Enrollment
433
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gadsden, AL
Adams Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Adams Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010162001665
👥 S:T ratio 31
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Adams Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #2 of 11
- schools in Gadsden · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.3:1
- students per teacher
- 88.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Adams Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Adams Elementary School ranks #2 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
25.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.3:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
88.4%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Adams Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Adams Elementary School
Adams Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Gadsden, Alabama, enrolling 433 students.
At 17.3:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Alabama median, within a few percentage points of the 17.7:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 88.4% of students qualify for free meals, 50% above the Alabama average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 433 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 96% of the 1,365 Alabama schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 199 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Alabama schools statewide, it ranks #3, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (45%) and Hispanic or Latino (37%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 64/100).
13.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 24.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Gadsden's public schools, it stands alongside W E Striplin Elementary School (400 students): Adams Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (17.3:1 vs 20:1).
Gadsden City also operates Gadsden City High School (1,361 students) and Gadsden Middle School (438 students) alongside Adams Elementary School.
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 Adams Elementary School compares
Adams Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.3:1 | ▼ 2% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 88.4% | ▲ 50% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 433 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.3:1
Leaner classes than 29% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
433
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
88.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.3:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 49% in Alabama - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,669
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 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 45.3%
Hispanic or Latino 37.0%
White 14.1%
Two or More 2.8%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 45.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.7, Adams Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gadsden City, which includes Adams Elementary School.
$12,669
Per student
+1%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 18.6%
State 57.1%
Federal 24.3%
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 Adams Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gadsden Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| W E Striplin Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Floyd Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eura Brown Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Adams Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,361
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 400
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 384
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 340
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Similar other schools in Gadsden
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
W E Striplin Elementary School
Standard public school
400 students 20:1 students per teacher
Floyd Elementary School
Standard public school
384 students 24:1 students per teacher
Gaston High School
Standard public school
380 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Eura Brown Elementary School
Standard public school
340 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Gaston Elementary School
Standard public school
290 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Thompson Elementary School
Standard public school
288 students 26.2:1 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 (~433 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Adams Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Adams Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Gadsden 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 Adams Elementary School
How many students attend Adams Elementary School?
Adams Elementary School has 433 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gadsden, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Adams Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Adams Elementary School is 17.3:1, which is 2% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 10% 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 Adams Elementary School?
88.4% of students at Adams Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Adams Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Adams Elementary School is African American at 45.3% of enrollment, in Gadsden, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Adams Elementary School?
Adams Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Adams Elementary School rank among schools in Gadsden?
By Resource Investment Index, Adams Elementary School ranks #2 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gadsden on the city page.
Is Adams Elementary School a good school?
Adams Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Gadsden City?
Besides Adams Elementary School, Gadsden City also operates Gadsden City High School (1,361 students), Gadsden Middle School (438 students), and W E Striplin Elementary School (400 students). See the Gadsden 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.