Clarke County

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Grove Hill, Alabama - 7 schools

An equity score of 78/100 ranks Clarke County #13 of 146 districts in Alabama (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,283 per pupil, Clarke County ranks #35 of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending (Alabama districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,171
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$13,283
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Clarke County operates 7 public schools serving 2,171 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Alabama. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 2 high, 2 elementary, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Clarke County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,283 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending. See how Alabama compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.3% local, 48.3% state, and 30.4% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 78/100, ranked #13 of 146 in Alabama against a state average of 51, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 7 schools offering Advanced Placement (1 AP courses district-wide), a 321.5:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 20.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 67.5% African American, 27.0% White, 1.8% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Grove Hill Elementary School, with a diversity index of 55.6/100.

Its largest campus is Joe M Gillmore Elementary School, enrolling 389 students (18% of the district's total enrollment).

Joe M Gillmore Elementary School accounts for 17.9% of all Clarke County student enrollment

That concentration means Clarke County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Clarke County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 68.8% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Eligibility here is approaching the 75% concentration-grant threshold; it does not yet unlock the extra funding tier but sits meaningfully above the baseline 50% majority mark. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Clarke County student-counselor ratio is 322:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Clarke County is typically wider than the Clarke County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Clarke County chronic absenteeism rate is 20.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Clarke County is typically wider than the Clarke County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

30.4%
Federal
48.3%
State
21.3%
Local

Funding Equity

78
Equity Score
13 / 146
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 7 schools in Clarke County.

White 27.0%
Hispanic or Latino 1.8%
African American 67.5%
Multiracial 2.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 46.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Clarke County's schools, above the Alabama average of 42.5.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Grove Hill Elementary School 55.6
  2. 2 Wilson Hall Middle School 49.2
  3. 3 Joe M Gillmore Elementary School 48.4
  4. 4 Jackson Middle School 45.5
  5. 5 Jackson Intermediate School 44.5

Programs & Resources

1 / 7
Schools with AP
1 AP courses total
321.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
20.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Clarke County

School Enrollment
Joe M Gillmore Elementary School
389
Jackson High School
376
Grove Hill Elementary School
348
Jackson Intermediate School
282
Jackson Middle School
278
Clarke County High School
256
Wilson Hall Middle School
201

How Clarke County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Alabama districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Fayette County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Pike County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Lamar County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Sylacauga City Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Leeds City Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Clarke County's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in Alabama

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Mobile County
51,979 students · 92 schools · $12,163/pupil
Compare vs Clarke County →
Jefferson County
35,951 students · 57 schools · $11,497/pupil
Compare vs Clarke County →
Baldwin County
31,517 students · 45 schools · $11,999/pupil
Compare vs Clarke County →
Montgomery County
26,821 students · 52 schools · $11,430/pupil
Compare vs Clarke County →
Huntsville City
23,776 students · 45 schools · $12,033/pupil
Compare vs Clarke County →

Compare Clarke County

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Mobile County →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Clarke County?

Clarke County has 7 schools, including 2 combined, 2 high, 2 elementary, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 2,171 students.

How much does Clarke County spend per student?

Clarke County spends $13,283 per student. The district has an equity score of 78/100, ranking #13 in Alabama.

What is the demographic composition of Clarke County?

Clarke County students are 67.5% African American, 27.0% White, 1.8% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Clarke County?

Clarke County has an equity score of 78/100, ranking #13 out of 146 districts in Alabama.