At a glance
Reported students
727
NCES CCD 2024–25
Teachers (FTE)
54.6
NCES CCD 2024–25
Student–teacher ratio
13.3:1
Calculated; not a class-size measure
Grades served
PK–05
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
School benchmarks
Minnesota elementary enrollment
94th percentile
Compared with 1,010 same-level schools reporting enrollment.
District median enrollment
454
Challenger Elementary: 727 reported students.
State peer staffing position
51st percentile
13.3:1 reported; state peer median 13.3:1. Ratio is not class size.
Historical enrollment and staffing · CRDC 2021–22
These older figures are kept separate from 2024–25 statistics and benchmarks. Differences between years can reflect changes in enrollment, staffing, or reporting scope.
- Students
- 784
- Teachers (FTE)
- 66.08
- Student–teacher ratio
- 11.9:1
What the reported data says about Challenger Elementary
Challenger Elementary is a public elementary school serving grades PK–05 in Thief River Falls. It is one of 5 current school records connected to Thief River Falls School District. NCES reports 727 students for 2024–25.
Among 1,010 elementary schools in Minnesota with comparable records, this school is larger than the reported median of 389 students. Its enrollment is at approximately the 94th percentile for that peer group. Size describes the campus, not instructional quality.
The reported student–teacher ratio is 13.3:1, close to the Minnesota median of 13.3:1 for the same school level. This ratio uses total enrollment and teacher FTE; it is not an average classroom headcount and can be affected by special programs or part-time staffing.
The largest reported race and ethnicity groups are White (80.6%) and Hispanic or Latino (10.6%). English learners represent 2.3% of enrollment. Students served under IDEA represent 18.5%. These figures help families understand who the school serves; they are not rating inputs.
Questions worth asking Challenger Elementary
- 1How do the reported 13.3:1 student–teacher ratio and 54.6 teacher FTE translate into actual class sizes by grade?
- 2Which advanced, gifted, career, arts, and computer-science courses are available this year, and how do students qualify?
- 3What counseling support is available today? The school reported 2.72 counselor FTE in 2021–22.
- 4What meal assistance, transportation, after-school, and family-support services are currently available?
Enrollment needs
- English learners
- 2.3%
- Students with disabilities
- 18.5%
- Free/reduced-price lunch
- 43.2%
- Lunch program
- Yes participating without using any Provision or the CEO
Reported support staff
- Counselors (FTE)
- 2.72
- Nurses (FTE)
- 1
- Psychologists (FTE)
- 0
- Social workers (FTE)
- 0
CRDC 2021–22 full-time-equivalent counts; verify current assignments with the school.
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White80.6%
- Hispanic10.6%
- Black0.4%
- Asian0.6%
- American Indian / Alaska Native1.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0%
- Multiracial6.6%
Race/ethnicity: NCES CCD 2024–25. English learner and disability context: CRDC 2021–22. Lunch eligibility: NCES CCD 2024–25. Privacy rules can produce missing values.
Programs reported by the school
Gifted and talented
Not reported as offered
CRDC 2021–22: the AP flag records student enrollment; gifted and computer-science fields describe reported programs/classes. Confirm current courses and eligibility with the school.
Other schools in Thief River Falls School District
Start with campuses at the same school level or with similar reported enrollment.
Lincoln Senior High
High · Grades 09–12
521 reported students
Franklin Middle
Middle · Grades 06–08
454 reported students
Northwest Area Learning Center
High · Grades 09–12
23 reported students
Summer NW Area Learning Center
High · Grades 09–12
0 reported students
Public schools near Challenger Elementary
Closest campuses by straight-line distance between NCES geocodes, favoring the same school level. Distance is not drive time or an attendance assignment.
| School | Grades | Students | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin Middle Middle · Thief River Falls School District | 06–08 | 454 | 1.4 mi |
| Northwest Area Learning Center High · Thief River Falls School District | 09–12 | 23 | 1.4 mi |
| Summer NW Area Learning Center High · Thief River Falls School District | 09–12 | 0 | 1.4 mi |
| Lincoln Senior High High · Thief River Falls School District | 09–12 | 521 | 1.6 mi |
Frequently asked questions about Challenger Elementary
What grades does Challenger Elementary serve?
Challenger Elementary reports grades PK–05 in the NCES 2025–26 preliminary directory. It is classified as an elementary school in Thief River Falls School District.
How many students attend Challenger Elementary?
Challenger Elementary reported 727 students in the NCES 2024–25 membership file. That places it near the 94th percentile among 1,010 Minnesota elementary schools reporting enrollment. The 2021–22 civil-rights collection recorded 784 students.
What is the student–teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary?
The calculated ratio is 13.3:1, based on 727 students and 54.6 full-time-equivalent classroom teachers in 2024–25. The Minnesota median for the same school level is 13.3:1. A ratio is not the same as average class size.
Is Challenger Elementary a public, charter, or magnet school?
Challenger Elementary is a public school and is not a charter school. Enrollment is generally based on Thief River Falls School District attendance boundaries and transfer rules.
What share of Challenger Elementary students qualify for free or reduced-price meals?
43.2% of students were eligible for free or reduced-price lunch in 2024–25. This describes the students served and is not a quality measure.
Which school district is Challenger Elementary in?
Challenger Elementary is part of Thief River Falls School District, based in Thief River Falls, MN, which operates 5 current schools. Confirm attendance zones and enrollment rules with the district.
What public schools are near Challenger Elementary?
The closest public schools by straight-line distance include Franklin Middle (1.4 mi), Northwest Area Learning Center (1.4 mi), Summer NW Area Learning Center (1.4 mi). Distance does not determine eligibility; attendance boundaries and program rules do.