- Enrollment
- 1,607
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cottondale, AL
Cottondale Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Cottondale Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010339001276
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cottondale Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #2 of 4
- public schools in Cottondale · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.6:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 79.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Cottondale Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 77% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Cottondale Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Cottondale, AL.
School address
District: Tuscaloosa County · Alabama
NCES ID 010339001276 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Cottondale Elementary School held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 010339001276 · Cottondale, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
438 enr · 15.6:1 · 79.6% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Tuscaloosa County High School (1,607 students)
Cottondale Elementary School held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 28.0 → 26.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Cottondale Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Tuscaloosa Cou
Tuscaloosa County High School
1,607 students
- Hillcrest High
Hillcrest High School
1,434 students
- Brookwood High
Brookwood High School
1,076 students
- Lake View Elem
Lake View Elementary School
744 students
- Walker Element
Walker Elementary School
743 students
- This school 438
Cottondale Elementary School
438 students
What this shows Cottondale Elementary School reports 438 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cottondale Elementary School compares
Cottondale 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 | 15.6:1 | ▼ 12% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 79.6% | ▲ 35% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 438 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.6:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
438
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
79.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 35% 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
15.6:1
students per teacher
- 12% below state mean
Top 23% in Alabama - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.1%
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
$11,564
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 438 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 35.6%
Hispanic or Latino 30.6%
African American 28.3%
Two or More 5.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 35.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.7, Cottondale Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Tuscaloosa County reports $11,564 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cottondale Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hillcrest High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lake View Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walker Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cottondale Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,434
- Students per teacher
- 20.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,076
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 744
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 743
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
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 (~438 students)
Frequently asked questions about Cottondale Elementary School
How many students attend Cottondale Elementary School?
Cottondale Elementary School has 438 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cottondale, AL. CCD year-over-year: 451 (2022-23) → 447 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cottondale Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Cottondale Elementary School is 15.6:1, which is 12% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 1% 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 Cottondale Elementary School?
79.6% of students at Cottondale Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cottondale Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Cottondale Elementary School is White at 35.6% of enrollment, in Cottondale, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cottondale Elementary School?
Cottondale Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 Cottondale Elementary School rank among public schools in Cottondale?
By Resource Investment Index, Cottondale Elementary School ranks #2 of 4 public schools in Cottondale, 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 Tuscaloosa County?
Besides Cottondale Elementary School, Tuscaloosa County also operates Tuscaloosa County High School (1,607 students), Hillcrest High School (1,434 students), and Brookwood High School (1,076 students). See the Tuscaloosa County district page for the complete list.