Enrollment
1,752
Texas · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Waco, TX
University H S
Federal NCES profile for University H S, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 484428005059
👥 S:T ratio 36
📚 AP courses 65
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
University H S earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of Texas schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Texas.
- #8 of 10
- high schools in Waco · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.9:1
- large classes for Texas
- 86.2%
- free-lunch eligible
University H S has class sizes larger than 70% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, University H S ranks #8 of 10 high schools in Waco, TX.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
110.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.9:1
vs 14.7:1 Texas avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
86.2%
vs 61.9% Texas avg
+39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How University H S compares with Texas and U.S. medians
What stands out at University H S
University H S is a high-poverty, large high school in Waco, Texas, enrolling 1,752 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 15.9:1 puts it in the larger third of Texas schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 86.2% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Texas, bigger than 95% of state schools at 1,752 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 91% of the 8,960 Texas schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 195 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Texas schools statewide, it ranks #173, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (71%) and African American (22%) (diversity index 45/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 13 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 424 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 53.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 570 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 1,752 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 116 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Waco Isd also operates Waco H S (1,885 students) and Tennyson Middle (963 students) alongside University H S.
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 University H S compares
University H S on the metrics families compare, against Texas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Texas | Texas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▲ 8% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.2% | ▲ 39% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,752 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,752
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
86.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 70% in Texas - lower ratio than 30% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
53.8%
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
$13,294
per pupil, district-wide
- below Texas avg of $13,644
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.1 FTE
Per 424 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
372
in-school suspensions + 198 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 32.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 116 expulsions.
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
Hispanic or Latino 70.9%
African American 22.4%
White 4.9%
Two or More 1.4%
Asian 0.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 70.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.5, University H S is about as mixed as the Texas school average of 44.7.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Waco Isd, which includes University H S.
$13,294
Per student
-3%
vs Texas
Avg $13,644
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 46.6%
State 33.9%
Federal 19.5%
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 University H S Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Waco H S | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Tennyson Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bell's Hill El | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cesar Chavez Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lake Air Montessori School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to University H S's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,885
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 963
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 734
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Texas, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,752 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on University H S's federal record.
- Compare University H S against another school. Compare schools
- Waco Isd'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 University H S
How many students attend University H S?
University H S has 1,752 students enrolled. It is a high school in Waco, TX.
What is the student-teacher ratio at University H S?
The student-teacher ratio at University H S is 15.9:1, which is 8% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at University H S?
86.2% of students at University H S are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of University H S?
The largest demographic group at University H S is Hispanic or Latino at 70.9% of enrollment, in Waco, TX.
What is the Resource Investment Index for University H S?
University H S has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does University H S rank among high schools in Waco?
By Resource Investment Index, University H S ranks #8 of 10 high schools in Waco, TX. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Waco on the city page.
Is University H S a good school?
University H S earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 70% of Texas schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Texas. 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 Waco Isd?
Besides University H S, Waco Isd also operates Waco H S (1,885 students), Tennyson Middle (963 students), and Bell's Hill El (786 students). See the Waco Isd district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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.