- Enrollment
- 1,304
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Colorado Springs, CO
Watson Junior High School
Federal NCES profile for Watson Junior High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 080648001126
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Watson Junior High School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of Colorado schools.
- #19 of 25
- middle schools in Colorado Springs · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.7:1
- small classes for Colorado
- 29.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Watson Junior High School has class sizes smaller than 79% of Colorado schools. Computed live against every Colorado school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Watson Junior High School ranks #19 of 25 middle schools in Colorado Springs, CO.
School address
NCES ID 080648001126 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Watson Junior High School shrank from 544 students in 2022-23 to 505 in 2023-24 (-7.2%).
Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 38.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 080648001126 · Colorado Springs, CO Middle · SMALL · TRAD
470 enr · 12.7:1 · 29.0% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Mesa Ridge High School (1,304 students)
Watson Junior High School shrank from 544 students in 2022-23 to 505 in 2023-24 (-7.2%). Teacher FTE added 37.5 → 38.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Colorado schools → · Find another →
Watson Junior High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mesa Ridge Hig
Mesa Ridge High School
1,304 students
- Widefield High
Widefield High School
1,193 students
- Grand Mountain
Grand Mountain School
1,044 students
- Janitell Junio
Janitell Junior High School
658 students
- Webster Elemen
Webster Elementary School
582 students
- This school 470
Watson Junior High School
470 students
What this shows Watson Junior High School reports 470 students on the CCD universe file.
How Watson Junior High School compares
Watson Junior 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 | 12.7:1 | ▼ 23% | 16.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.0% | ▼ 25% | 38.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 470 | top 33% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.7:1
Leaner classes than 69% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
470
Bigger than 58% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
12.7:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 21% in Colorado - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
47.7%
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
$12,730
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 235 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 287 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 61.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
White 49.8%
Hispanic or Latino 32.3%
Two or More 8.7%
African American 7.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 49.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.4, Watson Junior High School is more mixed than the Colorado school average of 47.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of reports $12,730 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Watson Junior High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mesa Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Widefield High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grand Mountain School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Janitell Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Webster Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Watson Junior High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,193
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,044
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 582
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~470 students)
Frequently asked questions about Watson Junior High School
How many students attend Watson Junior High School?
Watson Junior High School has 470 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Colorado Springs, CO. CCD year-over-year: 544 (2022-23) → 505 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Watson Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Watson Junior High School is 12.7:1, which is 23% lower than the Colorado average of 16.6:1 and 19% 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 Watson Junior High School?
29.0% of students at Watson Junior High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Colorado average of 38.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Watson Junior High School?
The largest demographic group at Watson Junior High School is White at 49.8% of enrollment, in Colorado Springs, CO. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Watson Junior High School?
Watson Junior High School 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 Watson Junior High School rank among middle schools in Colorado Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Watson Junior High School ranks #19 of 25 middle 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 middle schools in Colorado Springs on the city page.
What other schools are in School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of?
Besides Watson Junior High School, School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of also operates Mesa Ridge High School (1,304 students), Widefield High School (1,193 students), and Grand Mountain School (1,044 students). See the School District No. 3 in the County of El Paso and State of district page for the complete list.