Walker 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.

Jasper, Alabama - 16 schools

An equity score of 60/100 ranks Walker County #43 of 146 districts in Alabama (state average 51). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,315 per pupil, Walker County ranks #60 of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending (Alabama districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

7,188
Total Enrollment
16
Schools
$12,315
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Walker County operates 16 public schools serving 7,188 students, placing it among the smaller districts in Alabama. The school portfolio breaks down into 8 combined, 5 high, 3 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 Walker County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,315 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 146 Alabama districts by per-pupil spending. See how Alabama compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 24.5% local, 57.8% state, and 17.8% 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 60/100, ranked #43 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 448.9:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 30.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 86.7% White, 5.2% African American, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Valley Junior High School, with a diversity index of 47.6/100.

Its largest campus is Sumiton Elementary School, enrolling 720 students (11% of the district's total enrollment).

Walker County school enrollment varies 2.9× across entities

Walker County school enrollment ranges from 249 students (lowest) to 720 students (highest), a spread of 471 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

Walker County has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 61.7% 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 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

Walker County student-counselor ratio is 449:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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

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

Walker County chronic absenteeism rate is 30.1% — 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?

17.8%
Federal
57.8%
State
24.5%
Local

Funding Equity

60
Equity Score
43 / 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 16 schools in Walker County.

White 86.7%
Hispanic or Latino 4.7%
African American 5.2%
Multiracial 3.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 23.3/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Valley Junior High School 47.6
  2. 2 Sumiton Middle School 35.1
  3. 3 Parrish Elementarymiddle School 34.2
  4. 4 Sumiton Elementary School 33.8
  5. 5 Cordova High School 29.4

Programs & Resources

448.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
30.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Walker County

School Enrollment
Sumiton Elementary School
720
Valley Junior High School
602
Curry Elementary School
550
Dora High School
476
Sumiton Middle School
476
Carbon Hill Elementaryjunior High School
475
Cordova High School
451
Lupton Junior High School
448
Curry High School
364
Curry Middle School
353
Carbon Hill High School
349
Cordova Elementary School
321
Oakman High School
315
Bankhead Middle School
298
Parrish Elementarymiddle School
288
Oakman Middle School
249

How Walker County Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The Alabama districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Talladega County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Phenix City Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Vestavia Hills City Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Houston County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Morgan County Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Walker 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 Walker County?

Walker County has 16 schools, including 8 combined, 5 high, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 7,188 students.

How much does Walker County spend per student?

Walker County spends $12,315 per student. The district has an equity score of 60/100, ranking #43 in Alabama.

What is the demographic composition of Walker County?

Walker County students are 86.7% White, 5.2% African American, 4.7% Hispanic or Latino, 0.1% Asian, averaged across 16 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Walker County?

Walker County has an equity score of 60/100, ranking #43 out of 146 districts in Alabama.