Life Academy

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.

Montgomery, Alabama - 1 schools

An equity score of 66/100 ranks Life Academy #30 of 146 districts in Alabama (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $15,233 per pupil, Life Academy ranks #22 of 147 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending (Alabama districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

305
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$15,233
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Life Academy operates 1 public schools serving 305 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Alabama. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary 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 Montgomery County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,233 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 10.3% local, 64.1% state, and 25.5% 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 66/100, ranked #30 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.

and 23.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 93.5% African American, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is Life Academy at Historic St Jude Educational Institute, enrolling 599 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

Life Academy at Historic St Jude Educational Institute accounts for 100.0% of all Life Academy student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of Life Academy a distant remainder — means Life Academy-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the largest entity. Grade band: elementary. 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

Life Academy reports 54.1% free-lunch eligibility

The reported share clears the 50% majority mark. 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

Life Academy chronic absenteeism rate is 23.4% — 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 Life Academy is typically wider than the Life Academy-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

25.5%
Federal
64.1%
State
10.3%
Local

Funding Equity

66
Equity Score
30 / 146
State Rank
51
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Life Academy.

Hispanic or Latino 2.7%
African American 93.5%
Multiracial 2.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

23.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Life Academy

School Enrollment
Life Academy at Historic St Jude Educational Institute
Charter
599

How Life Academy Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Alabama districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Breakthrough Charter School Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Magic City Acceptance Academy Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Legacy Prep Larger Lower spending Similar funding mix
Linden City Larger Similar spending Similar funding mix
Empower Community School Smaller No spending data No revenue-mix data

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

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 Life Academy

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 Life Academy?

Life Academy has 1 school, including 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 305 students.

How much does Life Academy spend per student?

Life Academy spends $15,233 per student. The district has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #30 in Alabama.

What is the demographic composition of Life Academy?

Life Academy students are 93.5% African American, 2.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, 0.3% White, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Life Academy?

Life Academy has an equity score of 66/100, ranking #30 out of 146 districts in Alabama.