Challenger Elementary School

Summary:

Challenger Elementary School is a public elementary school in Nogales, Arizona, serving 374 students from kindergarten to 5th grade. The school is part of the Nogales Unified District, which has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Challenger Elementary consistently performs below the state and district averages in English Language Arts, Mathematics, and Science proficiency across all grade levels. For example, in 2023-2024, only 31% of 3rd, 4th, and 5th-grade students were proficient in ELA, compared to the state average of 39-46%. The school's performance ranks in the bottom half of Arizona elementary schools, with a statewide ranking between 647-950 out of over 1,200 schools in recent years. Challenger Elementary also struggles with the performance of its English Language Learner, Special Education, and low socioeconomic status student subgroups, ranking in the bottom quarter of Arizona schools for these groups.

While the nearby Robert Bracker Elementary and Francisco Vasquez De Coronado Elementary schools generally outperform Challenger Elementary, these schools also serve student populations with lower percentages of free/reduced-price lunch recipients. When compared to schools outside the Nogales Unified District, such as Mountain View School and Calabasas School in the Santa Cruz Valley Unified District, Challenger Elementary's performance is still below average, but the gap is not as pronounced, suggesting that socioeconomic factors may play a significant role in the academic performance of these schools.


Detail:

Public K-5

 901 E Calle Mayer
       Nogales, AZ  85621-3410


(520) 377-0544

District: Nogales Unified District

SchoolDigger Rank:
661st of 912 Arizona Elementary Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,420 Help


Students who attend Challenger Elementary School usually attend:

Middle:    Desert Shadows Middle School
High:    Nogales High School

Student/teacher ratio:  14.4 Help
Number of students:  376

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
99.7%
White:
0.3%

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  84.8% Help


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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Challenger Elementary School ranks worse than 72.5% of elementary schools in Arizona. It also ranks 4th among 5 ranked elementary schools in the Nogales Unified District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 22.33. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Racial makeup is: Hispanic (99.7%), White (0.3%). (See more...)
Teachers
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Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Challenger Elementary School is 14.4, which is the lowest among 6 elementary schools in the Nogales Unified District! (See more...)
Help
Compare Challenger Elementary School employs 26 full-time teachers.
Finance
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Compare Details The average total spent per student at Challenger Elementary School is $8,420, which is the highest among 6 elementary schools in the Nogales Unified District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Challenger Elementary School:

SchoolDigger ranks Challenger Elementary School 661st of 912 Arizona public elementary schools. (See Challenger Elementary School in the ranking list.)

Elementary School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Low Socio Economic Status students:
Male students:
Hispanic students:


Nogales Unified District:

SchoolDigger ranks Nogales Unified District 209th of 297 Arizona school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Challenger Elementary School

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Rank History for all students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2009 65.93 383rd 1062 63.9%
2010 62.77 409th 1090 62.5%
2011 59.89 426th 1075 60.4%
2012 66.43 369th 1141 67.7%
2013 44.76 671st 1158 42.1%
2014 40.98 646th 1079 40.1%
2015 30.22 627th 955 34.3%
2016 32.87 689th 1079 36.1%
2017 30.36 746th 1106 32.5%
2018 29.89 753rd 1109 32.1%
2019 24.69 752nd 1039 27.6%
2021 21.82 950th 1226 22.5%
2022 25.94 671st 1000 32.9%
2023 34.72 750th 1245 39.8%
2024 22.33 661st 912 27.5%
See the entire list of Arizona Elementary School Rankings!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.19 112th 155 27.7%
2021 38.86 826th 975 15.3%
2023 21.85 372nd 451 17.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 30.79 890th 1201 25.9%
2023 21.76 721st 820 12.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 27.17 469th 618 24.1%
2023 40.48 638th 1116 42.8%
2024 26.89 411th 556 26.1%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 43.50 188th 423 55.6%
2022 31.85 30th 33 9.1%
2023 47.72 59th 102 42.2%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 26.83 743rd 1023 27.4%
2019 19.36 698th 862 19.0%
2021 23.13 951st 1219 22.0%
2022 22.98 667th 824 19.1%
2023 25.13 896th 1219 26.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Male students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.08 687th 1032 33.4%
2019 16.11 729th 850 14.2%
2021 22.57 957th 1220 21.6%
2022 33.16 551st 830 33.6%
2023 43.03 621st 1216 48.9%
2024 30.90 424th 628 32.5%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 37.47 558th 911 38.7%
2019 29.57 486th 709 31.5%
2021 27.68 888th 1198 25.9%
2022 29.11 517th 716 27.8%
2023 42.40 630th 1170 46.2%
2024 26.69 343rd 486 29.4%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Challenger Elementary School

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked Elementary Schools AZ State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2021 25.06 957th 1161 17.6%
See the entire list of Best Arizona Elementary Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: Arizona Department of Education, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Challenger Elementary School Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 





Data source: Arizona Department of Education

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Enrollment information for Challenger Elementary School

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 12 2 0 594 0 n/a n/a -8 600
1989 12 3 1 601 0 n/a n/a 37 654
1990 21 1 n/a 637 1 n/a n/a -208 452
1991 0 0 0 458 0 n/a n/a 2 460
1992 3 0 0 443 0 n/a n/a 0 446
1993 6 1 0 468 0 n/a n/a 0 475
1994 4 0 0 509 0 n/a n/a 0 513
1995 4 0 0 536 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1996 4 0 0 536 0 n/a n/a 0 540
1997 2 0 0 515 0 n/a n/a 0 517
1998 10 1 0 531 0 n/a n/a 0 542
1999 11 1 0 576 0 n/a n/a 0 588
2000 12 0 0 580 0 n/a n/a 0 592
2001 12 2 0 583 2 n/a n/a 0 599
2002 6 2 0 609 2 n/a n/a 0 619
2003 6 2 0 609 2 n/a n/a 0 619
2004 4 0 1 563 0 n/a n/a 0 568
2005 6 0 1 513 3 n/a n/a 0 523
2006 4 0 2 510 0 n/a n/a 0 516
2007 2 0 2 498 1 n/a n/a 0 503
2008 1 0 2 490 0 n/a n/a 0 493
2009 1 1 1 495 0 n/a n/a 0 498
2010 3 2 1 514 0 n/a n/a 0 520
2011 0 0 1 518 0 0 0 0 519
2012 1 0 0 548 0 0 0 0 549
2013 4 0 0 543 0 0 0 0 547
2014 7 0 0 568 0 0 0 0 575
2015 4 0 0 570 0 0 2 0 576
2016 2 0 2 544 0 0 0 0 548
2017 1 0 0 574 1 0 0 0 576
2018 1 0 1 532 1 0 0 0 535
2019 1 0 2 486 1 0 0 0 490
2020 50 0 1 392 0 0 0 0 443
2021 1 0 2 394 0 0 0 0 397
2022 1 0 2 362 0 0 0 0 365
2023 2 0 2 370 0 0 0 0 374
2024 1 0 0 375 0 0 0 0 376

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Challenger Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 600 26.0 23.0 n/a
1989 654 26.0 25.1 n/a
1990 452 22.0 20.5 n/a
1991 460 22.0 20.9 n/a
1992 446 21.0 21.2 n/a
1993 475 20.0 23.8 n/a
1994 513 23.0 22.3 n/a
1995 540 28.7 18.8 n/a
1996 540 28.7 18.8 n/a
1997 517 26.7 19.4 n/a
1998 542 25.2 21.5 n/a
1999 588 26.0 22.6 n/a
2000 592 24.0 24.7 n/a
2001 599 26.0 23.0 n/a
2002 619 30.0 20.6 n/a
2003 619 30.0 20.6 n/a
2004 568 34.0 16.7 87
2005 523 31.0 16.9 90.8
2006 516 33.0 15.6 99.4
2007 503 30.0 16.8 67.2
2008 493 28.5 17.3 84.4
2009 498 27.8 17.9 85.9
2010 520 24.8 20.9 81.9
2011 519 27.8 18.6 87.1
2012 549 29.0 18.9 82.5
2013 547 27.5 19.8 84.3
2014 575 29.5 19.4 n/a
2015 576 30.0 19.2 0
2016 548 26.0 21.0 99.5
2017 576 28.0 20.5 99.5
2018 535 25.0 21.4 84.9
2019 490 27.0 18.1 84.9
2020 443 28.0 15.8 84.7
2021 397 27.0 14.7 n/a
2022 365 23.0 15.8 84.7
2023 374 26.0 14.3 84.8
2024 376 26.0 14.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Challenger Elementary School

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 600 26.0 23.0 n/a
1989 654 26.0 25.1 n/a
1990 452 22.0 20.5 n/a
1991 460 22.0 20.9 n/a
1992 446 21.0 21.2 n/a
1993 475 20.0 23.8 n/a
1994 513 23.0 22.3 n/a
1995 540 28.7 18.8 n/a
1996 540 28.7 18.8 n/a
1997 517 26.7 19.4 n/a
1998 542 25.2 21.5 n/a
1999 588 26.0 22.6 n/a
2000 592 24.0 24.7 n/a
2001 599 26.0 23.0 n/a
2002 619 30.0 20.6 n/a
2003 619 30.0 20.6 n/a
2004 568 34.0 16.7 87
2005 523 31.0 16.9 90.8
2006 516 33.0 15.6 99.4
2007 503 30.0 16.8 67.2
2008 493 28.5 17.3 84.4
2009 498 27.8 17.9 85.9
2010 520 24.8 20.9 81.9
2011 519 27.8 18.6 87.1
2012 549 29.0 18.9 82.5
2013 547 27.5 19.8 84.3
2014 575 29.5 19.4 n/a
2015 576 30.0 19.2 0
2016 548 26.0 21.0 99.5
2017 576 28.0 20.5 99.5
2018 535 25.0 21.4 84.9
2019 490 27.0 18.1 84.9
2020 443 28.0 15.8 84.7
2021 397 27.0 14.7 n/a
2022 365 23.0 15.8 84.7
2023 374 26.0 14.3 84.8
2024 376 26.0 14.4 n/a

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Challenger Elementary School

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YearPersonnel Expenditures from Federal FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from Federal FundsTotal Expenditures from Federal FundsPersonnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsNon-Personnel Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $424 (5.1%) $233 (2.8%) $1,082 (12.9%) $6,138 (73.1%) $1,596 (19.0%) $7,734 (92.2%) $8,392
2020 $435 (6.1%) $342 (4.8%) $1,212 (17.1%) $5,826 (82.2%) $485 (6.8%) $6,311 (89.0%) $7,089
2021 $736 (9.5%) $250 (3.2%) $1,721 (22.2%) $6,111 (78.9%) $652 (8.4%) $6,763 (87.3%) $7,748
2022 $612 (7.3%) $61 (0.7%) $1,285 (15.3%) $7,252 (86.1%) $495 (5.9%) $7,747 (92.0%) $8,420

Data source: Arizona Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Challenger Elementary School

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 752nd of 1039 Elementary schoolsRanks 750th of 1245 Elementary schools
 12.1%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students490374
 23.7%
African American00
American Indian10
 100%
Asian22
Hispanic486370
 23.9%
Pacific Islander00
White12
 100%
Two or More Races00
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients84.9%84.8%
 0.1%


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Frequently Asked Questions about Challenger Elementary School

In the 2023-24 school year, 376 students attended Challenger Elementary School.

Students at Challenger Elementary School are 100% Hispanic.

Students who attend Challenger Elementary School usually go on to attend:

Middle : Desert Shadows Middle School
High : Nogales High School

Challenger Elementary School ranks 661st of 912 Arizona elementary schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Arizona Department of Education.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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