Enrollment
303
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Huntsville, AL
Academy for Science Foreign Language
Federal NCES profile for Academy for Science Foreign Language, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010180000624
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Academy for Science Foreign Language earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Alabama schools.
- #4 of 29
- schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.9:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 51.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Academy for Science Foreign Language has class sizes smaller than 73% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Academy for Science Foreign Language ranks #4 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Huntsville City · Alabama
NCES ID 010180000624 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.9:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
-10% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
51.5%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
-12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Academy for Science Foreign Language compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Academy for Science Foreign Language
Academy for Science Foreign Language is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Huntsville, Alabama, enrolling 303 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 15.9:1 puts it in the smaller third of Alabama schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 51.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 303 puts it in the smaller third of Alabama schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 94% of the 1,365 Alabama schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 224 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Alabama schools statewide, it ranks #10, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (58%) and White (18%) (diversity index 60/100).
17.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 17.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Huntsville's public schools, it stands alongside Providence Elementary (1,152 students): Academy for Science Foreign Language is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.9:1 vs 24.5:1).
Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students) and Huntsville High School (1,807 students) alongside Academy for Science Foreign Language.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Academy for Science Foreign Language compares
Academy for Science Foreign Language on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▼ 10% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.5% | ▼ 12% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 303 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
303
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
51.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 27% in Alabama - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,033
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $12,491
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 58.4%
White 18.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.6%
Two or More 9.9%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: African American at 58.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.2, Academy for Science Foreign Language is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Huntsville City, which includes Academy for Science Foreign Language.
$12,033
Per student
-4%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 43.6%
State 39.2%
Federal 17.2%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Academy for Science Foreign Language Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Huntsville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Providence Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goldsmithschiffman Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Columbia High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Academy for Science Foreign Language's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,847
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar other schools in Huntsville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Providence Elementary
Standard public school
1,152 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Mt Carmel Elementary School
Standard public school
638 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Central School
Standard public school
610 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Monrovia Elementary School
Standard public school
600 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Blossomwood Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Riverton Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~303 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.9:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Academy for Science Foreign Language's federal record.
- Compare Academy for Science Foreign Language against another school. Compare schools
- Huntsville City's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Academy for Science Foreign Language
How many students attend Academy for Science Foreign Language?
Academy for Science Foreign Language has 303 students enrolled. It is a public school in Huntsville, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Academy for Science Foreign Language?
The student-teacher ratio at Academy for Science Foreign Language is 15.9:1, which is 10% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Academy for Science Foreign Language?
51.5% of students at Academy for Science Foreign Language are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Academy for Science Foreign Language?
The largest demographic group at Academy for Science Foreign Language is African American at 58.4% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Academy for Science Foreign Language?
Academy for Science Foreign Language has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Academy for Science Foreign Language rank among schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Academy for Science Foreign Language ranks #4 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Huntsville on the city page.
Is Academy for Science Foreign Language a good school?
Academy for Science Foreign Language earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Alabama schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Huntsville City?
Besides Academy for Science Foreign Language, Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students), Huntsville High School (1,807 students), and Providence Elementary (1,152 students). See the Huntsville City district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.