- Enrollment
- 1,396
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chattanooga, TN
Bess T Shepherd Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bess T Shepherd Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 470159000618
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 55
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bess T Shepherd Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Tennessee median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Tennessee schools.
- #6 of 7
- elementary schools in Chattanooga · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 546
- students enrolled
Bess T Shepherd Elementary has class sizes near the Tennessee median. Computed live against every Tennessee school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bess T Shepherd Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Chattanooga, TN.
School address
District: Hamilton County · Tennessee
NCES ID 470159000618 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-2 students YoY
Bess T Shepherd Elementary held near 494 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.5 → 35.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-2 students YoY 470159000618 · Chattanooga, TN Elementary · MID · TRAD
546 enr · 14.8:1 · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Signal Mountain Middle/High School (1,396 students)
Bess T Shepherd Elementary held near 494 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-2 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.5 → 35.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Tennessee schools → · Find another →
Bess T Shepherd Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Signal Mountai
Signal Mountain Middle/High School
1,396 students
- The Howard Sch
The Howard School
1,329 students
- East Hamilton
East Hamilton High School
1,293 students
- Ooltewah High
Ooltewah High School
1,233 students
- East Brainerd
East Brainerd Elementary
1,177 students
- This school 546
Bess T Shepherd Elementary
546 students
What this shows Bess T Shepherd Elementary reports 546 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bess T Shepherd Elementary compares
Bess T Shepherd Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Tennessee and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Tennessee | Tennessee avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 546 | top 38% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
546
Bigger than 67% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 49% in Tennessee - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,785
per pupil, district-wide
- above Tennessee avg of $11,532
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 546 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 29 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 47.1%
Hispanic or Latino 33.5%
White 9.5%
Two or More 7.7%
Asian 2.2%
Largest group: African American at 47.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.0, Bess T Shepherd Elementary is more mixed than the Tennessee school average of 38.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Hamilton County reports $14,785 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bess T Shepherd Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Signal Mountain Middle/High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| The Howard School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Hamilton High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ooltewah High School | Larger | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Brainerd Elementary | Larger | No free-lunch data | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bess T Shepherd Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,329
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,293
- Students per teacher
- 68.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,233
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,177
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Chattanooga
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
East Side Elementary
Standard public school
553 students 10.6:1 students per teacher
Chattanooga Charter School of Excellence
Standard public school
468 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Chattanooga School for the Arts and Science Lower
Standard public school
388 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Barger Academy
Standard public school
349 students 14:1 students per teacher
Alpine Crest Elementary
Standard public school
302 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Dupont Elementary
Standard public school
268 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
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 (~546 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bess T Shepherd Elementary
How many students attend Bess T Shepherd Elementary?
Bess T Shepherd Elementary has 546 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chattanooga, TN. CCD year-over-year: 496 (2022-23) → 494 (2023-24), nearly flat (-2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bess T Shepherd Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bess T Shepherd Elementary is 14.8:1, which is 3% lower than the Tennessee average of 15.3:1 and 6% lower than the national average of 15.7:1. Lower ratios generally mean more individual attention per student.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bess T Shepherd Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bess T Shepherd Elementary is African American at 47.1% of enrollment, in Chattanooga, TN. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bess T Shepherd Elementary?
Bess T Shepherd Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical 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 Bess T Shepherd Elementary rank among elementary schools in Chattanooga?
By Resource Investment Index, Bess T Shepherd Elementary ranks #6 of 7 elementary schools in Chattanooga, TN. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Chattanooga on the city page.
What other schools are in Hamilton County?
Besides Bess T Shepherd Elementary, Hamilton County also operates Signal Mountain Middle/High School (1,396 students), The Howard School (1,329 students), and East Hamilton High School (1,293 students). See the Hamilton County district page for the complete list.