Dallas 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.

Selma, Alabama - 11 schools

An equity score of 80/100 ranks Dallas County #9 of 146 districts in Alabama (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,350 per pupil, Dallas County ranks #11 of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending (Alabama districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

2,488
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$15,350
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Dallas County operates 11 public schools serving 2,488 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Alabama. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 2 high, 2 middle, 1 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Dallas County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,350 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 15 of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending. See how Alabama compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 15.5% local, 57.5% state, and 27.0% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 80/100, ranked #9 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.

a 333.8:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 39.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 79.7% African American, 13.2% White, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Valley Grande Elementary School, with a diversity index of 56.5/100.

Its largest campus is Valley Grande Elementary School, enrolling 353 students (15% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Je Terry Elementary School, at 110 students, a 3x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Dallas County school enrollment varies 3.2× across entities

Dallas County school enrollment ranges from 110 students (lowest) to 353 students (highest), a spread of 243 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio, most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Dallas County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 78.3% 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). Areas above 75% eligibility — including this one — receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. 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

Dallas County student-counselor ratio is 334:1 — 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 Dallas County is typically wider than the Dallas County-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Dallas County chronic absenteeism rate is 39.6% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Where does the funding come from?

27.0%
Federal
57.5%
State
15.5%
Local

Funding Equity

80
Equity Score
9 / 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 11 schools in Dallas County.

White 13.2%
Hispanic or Latino 1.5%
African American 79.7%
Multiracial 5.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 28.5/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Valley Grande Elementary School 56.5
  2. 2 Je Terry Elementary School 56.5
  3. 3 Dallas County High School 46.5
  4. 4 William R Martin Middle School 43.9
  5. 5 Brantley Elementary School 39.8

Programs & Resources

333.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
39.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Dallas County

School Enrollment
Valley Grande Elementary School
353
Dallas County High School
334
Southside High School
285
Brantley Elementary School
204
Keith Middlehigh School
188
William R Martin Middle School
180
Tipton Durant Middle School
176
Salem Elementary School
155
Bruce K Craig Elementary School
151
Southside Primary School
147
Je Terry Elementary School
110

How Dallas County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Alabama districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Boaz City Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Cleburne County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Gulf Shores City Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Henry County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Washington County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Dallas 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 Dallas County →
Jefferson County
35,951 students · 57 schools · $11,497/pupil
Compare vs Dallas County →
Baldwin County
31,517 students · 45 schools · $11,999/pupil
Compare vs Dallas County →
Montgomery County
26,821 students · 52 schools · $11,430/pupil
Compare vs Dallas County →
Huntsville City
23,776 students · 45 schools · $12,033/pupil
Compare vs Dallas County →

Compare Dallas 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 Dallas County?

Dallas County has 11 schools, including 6 combined, 2 high, 2 middle, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 2,488 students.

How much does Dallas County spend per student?

Dallas County spends $15,350 per student. The district has an equity score of 80/100, ranking #9 in Alabama.

What is the demographic composition of Dallas County?

Dallas County students are 79.7% African American, 13.2% White, 1.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Dallas County?

Dallas County has an equity score of 80/100, ranking #9 out of 146 districts in Alabama.