- Enrollment
- 616
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Bessemer, AL
Bessemer City High School
Federal NCES profile for Bessemer City High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010033000087
👥 S:T ratio 18
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 62
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bessemer City High School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 86% of Alabama schools.
- #5 of 12
- public schools in Bessemer · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20.5:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 60.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Bessemer City High School has class sizes larger than 86% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bessemer City High School ranks #5 of 12 public schools in Bessemer, AL.
School address
District: Bessemer City · Alabama
NCES ID 010033000087 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-45 students YoY
Bessemer City High School shrank from 850 students in 2022-23 to 805 in 2023-24 (-5.3%).
Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-45 students YoY 010033000087 · Bessemer, AL High · MID · TRAD
760 enr · 20.5:1 · 60.7% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Bessemer City Middle School (616 students)
Bessemer City High School shrank from 850 students in 2022-23 to 805 in 2023-24 (-5.3%). Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 34.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Bessemer City High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Bessemer City High School
760 students
- Bessemer City
Bessemer City Middle School
616 students
- Jonesboro Elem
Jonesboro Elementary School
474 students
- Charles F Hard
Charles F Hard Elementary School
364 students
- Greenwood Elem 290
Greenwood Elementary School
290 students
- Westhills Elem 277
Westhills Elementary School
277 students
What this shows Bessemer City High School reports 760 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bessemer City High School compares
Bessemer City High School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20.5:1 | ▲ 16% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.7% | ▲ 3% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 760 | top 16% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20.5:1
Leaner classes than 14% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
760
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
60.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
20.5:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 86% in Alabama - lower ratio than 14% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
73.4%
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
$15,437
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 190 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 101 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 11 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 76.7%
Hispanic or Latino 21.8%
White 0.9%
Two or More 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 76.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.4, Bessemer City High School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bessemer City reports $15,437 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bessemer City High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bessemer City Middle School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jonesboro Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Charles F Hard Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Greenwood Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westhills Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bessemer City High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 474
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 290
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 277
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar high schools in Bessemer
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~760 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bessemer City High School
How many students attend Bessemer City High School?
Bessemer City High School has 760 students enrolled. It is a high school in Bessemer, AL. CCD year-over-year: 850 (2022-23) → 805 (2023-24), down 45.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bessemer City High School is 20.5:1, which is 16% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 31% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Bessemer City High School?
60.7% of students at Bessemer City High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bessemer City High School?
The largest demographic group at Bessemer City High School is African American at 76.7% of enrollment, in Bessemer, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bessemer City High School?
Bessemer City High School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Bessemer City High School rank among public schools in Bessemer?
By Resource Investment Index, Bessemer City High School ranks #5 of 12 public schools in Bessemer, 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 Bessemer on the city page.
What other schools are in Bessemer City?
Besides Bessemer City High School, Bessemer City also operates Bessemer City Middle School (616 students), Jonesboro Elementary School (474 students), and Charles F Hard Elementary School (364 students). See the Bessemer City district page for the complete list.