- Enrollment
- 1,483
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Gulfport, MS
Bel Aire Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Bel Aire Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 280177000283
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bel Aire Elementary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of Mississippi schools.
- #3 of 4
- elementary schools in Gulfport · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.9:1
- large classes for Mississippi
- 91.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Bel Aire Elementary School has class sizes larger than 78% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bel Aire Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Gulfport, MS.
School address
District: Harrison Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280177000283 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+3 students YoY
Bel Aire Elementary School held near 599 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 40.3 → 40.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+3 students YoY 280177000283 · Gulfport, MS Elementary · MID · TRAD
598 enr · 14.9:1 · 91.3% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Harrison Central High School (1,483 students)
Bel Aire Elementary School held near 599 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+3 headcount). Teacher FTE held 40.3 → 40.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Bel Aire Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Harrison Centr
Harrison Central High School
1,483 students
- Diberville Sen
Diberville Senior High Sch
1,478 students
- West Harrison
West Harrison High School
1,216 students
- Creekbend Elem
Creekbend Elementary and Middle
996 students
- North Gulfport
North Gulfport Elementary and Middl
921 students
- This school
Bel Aire Elementary School
598 students
What this shows Bel Aire Elementary School reports 598 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bel Aire Elementary School compares
Bel Aire Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▲ 12% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.3% | ▲ 13% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 598 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
598
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
91.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 13% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 78% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.9%
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
$11,305
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
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
20
in-school suspensions + 112 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 64.7%
White 18.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 64.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.2, Bel Aire Elementary School is more mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Harrison Co School Dist reports $11,305 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bel Aire Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison Central High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Diberville Senior High Sch | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Harrison High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Creekbend Elementary and Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Gulfport Elementary and Middl | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bel Aire Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,478
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 1,216
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 921
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Gulfport
3 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~598 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bel Aire Elementary School
How many students attend Bel Aire Elementary School?
Bel Aire Elementary School has 598 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Gulfport, MS. CCD year-over-year: 596 (2022-23) → 599 (2023-24), nearly flat (+3).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bel Aire Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bel Aire Elementary School is 14.9:1, which is 12% higher than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bel Aire Elementary School?
91.3% of students at Bel Aire Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bel Aire Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Bel Aire Elementary School is African American at 64.7% of enrollment, in Gulfport, MS. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bel Aire Elementary School?
Bel Aire Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Bel Aire Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Gulfport?
By Resource Investment Index, Bel Aire Elementary School ranks #3 of 4 elementary schools in Gulfport, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Gulfport on the city page.
What other schools are in Harrison Co School Dist?
Besides Bel Aire Elementary School, Harrison Co School Dist also operates Harrison Central High School (1,483 students), Diberville Senior High Sch (1,478 students), and West Harrison High School (1,216 students). See the Harrison Co School Dist district page for the complete list.