- Enrollment
- 2,416
- Students per teacher
- 30.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hawthorne, FL
Chester Shell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Chester Shell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 120003000021
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Chester Shell Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 92% of Florida schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Hawthorne · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 11.3:1
- small classes for Florida
- 78.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Chester Shell Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 92% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Shell Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 schools in Hawthorne, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Chester Shell Elementary School shrank from 355 students in 2022-23 to 323 in 2023-24 (-9.0%).
Teacher FTE added 25.1 → 25.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 120003000021 · Hawthorne, FL Other · SMALL · TRAD
282 enr · 11.3:1 · 78.0% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: F. W. Buchholz High School (2,416 students)
Chester Shell Elementary School shrank from 355 students in 2022-23 to 323 in 2023-24 (-9.0%). Teacher FTE added 25.1 → 25.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Chester Shell Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- F. W. Buchholz
F. W. Buchholz High School
2,416 students
- Gainesville Hi
Gainesville High School
1,825 students
- Eastside High
Eastside High School
1,291 students
- Santa Fe High
Santa Fe High School
1,132 students
- Kanapaha Middl
Kanapaha Middle School
1,014 students
- This school 282
Chester Shell Elementary School
282 students
What this shows Chester Shell Elementary School reports 282 students on the CCD universe file.
How Chester Shell Elementary School compares
Chester Shell Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 11.3:1 | ▼ 37% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.0% | ▲ 50% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 282 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
282
Bigger than 30% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the Florida average of 52.0%
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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 37% below state mean
Top 8% in Florida - lower ratio than 92% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
74.5%
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
$11,075
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
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 282 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 47.5%
African American 33.3%
Two or More 11.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.2%
Largest group: White at 47.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.5, Chester Shell Elementary School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Alachua reports $11,075 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Chester Shell Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. W. Buchholz High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gainesville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Santa Fe High School | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Kanapaha Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Chester Shell Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,825
- Students per teacher
- 29:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,291
- Students per teacher
- 30.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,132
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,014
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
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 (~282 students)
Frequently asked questions about Chester Shell Elementary School
How many students attend Chester Shell Elementary School?
Chester Shell Elementary School has 282 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hawthorne, FL. CCD year-over-year: 355 (2022-23) → 323 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Chester Shell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Chester Shell Elementary School is 11.3:1, which is 37% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 28% 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 Chester Shell Elementary School?
78.0% of students at Chester Shell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Chester Shell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Chester Shell Elementary School is White at 47.5% of enrollment, in Hawthorne, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Chester Shell Elementary School?
Chester Shell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Chester Shell Elementary School rank among schools in Hawthorne?
By Resource Investment Index, Chester Shell Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 schools in Hawthorne, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Alachua?
Besides Chester Shell Elementary School, Alachua also operates F. W. Buchholz High School (2,416 students), Gainesville High School (1,825 students), and Eastside High School (1,291 students). See the Alachua district page for the complete list.