Elba City

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, the data changelog, or report a data error. Data current as of August 2026.

Elba, Alabama - 2 schools

An equity score of 74/100 ranks Elba City #17 of 146 districts in Alabama (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,777 per pupil, Elba City ranks #41 of 147 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending (Alabama districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

685
Total Enrollment
2
Schools
$13,777
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Elba City operates 2 public schools serving 685 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Alabama. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined 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 Coffee County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,777 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 147 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending. See how Alabama compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 24.3% local, 68.5% state, and 7.2% 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 74/100, ranked #17 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 150.8:1 student-counselor ratio, that meets the ASCA-recommended benchmark, and 24.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 46.0% White, 45.0% African American, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Elba Elementary School, enrolling 379 students (63% of the district's total enrollment).

Elba Elementary School accounts for 55.3% of all Elba City student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Elba City a distant remainder — means Elba City-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: combined. The share measures enrollment concentration only; it does not establish how the district allocates programs, capital, or staff. Because it contains a majority of the affected population, enrollment-weighted aggregates will sit closer to this entity's reported fields than to those of smaller peers; an unweighted entity count answers a different question.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Elba City reports 63.8% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share sits between 62.5% and 75%, above a simple majority but below the highest descriptive band used here. Title I operates under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015), but its statutory allocation uses additional LEA-level counts and rules not represented by this average. This percentage is an economic-need context measure; it does not establish a Title I award, show dollars received, or describe how funds are distributed among campuses.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data

Elba City student-counselor ratio is 151:1 — well below typical (typically associated with unusually small scale or exceptionally high per-unit investment)

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 Values this far below typical often correlate with unusually small scale or population characteristics rather than higher resource budgets per se — worth checking whether the underlying denominator is itself an outlier.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Elba City chronic absenteeism rate is 24.6% — 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 Elba City is typically wider than the Elba City-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.2%
Federal
68.5%
State
24.3%
Local

Funding Equity

74
Equity Score
17 / 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 2 schools in Elba City.

White 46.0%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
African American 45.0%
Multiracial 3.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

150.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
24.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Elba City

School Enrollment
Elba Elementary School
379
Elba High School
224

How Elba City Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Alabama districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
University Charter School Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Lead Academy Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Barbour County Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Maef Public Charter Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
I3 Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Elba City'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 · $13,245/pupil
Compare vs Elba City →
Jefferson County
35,951 students · 57 schools · $12,194/pupil
Compare vs Elba City →
Baldwin County
31,517 students · 45 schools · $13,089/pupil
Compare vs Elba City →
Montgomery County
26,821 students · 52 schools · $12,977/pupil
Compare vs Elba City →
Huntsville City
23,776 students · 45 schools · $13,146/pupil
Compare vs Elba City →

Nationwide districts with similar enrollment or spending

Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by per-pupil expenditure, not the same-state lists above.

Compare Elba City

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 Elba City?

Elba City has 2 schools, including 2 combined. Total enrollment is 685 students.

How much does Elba City spend per student?

Elba City spends $13,777 per student. The district has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #17 in Alabama.

What is the demographic composition of Elba City?

Elba City students are 46.0% White, 45.0% African American, 4.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.2% Asian, averaged across 2 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Elba City?

Elba City has an equity score of 74/100, ranking #17 out of 146 districts in Alabama.