Enrollment
812
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Douglasville, GA
Brighten Academy
Federal NCES profile for Brighten Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 130186003670Charter school
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Brighten Academy earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Georgia schools.
- #4 of 10
- elementary schools in Douglasville · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 48.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Brighten Academy has class sizes larger than 89% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Brighten Academy ranks #4 of 10 elementary schools in Douglasville, GA.
School address
District: Douglas County · Georgia
NCES ID 130186003670 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.7:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
48.4%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Brighten Academy compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Brighten Academy
Brighten Academy is a mid-sized charter elementary school in Douglasville, Georgia, enrolling 812 students.
Class loads run heavy: 17.7:1 is larger than about 89% of Georgia schools and 23% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 48.4% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 812 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 426 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #194.
Its student body is led by African American (72%) and White (11%) (diversity index 45/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 812 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
12.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 18.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 3 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Douglasville's elementary schools, it stands alongside Bill Arp Elementary School (645 students): Brighten Academy is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.7:1 vs 15.4:1).
Douglas County also operates Douglas County High School (1,958 students) and New Manchester High School (1,894 students) alongside Brighten Academy.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Brighten Academy compares
Brighten Academy on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 17.7:1 | ▲ 23% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 48.4% | ▼ 20% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 812 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
812
Bigger than 86% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
48.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 89% in Georgia - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
12.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,996
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
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 812 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
21
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 3 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 72.4%
White 10.8%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Two or More 6.0%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 72.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.3, Brighten Academy is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Douglas County, which includes Brighten Academy.
$12,996
Per student
-6%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.8%
State 43.1%
Federal 18.1%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Brighten Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Douglas County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| New Manchester High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Alexander High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chapel Hill High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lithia Springs Comprehensive High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Brighten Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,958
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,894
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,830
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 1,646
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,460
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar elementary schools in Douglasville
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Bill Arp Elementary School
Standard public school
645 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Chapel Hill Elementary School
Standard public school
620 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
South Douglas Elementary School
Standard public school
544 students 16:1 students per teacher
Arbor Station Elementary School
Standard public school
544 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
North Douglas Elementary School
Standard public school
537 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Bright Star Elementary School
Standard public school
481 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~812 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Brighten Academy's federal record.
- Compare Brighten Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Douglas County's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Brighten Academy
How many students attend Brighten Academy?
Brighten Academy has 812 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Douglasville, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Brighten Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Brighten Academy is 17.7:1, which is 23% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Brighten Academy?
48.4% of students at Brighten Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Brighten Academy?
The largest demographic group at Brighten Academy is African American at 72.4% of enrollment, in Douglasville, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Brighten Academy?
Brighten Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Brighten Academy rank among elementary schools in Douglasville?
By Resource Investment Index, Brighten Academy ranks #4 of 10 elementary schools in Douglasville, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Douglasville on the city page.
Is Brighten Academy a good school?
Brighten Academy earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of Georgia schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Douglas County?
Besides Brighten Academy, Douglas County also operates Douglas County High School (1,958 students), New Manchester High School (1,894 students), and Alexander High School (1,830 students). See the Douglas County district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.