- Enrollment
- 6,693
- Students per teacher
- 36.8:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Colorado Springs, CO
Vista Ridge High School
Federal NCES profile for Vista Ridge High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 080387006408
👥 S:T ratio 16
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vista Ridge High School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 90% of Colorado schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Colorado.
- #25 of 29
- high schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21:1
- large classes for Colorado
- 21.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Vista Ridge High School has class sizes larger than 90% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vista Ridge High School ranks #25 of 29 high schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
District: El Paso County Colorado School District 49 · Colorado
NCES ID 080387006408 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-108 students YoY
Vista Ridge High School shrank from 1,587 students in 2022-23 to 1,479 in 2023-24 (-6.8%).
Teacher FTE added 70.9 → 75.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-108 students YoY 080387006408 · Colorado Springs, CO High · MID · TRAD
1,473 enr · 21:1 · 21.4% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Goal Academy (6,693 students)
Vista Ridge High School shrank from 1,587 students in 2022-23 to 1,479 in 2023-24 (-6.8%). Teacher FTE added 70.9 → 75.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Vista Ridge High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Goal Academy
Goal Academy
6,693 students
- Banning Lewis 1,697
Banning Lewis Ranch Academy
1,697 students
- This school 1,473
Vista Ridge High School
1,473 students
- Sand Creek Hig 1,426
Sand Creek High School
1,426 students
- Falcon High Sc 1,172
Falcon High School
1,172 students
- Rocky Mountain 1,162
Rocky Mountain Classical Academy
1,162 students
What this shows Vista Ridge High School reports 1,473 students on the CCD universe file.
How Vista Ridge High School compares
Vista Ridge High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Colorado and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Colorado | Colorado avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21:1 | ▲ 27% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 21.4% | ▼ 44% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,473 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21:1
Leaner classes than 13% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,473
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
21.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 44% below the Colorado average of 38.5%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
21:1
students per teacher
- 27% above state mean
Top 90% in Colorado - lower ratio than 10% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Funding equity
$11,472
per pupil, district-wide
- below Colorado avg of $17,910
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.9 FTE
Per 374 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 77 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 8 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 46.6%
Hispanic or Latino 28.9%
Two or More 11.5%
African American 7.8%
Asian 4.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 46.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.8, Vista Ridge High School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for El Paso County Colorado School District 49 reports $11,472 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Vista Ridge High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Goal Academy | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Banning Lewis Ranch Academy | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sand Creek High School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Falcon High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Rocky Mountain Classical Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vista Ridge High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,697
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,426
- Students per teacher
- 24.6:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
- Enrollment
- 1,172
- Students per teacher
- 21.7:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 1,162
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Nationwide high 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 (~1,473 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21:1)
Frequently asked questions about Vista Ridge High School
How many students attend Vista Ridge High School?
Vista Ridge High School has 1,473 students enrolled. It is a high school in Colorado Springs, CO. CCD year-over-year: 1,587 (2022-23) → 1,479 (2023-24), down 108.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vista Ridge High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Vista Ridge High School is 21:1, which is 27% higher than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 34% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Vista Ridge High School?
21.4% of students at Vista Ridge High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vista Ridge High School?
The largest demographic group at Vista Ridge High School is White at 46.6% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. 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 Vista Ridge High School?
Vista Ridge High School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Vista Ridge High School rank among high schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Vista Ridge High School ranks #25 of 29 high 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 high schools in Colorado Springs on the city page.
What other schools are in El Paso County Colorado School District 49?
Besides Vista Ridge High School, El Paso County Colorado School District 49 also operates Goal Academy (6,693 students), Banning Lewis Ranch Academy (1,697 students), and Sand Creek High School (1,426 students). See the El Paso County Colorado School District 49 district page for the complete list.