- Enrollment
- 2,271
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Grand Bay, AL
Cora Castlen Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Cora Castlen Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010237000924
👥 S:T ratio 23
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cora Castlen Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 76% of Alabama schools.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Grand Bay · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.2:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 59.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Cora Castlen Elementary has class sizes larger than 76% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cora Castlen Elementary ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Grand Bay, AL.
School address
District: Mobile County · Alabama
NCES ID 010237000924 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-15 students YoY
Cora Castlen Elementary held near 424 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 22.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-15 students YoY 010237000924 · Grand Bay, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
423 enr · 19.2:1 · 59.7% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Baker High School (2,271 students)
Cora Castlen Elementary held near 424 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-15 headcount). Teacher FTE held 22.0 → 22.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Cora Castlen Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Baker High Sch
Baker High School
2,271 students
- Mary G Montgom
Mary G Montgomery High School
1,888 students
- Alma Bryant Hi
Alma Bryant High School
1,624 students
- Wp Davidson Hi
Wp Davidson High School
1,470 students
- Bernice J Caus
Bernice J Causey Middle School
1,339 students
- This school 423
Cora Castlen Elementary
423 students
What this shows Cora Castlen Elementary reports 423 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cora Castlen Elementary compares
Cora Castlen Elementary 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 | 19.2:1 | ▲ 8% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.7% | ▲ 2% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 423 | top 60% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.2:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
423
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
59.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.2:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 76% in Alabama - lower ratio than 24% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
24.3%
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
$13,245
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 423 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 79.7%
African American 7.6%
Two or More 6.6%
Hispanic or Latino 3.8%
Asian 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 79.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.3, Cora Castlen Elementary is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mobile County reports $13,245 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cora Castlen Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baker High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mary G Montgomery High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Alma Bryant High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wp Davidson High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bernice J Causey Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cora Castlen Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,888
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 1,624
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 15/100
- Enrollment
- 1,470
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 16/100
- Enrollment
- 1,339
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 19/100
Similar other schools in Grand Bay
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~423 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cora Castlen Elementary
How many students attend Cora Castlen Elementary?
Cora Castlen Elementary has 423 students enrolled. It is a public school in Grand Bay, AL. CCD year-over-year: 439 (2022-23) → 424 (2023-24), nearly flat (-15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cora Castlen Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Cora Castlen Elementary is 19.2:1, which is 8% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Cora Castlen Elementary?
59.7% of students at Cora Castlen Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cora Castlen Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Cora Castlen Elementary is White at 79.7% of enrollment, in Grand Bay, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cora Castlen Elementary?
Cora Castlen Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Cora Castlen Elementary rank among public schools in Grand Bay?
By Resource Investment Index, Cora Castlen Elementary ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Grand Bay, 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 Mobile County?
Besides Cora Castlen Elementary, Mobile County also operates Baker High School (2,271 students), Mary G Montgomery High School (1,888 students), and Alma Bryant High School (1,624 students). See the Mobile County district page for the complete list.