- Enrollment
- 704
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Alexander City, AL
Benjamin Russell High School
Federal NCES profile for Benjamin Russell High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010003000003
👥 S:T ratio 34
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benjamin Russell High School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Alexander City · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.4:1
- students per teacher
- 35.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Benjamin Russell High School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Russell High School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Alexander City, AL.
School address
District: Alexander City · Alabama
NCES ID 010003000003 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+31 students YoY
Benjamin Russell High School held near 843 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 52.5 → 51.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+31 students YoY 010003000003 · Alexander City, AL High · MID · TRAD
852 enr · 16.4:1 · 35.3% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Jim Pearson Elementary School (704 students)
Benjamin Russell High School held near 843 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+31 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 52.5 → 51.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Benjamin Russell High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Benjamin Russell High School
852 students
- Jim Pearson El
Jim Pearson Elementary School
704 students
- Nathaniel H St
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School
436 students
- Alexander City
Alexander City Middle School
430 students
- William L Radn
William L Radney Elementary School
414 students
What this shows Benjamin Russell High School reports 852 students on the CCD universe file.
How Benjamin Russell High School compares
Benjamin Russell High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.4:1 | ▼ 7% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.3% | ▼ 40% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 852 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.4:1
Leaner classes than 35% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
852
Bigger than 87% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16.4:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 33% in Alabama - lower ratio than 67% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.8%
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
$12,834
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 426 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
186
in-school suspensions + 59 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 28.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 43.1%
African American 39.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 3.9%
Asian 0.8%
Largest group: White at 43.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.2, Benjamin Russell High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 7
District finance for Alexander City reports $12,834 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Benjamin Russell High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Pearson Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alexander City Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| William L Radney Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benjamin Russell High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 430
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 414
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Nationwide high 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 (~852 students)
Frequently asked questions about Benjamin Russell High School
How many students attend Benjamin Russell High School?
Benjamin Russell High School has 852 students enrolled. It is a high school in Alexander City, AL. CCD year-over-year: 812 (2022-23) → 843 (2023-24), nearly flat (+31).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Russell High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Benjamin Russell High School is 16.4:1, which is 7% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 4% 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 Benjamin Russell High School?
35.3% of students at Benjamin Russell High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benjamin Russell High School?
The largest demographic group at Benjamin Russell High School is White at 43.1% of enrollment, in Alexander City, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benjamin Russell High School?
Benjamin Russell High School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower 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).
How does Benjamin Russell High School rank among public schools in Alexander City?
By Resource Investment Index, Benjamin Russell High School ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Alexander City, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Alexander City on the city page.
What other schools are in Alexander City?
Besides Benjamin Russell High School, Alexander City also operates Jim Pearson Elementary School (704 students), Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School (436 students), and Alexander City Middle School (430 students). See the Alexander City district page for the complete list.