Enrollment
664
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Decatur, AL
Austin Junior High School
Federal NCES profile for Austin Junior High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010117002456
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Austin Junior High School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #5 of 11
- schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.4:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 67.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Austin Junior High School has class sizes smaller than 88% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Austin Junior High School ranks #5 of 11 schools in Decatur, AL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.4:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
67.5%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Austin Junior High School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Austin Junior High School
Austin Junior High School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Decatur, Alabama, enrolling 664 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 14.4:1, Austin Junior High School is leaner than roughly 88% of Alabama schools and 19% under the state's 17.7:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 67.5% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 664 puts it in the larger third of Alabama schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Among 362 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Alabama schools statewide, it ranks #32, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (39%) and African American (30%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 332 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 25.8% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 178 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 664 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Decatur's public schools, it stands alongside Oak Park Elementary School (481 students): Austin Junior High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.4:1 vs 16:1).
Decatur City also operates Austin High School (999 students) and Decatur High School (915 students) alongside Austin Junior High 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 Austin Junior High School compares
Austin Junior High 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 | 14.4:1 | ▼ 19% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.5% | ▲ 15% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 664 | top 24% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
664
Bigger than 78% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
67.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 12% in Alabama - lower ratio than 88% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$13,764
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $12,491
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 332 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
178
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 26.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.8 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
Hispanic or Latino 38.6%
African American 29.7%
White 25.6%
Two or More 4.4%
Asian 1.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 38.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Austin Junior High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Decatur City, which includes Austin Junior High School.
$13,764
Per student
+10%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.5%
State 47.0%
Federal 13.5%
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 Austin Junior High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decatur Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Austin Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oak Park Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Austin Junior High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 915
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 481
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Decatur
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Oak Park Elementary School
Standard public school
481 students 16:1 students per teacher
Bankscaddell Elementary School
Standard public school
477 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Austinville Elementary School
Standard public school
463 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Chestnut Grove Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Frances Nungester Elementary School
Standard public school
428 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
West Decatur Elementary School
Standard public school
407 students 21.4:1 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 (~664 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Austin Junior High School's federal record.
- Compare Austin Junior High School against another school. Compare schools
- Decatur 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 Austin Junior High School
How many students attend Austin Junior High School?
Austin Junior High School has 664 students enrolled. It is a public school in Decatur, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Austin Junior High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Austin Junior High School is 14.4:1, which is 19% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 8% 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 Austin Junior High School?
67.5% of students at Austin Junior High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Austin Junior High School?
The largest demographic group at Austin Junior High School is Hispanic or Latino at 38.6% of enrollment, in Decatur, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Austin Junior High School?
Austin Junior High School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Austin Junior High School rank among schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Austin Junior High School ranks #5 of 11 schools in Decatur, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Decatur on the city page.
Is Austin Junior High School a good school?
Austin Junior High School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 88% of Alabama schools. 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 Decatur City?
Besides Austin Junior High School, Decatur City also operates Austin High School (999 students), Decatur High School (915 students), and Decatur Middle School (818 students). See the Decatur 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.