Lauderdale 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.

Florence, Alabama - 14 schools

An equity score of 32/100 ranks Lauderdale County #120 of 146 districts in Alabama (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,894 per pupil, Lauderdale County ranks #126 of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending (Alabama districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

8,080
Total Enrollment
14
Schools
$10,894
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lauderdale County operates 14 public schools serving 8,080 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Alabama. The school portfolio breaks down into 14 combined 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 Lauderdale County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,894 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower half of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending. See how Alabama compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 25.4% local, 60.3% state, and 14.3% 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 32/100, ranked #120 of 146 in Alabama against a state average of 51, notably less even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 6 of 14 schools offering Advanced Placement (7 AP courses district-wide), a 278.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 33.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 91.3% White, 2.8% African American, 2.2% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Brooks High School, with a diversity index of 29.0/100.

Its largest campus is Brooks Elementary School, enrolling 874 students (11% of the district's total enrollment).

Lauderdale County school enrollment varies 2.6× across entities

Lauderdale County school enrollment ranges from 337 students (lowest) to 874 students (highest), a spread of 537 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

Lauderdale County student-counselor ratio is 278:1 — 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 Lauderdale County is typically wider than the Lauderdale County-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Lauderdale County chronic absenteeism rate is 33.0% — 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?

14.3%
Federal
60.3%
State
25.4%
Local

Funding Equity

32
Equity Score
120 / 146
State Rank
51
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 14 schools in Lauderdale County.

White 91.3%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%
African American 2.8%
Multiracial 2.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 16.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Brooks High School 29.0
  2. 2 Brooks Elementary School 27.2
  3. 3 Lauderdale Elementary School 19.9
  4. 4 Central Elementary School 19.6
  5. 5 Lauderdale County High School 18.8

Programs & Resources

6 / 14
Schools with AP
7 AP courses total
278.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Lauderdale County

School Enrollment
Brooks Elementary School
874
Lauderdale Elementary School
746
Brooks High School
729
Central Elementary School
713
Central High School
596
Rogers Elementary School
592
Wilson High School
585
Wilson Elementary School
552
Lauderdale County High School
542
Rogers High School
510
Lexington Elementary School
454
Lexington High School
379
Underwood Elementary School
343
Waterloo High School
337

How Lauderdale County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Alabama districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Calhoun County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Dothan City Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Chilton County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Blount County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Morgan County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Lauderdale 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 Lauderdale County?

Lauderdale County has 14 schools, including 14 combined. Total enrollment is 8,080 students.

How much does Lauderdale County spend per student?

Lauderdale County spends $10,894 per student. The district has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #120 in Alabama.

What is the demographic composition of Lauderdale County?

Lauderdale County students are 91.3% White, 2.8% African American, 2.2% Hispanic or Latino, 0.4% Asian, averaged across 14 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lauderdale County?

Lauderdale County has an equity score of 32/100, ranking #120 out of 146 districts in Alabama.