- Enrollment
- 1,115
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lucedale, MS
Benndale Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Benndale Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 59/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 280156000981
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 72
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Benndale Elementary School earns 59/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 91% of Mississippi schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Mississippi.
- #1 of 5
- schools in Lucedale · Resource Index
- 59
- Resource Index · Higher
- 9.9:1
- small classes for Mississippi
- 77.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Benndale Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 91% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Benndale Elementary School ranks #1 of 5 schools in Lucedale, MS.
School address
District: George Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280156000981 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
Benndale Elementary School shrank from 158 students in 2022-23 to 147 in 2023-24 (-7.0%).
Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-11 students YoY 280156000981 · Lucedale, MS Other · SMALL · TRAD
138 enr · 9.9:1 · 77.8% lunch · RII 59
Nearest enrollment peer: George County High School (1,115 students)
Benndale Elementary School shrank from 158 students in 2022-23 to 147 in 2023-24 (-7.0%). Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 15.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
Benndale Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- George County
George County High School
1,115 students
- Central Elemen
Central Elementary School
660 students
- George County
George County Middle School
618 students
- Agricola Eleme
Agricola Elementary School
543 students
- Rocky Creek El 402
Rocky Creek Elementary School
402 students
- This school 138
Benndale Elementary School
138 students
What this shows Benndale Elementary School reports 138 students on the CCD universe file.
How Benndale Elementary School compares
Benndale Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 9.9:1 | ▼ 26% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.8% | ▼ 3% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 138 | top 96% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
9.9:1
Leaner classes than 89% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
138
Bigger than 13% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% below the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
9.9:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 9% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 91% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
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
$10,015
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 138 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
38
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 27.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 36.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 73.9%
African American 17.4%
Two or More 6.5%
Hispanic or Latino 2.2%
Largest group: White at 73.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.9, Benndale Elementary School is about as mixed as the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for George Co School Dist reports $10,015 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Benndale Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| George County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| George County Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Agricola Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rocky Creek Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Benndale Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 660
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 618
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 543
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 402
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
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 (~138 students)
Frequently asked questions about Benndale Elementary School
How many students attend Benndale Elementary School?
Benndale Elementary School has 138 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lucedale, MS. CCD year-over-year: 158 (2022-23) → 147 (2023-24), down 11.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Benndale Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Benndale Elementary School is 9.9:1, which is 26% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 37% 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 Benndale Elementary School?
77.8% of students at Benndale Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Benndale Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Benndale Elementary School is White at 73.9% of enrollment, in Lucedale, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Benndale Elementary School?
Benndale Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 59/100 (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).
How does Benndale Elementary School rank among schools in Lucedale?
By Resource Investment Index, Benndale Elementary School ranks #1 of 5 schools in Lucedale, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lucedale on the city page.
What other schools are in George Co School Dist?
Besides Benndale Elementary School, George Co School Dist also operates George County High School (1,115 students), Central Elementary School (660 students), and George County Middle School (618 students). See the George Co School Dist district page for the complete list.