- Enrollment
- 1,208
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Jacksonville, AR
Bobby G Lester Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Bobby G Lester Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 050041901655
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bobby G Lester Elementary School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Arkansas median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Arkansas schools.
- #1 of 4
- elementary schools in Jacksonville · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.7:1
- students per teacher
- 99.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Bobby G Lester Elementary School has class sizes near the Arkansas median. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bobby G Lester Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Jacksonville, AR.
School address
District: Jacksonville North Pulaski School District · Arkansas
NCES ID 050041901655 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-87 students YoY
Bobby G Lester Elementary School shrank from 587 students in 2022-23 to 500 in 2023-24 (-14.8%).
Teacher FTE added 36.6 → 38.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-87 students YoY 050041901655 · Jacksonville, AR Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
421 enr · 11.7:1 · 99.8% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Jacksonville High School (1,208 students)
Bobby G Lester Elementary School shrank from 587 students in 2022-23 to 500 in 2023-24 (-14.8%). Teacher FTE added 36.6 → 38.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
Bobby G Lester Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Jacksonville H
Jacksonville High School
1,208 students
- Jacksonville M
Jacksonville Middle School
926 students
- Jacksonville E
Jacksonville Elementary School
733 students
- Murrell Taylor 428
Murrell Taylor Elem. School
428 students
- This school 421
Bobby G Lester Elementary School
421 students
- Bayou Meto Ele 416
Bayou Meto Elementary School
416 students
What this shows Bobby G Lester Elementary School reports 421 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bobby G Lester Elementary School compares
Bobby G Lester Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.7:1 | ▼ 14% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.8% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 421 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
421
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 32% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
30.4%
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
$11,264
per pupil, district-wide
- below Arkansas avg of $12,818
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 211 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
28
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 44.9%
White 33.7%
Hispanic or Latino 11.4%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 44.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.5, Bobby G Lester Elementary School is more mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Jacksonville North Pulaski School District reports $11,264 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Bobby G Lester Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jacksonville Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jacksonville Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Murrell Taylor Elem. School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bayou Meto Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bobby G Lester Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 926
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 733
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 428
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 416
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
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 (~421 students)
Frequently asked questions about Bobby G Lester Elementary School
How many students attend Bobby G Lester Elementary School?
Bobby G Lester Elementary School has 421 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Jacksonville, AR. CCD year-over-year: 587 (2022-23) → 500 (2023-24), down 87.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bobby G Lester Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Bobby G Lester Elementary School is 11.7:1, which is 14% lower than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 25% 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 Bobby G Lester Elementary School?
99.8% of students at Bobby G Lester Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bobby G Lester Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Bobby G Lester Elementary School is African American at 44.9% of enrollment, in Jacksonville, AR. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bobby G Lester Elementary School?
Bobby G Lester Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (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 Bobby G Lester Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Jacksonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Bobby G Lester Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 elementary schools in Jacksonville, AR. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Jacksonville on the city page.
What other schools are in Jacksonville North Pulaski School District?
Besides Bobby G Lester Elementary School, Jacksonville North Pulaski School District also operates Jacksonville High School (1,208 students), Jacksonville Middle School (926 students), and Jacksonville Elementary School (733 students). See the Jacksonville North Pulaski School District district page for the complete list.