- Enrollment
- 324
- Students per teacher
- 5.5:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cotter, AR
Amanda Gist Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Amanda Gist Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050468000193
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Amanda Gist Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
- 374
- students enrolled
Amanda Gist Elementary School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Cotter School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050468000193 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-44 students YoY
Amanda Gist Elementary School shrank from 397 students in 2022-23 to 353 in 2023-24 (-11.1%).
Teacher FTE added 29.6 → 30.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-44 students YoY 050468000193 · Cotter, AR Other · SMALL · TRAD
374 enr · 12.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Cotter High School (324 students)
Amanda Gist Elementary School shrank from 397 students in 2022-23 to 353 in 2023-24 (-11.1%). Teacher FTE added 29.6 → 30.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
How Amanda Gist Elementary School compares
Amanda Gist Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.9:1 | ▼ 5% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 374 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
374
Bigger than 43% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 41% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
17.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,023
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 374 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 94.9%
Hispanic or Latino 1.9%
Two or More 1.3%
African American 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 94.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 9.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 9.9, Amanda Gist Elementary School is less mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cotter School District reports $12,023 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Amanda Gist Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cotter High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Amanda Gist Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
Nationwide other schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~374 students)
Frequently asked questions about Amanda Gist Elementary School
How many students attend Amanda Gist Elementary School?
Amanda Gist Elementary School has 374 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cotter, AR. CCD year-over-year: 397 (2022-23) → 353 (2023-24), down 44.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Amanda Gist Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Amanda Gist Elementary School is 12.9:1, which is 5% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 18% lower 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 Amanda Gist Elementary School?
100.0% of students at Amanda Gist Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Amanda Gist Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Amanda Gist Elementary School is White at 94.9% of enrollment, in Cotter, AR.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Amanda Gist Elementary School?
Amanda Gist Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
What other schools are in Cotter School District?
Besides Amanda Gist Elementary School, Cotter School District also operates Cotter High School (324 students). See the Cotter School District district page for the complete list.