- Enrollment
- 1,798
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Abilene, TX
Ward El
Federal NCES profile for Ward El, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 480744002238
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 27
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ward El earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of Texas schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Texas schools.
- #5 of 9
- elementary schools in Abilene · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.2:1
- large classes for Texas
- 50.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Ward El has class sizes larger than 73% of Texas schools. Computed live against every Texas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ward El ranks #5 of 9 elementary schools in Abilene, TX.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-21 students YoY
Ward El held near 473 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 31.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-21 students YoY 480744002238 · Abilene, TX Elementary · MID · TRAD
502 enr · 16.2:1 · 50.2% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Abilene H S (1,798 students)
Ward El held near 473 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-21 headcount). Teacher FTE added 31.0 → 31.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Texas schools → · Find another →
Ward 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 502
Ward El
502 students
What this shows Ward El reports 502 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ward El compares
Ward 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 | 16.2:1 | ▲ 10% | 14.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.2% | ▼ 19% | 61.9% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 502 | top 50% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.2:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
502
Bigger than 62% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
50.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% below the Texas average of 61.9%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.2:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 73% in Texas - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.1%
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 502 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
20
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 39.0%
Hispanic or Latino 39.0%
African American 12.7%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 4.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 39.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.6, Ward 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 Ward El Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Abilene H S | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cooper H S | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mann Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Craig Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Madison Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ward 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 elementary 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 (~502 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ward El
How many students attend Ward El?
Ward El has 502 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Abilene, TX. CCD year-over-year: 494 (2022-23) → 473 (2023-24), nearly flat (-21).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward El?
The student-teacher ratio at Ward El is 16.2:1, which is 10% higher than the Texas average of 14.7:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Ward El?
50.2% of students at Ward El are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Texas average of 61.9%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ward El?
The largest demographic group at Ward El is Hispanic or Latino at 39.0% of enrollment, in Abilene, TX. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ward El?
Ward El has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Ward El rank among elementary schools in Abilene?
By Resource Investment Index, Ward El ranks #5 of 9 elementary 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 elementary schools in Abilene on the city page.
What other schools are in Abilene Isd?
Besides Ward 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.