near the Florida median. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Tropical Elementary School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Merritt Island, FL.
School address
NCES ID 120015000121 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-52 students YoY
Tropical Elementary School shrank from 671 students in 2022-23 to 619 in 2023-24 (-7.7%).
Teacher FTE added 37.0 → 38.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-52 students YoY 120015000121 · Merritt Island, FL Other · MID · TRAD
569 enr · 15.4:1 · 46.5% lunch · RII 32
Nearest enrollment peer: Viera High School (2,334 students)
Tropical Elementary School shrank from 671 students in 2022-23 to 619 in 2023-24 (-7.7%). Teacher FTE added 37.0 → 38.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Tropical Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Viera High Sch
Viera High School
2,334 students
- Melbourne Seni
Melbourne Senior High School
2,210 students
- Bayside High S
Bayside High School
2,122 students
- Heritage High
Heritage High School
1,960 students
- Odyssey Charte
Odyssey Charter School
1,917 students
- This school 569
Tropical Elementary School
569 students
What this shows Tropical Elementary School reports 569 students on the CCD universe file.
How Tropical Elementary School compares
Tropical Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▼ 13% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.5% | ▼ 11% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 569 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
569
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% below the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 38% in Florida - lower ratio than 62% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
32.9%
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
$11,100
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
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 569 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 28 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 74.9%
Hispanic or Latino 10.9%
Two or More 10.5%
Asian 2.1%
African American 1.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 74.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.5, Tropical Elementary School is less mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Brevard reports $11,100 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Tropical Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viera High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Melbourne Senior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bayside High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heritage High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Odyssey Charter School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Tropical Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,210
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 2,122
- Students per teacher
- 26.2:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,960
- Students per teacher
- 21.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,917
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
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 (~569 students)
Frequently asked questions about Tropical Elementary School
How many students attend Tropical Elementary School?
Tropical Elementary School has 569 students enrolled. It is a public school in Merritt Island, FL. CCD year-over-year: 671 (2022-23) → 619 (2023-24), down 52.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Tropical Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Tropical Elementary School is 15.4:1, which is 13% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 2% 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 Tropical Elementary School?
46.5% of students at Tropical Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Tropical Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Tropical Elementary School is White at 74.9% of enrollment, in Merritt Island, FL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Tropical Elementary School?
Tropical Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 Tropical Elementary School rank among schools in Merritt Island?
By Resource Investment Index, Tropical Elementary School ranks #6 of 6 schools in Merritt Island, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Merritt Island on the city page.
What other schools are in Brevard?
Besides Tropical Elementary School, Brevard also operates Viera High School (2,334 students), Melbourne Senior High School (2,210 students), and Bayside High School (2,122 students). See the Brevard district page for the complete list.