- Enrollment
- 760
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Bessemer, AL
Charles F Hard Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Charles F Hard Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010033000084
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 27
📋 Attendance 52
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Charles F Hard Elementary School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #1 of 7
- schools in Bessemer · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.2:1
- students per teacher
- 85.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Charles F Hard Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Charles F Hard Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 schools in Bessemer, AL.
School address
District: Bessemer City · Alabama
NCES ID 010033000084 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Charles F Hard Elementary School held near 350 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 20.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 010033000084 · Bessemer, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
364 enr · 18.2:1 · 85.1% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Bessemer City High School (760 students)
Charles F Hard Elementary School held near 350 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 20.0 → 16.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Charles F Hard Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Bessemer City
Bessemer City High School
760 students
- Bessemer City
Bessemer City Middle School
616 students
- Jonesboro Elem
Jonesboro Elementary School
474 students
- This school
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 Charles F Hard Elementary School reports 364 students on the CCD universe file.
How Charles F Hard Elementary School compares
Charles F Hard Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.2:1 | ▲ 3% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 85.1% | ▲ 45% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 364 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.2:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
364
Bigger than 42% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
85.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 45% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.2:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 63% in Alabama - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
19.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 364 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 22 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
African American 86.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.4%
Two or More 4.4%
White 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 86.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.9, Charles F Hard Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
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 Charles F Hard Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bessemer City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bessemer City Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jonesboro Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Greenwood Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Westhills Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Charles F Hard Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 616
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 474
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- 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 other schools in Bessemer
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Oak Grove High School
Standard public school
777 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Mccalla Elementary School
Standard public school
752 students 20.3:1 students per teacher
Oak Grove Elementary School
Standard public school
576 students 18:1 students per teacher
Jonesboro Elementary School
Standard public school
474 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Concord Elementary School
Standard public school
400 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Abrams Elementary School
Standard public school
231 students 19.3:1 students per teacher
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 (~364 students)
Frequently asked questions about Charles F Hard Elementary School
How many students attend Charles F Hard Elementary School?
Charles F Hard Elementary School has 364 students enrolled. It is a public school in Bessemer, AL. CCD year-over-year: 342 (2022-23) → 350 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Charles F Hard Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Charles F Hard Elementary School is 18.2:1, which is 3% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 16% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Charles F Hard Elementary School?
85.1% of students at Charles F Hard Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Charles F Hard Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Charles F Hard Elementary School is African American at 86.8% of enrollment, in Bessemer, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Charles F Hard Elementary School?
Charles F Hard Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Charles F Hard Elementary School rank among schools in Bessemer?
By Resource Investment Index, Charles F Hard Elementary School ranks #1 of 7 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 schools in Bessemer on the city page.
What other schools are in Bessemer City?
Besides Charles F Hard Elementary School, Bessemer City also operates Bessemer City High School (760 students), Bessemer City Middle School (616 students), and Jonesboro Elementary School (474 students). See the Bessemer City district page for the complete list.