Lowndes 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.

Hayneville, Alabama - 7 schools

An equity score of 95/100 ranks Lowndes County #1 of 146 districts in Alabama (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $20,753 per pupil, Lowndes County ranks #1 of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending (Alabama districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,176
Total Enrollment
7
Schools
$20,753
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lowndes County operates 7 public schools serving 1,176 students, placing it among the smallest districts in Alabama. The school portfolio breaks down into 3 combined, 2 high, 2 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 Lowndes County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $20,753 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 18.7% local, 50.3% state, and 31.0% 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 95/100, ranked #1 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 265.3:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 28.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 94.9% African American, 3.1% White, 1.4% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Fort Deposit Elementary School, with a diversity index of 18.9/100.

Its largest campus is Central Elementary School, enrolling 200 students (18% of the district's total enrollment).

Central Elementary School accounts for 17.0% of all Lowndes County student enrollment

That concentration means Lowndes 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

Lowndes County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 95.2% 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 a supermajority of the population — well past the 75% concentration-grant threshold that unlocks extra funding 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

Lowndes County student-counselor ratio is 265:1 — 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 Lowndes County is typically wider than the Lowndes County-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Lowndes County chronic absenteeism rate is 28.1% — 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 Lowndes County is typically wider than the Lowndes 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?

31.0%
Federal
50.3%
State
18.7%
Local

Funding Equity

95
Equity Score
1 / 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 Lowndes County.

White 3.1%
Hispanic or Latino 1.4%
African American 94.9%
Multiracial 0.6%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 9.6/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Fort Deposit Elementary School 18.9
  2. 2 Lowndes County Middle School 14.5
  3. 3 Jacksonsteele Elementary School 11.6
  4. 4 Calhoun High School 11.3
  5. 5 Hayneville Middle School 6.8

Programs & Resources

265.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
28.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Lowndes County

School Enrollment
Central Elementary School
200
Calhoun High School
186
Fort Deposit Elementary School
186
Central High School
175
Hayneville Middle School
144
Jacksonsteele Elementary School
114
Lowndes County Middle School
104

How Lowndes County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Alabama districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Daleville City Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Piedmont City Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Brewton City Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Wilcox County Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Geneva City Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Lowndes 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 Lowndes County?

Lowndes County has 7 schools, including 3 combined, 2 high, 2 middle. Total enrollment is 1,176 students.

How much does Lowndes County spend per student?

Lowndes County spends $20,753 per student. The district has an equity score of 95/100, ranking #1 in Alabama.

What is the demographic composition of Lowndes County?

Lowndes County students are 94.9% African American, 3.1% White, 1.4% Hispanic or Latino, averaged across 7 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lowndes County?

Lowndes County has an equity score of 95/100, ranking #1 out of 146 districts in Alabama.