- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Chelsea, AL
Chelsea High School
Federal NCES profile for Chelsea High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010303001171
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 18
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chelsea High School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of Alabama schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama.
- #3 of 4
- public schools in Chelsea · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 20.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Chelsea High School has class sizes smaller than 72% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chelsea High School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Chelsea, AL.
School address
District: Shelby County · Alabama
NCES ID 010303001171 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-109 students YoY
Chelsea High School shrank from 1,400 students in 2022-23 to 1,291 in 2023-24 (-7.8%).
Teacher FTE lost 77.0 → 76.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-109 students YoY 010303001171 · Chelsea, AL High · MID · TRAD
1,235 enr · 16:1 · 20.4% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students)
Chelsea High School shrank from 1,400 students in 2022-23 to 1,291 in 2023-24 (-7.8%). Teacher FTE lost 77.0 → 76.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Chelsea High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Oak Mountain H
Oak Mountain High School
1,648 students
- Helena High Sc
Helena High School
1,383 students
- This school
Chelsea High School
1,235 students
- Oak Mountain M
Oak Mountain Middle School
1,168 students
- Calera High
Calera High
1,018 students
- Helena Middle
Helena Middle
957 students
What this shows Chelsea High School reports 1,235 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chelsea High School compares
Chelsea 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 | 16:1 | ▼ 10% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 20.4% | ▼ 65% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,235 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16:1
Leaner classes than 38% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,235
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
20.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
16:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 28% in Alabama - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
17.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,436
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 412 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
136
in-school suspensions + 77 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 78.4%
African American 11.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.2%
Asian 2.1%
Two or More 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 78.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.9, Chelsea High School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Shelby County reports $12,436 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Chelsea High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Mountain High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Helena High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Oak Mountain Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Calera High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Helena Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Chelsea High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,383
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,168
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,018
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 957
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
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 (~1,235 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16:1)
Frequently asked questions about Chelsea High School
How many students attend Chelsea High School?
Chelsea High School has 1,235 students enrolled. It is a high school in Chelsea, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,400 (2022-23) → 1,291 (2023-24), down 109.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chelsea High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Chelsea High School is 16:1, which is 10% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 2% higher 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 Chelsea High School?
20.4% of students at Chelsea High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chelsea High School?
The largest demographic group at Chelsea High School is White at 78.4% of enrollment, in Chelsea, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chelsea High School?
Chelsea High School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Chelsea High School rank among public schools in Chelsea?
By Resource Investment Index, Chelsea High School ranks #3 of 4 public schools in Chelsea, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Shelby County?
Besides Chelsea High School, Shelby County also operates Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students), Helena High School (1,383 students), and Oak Mountain Middle School (1,168 students). See the Shelby County district page for the complete list.