Enrollment
1,919
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Dalton, GA
Dalton High School
Federal NCES profile for Dalton High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 130162000786
👥 S:T ratio 13
📚 AP courses 65
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Dalton High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia.
- #5 of 5
- high schools in Dalton · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.8:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 41.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Dalton High School has class sizes larger than 98% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Dalton High School ranks #5 of 5 high schools in Dalton, GA.
School address
District: Dalton Public Schools · Georgia
NCES ID 130162000786 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
88.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.8:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+51% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
41.5%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-32% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Dalton High School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Dalton High School
Dalton High School is a large high school in Dalton, Georgia, enrolling 1,919 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.8:1 is larger than about 98% of Georgia schools and 51% above the 14.4:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 41.5% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Georgia, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,919 students.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 2,314 Georgia schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 130 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #127, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (72%) and White (18%) (diversity index 44/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 13 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 640 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 33.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 33 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Dalton's high schools, it stands alongside Southeast Whitfield County High School (1,453 students): Dalton High School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (21.8:1 vs 17.1:1).
Dalton Public Schools also operates Hammond Creek Middle School (1,057 students) and City Park Elementary School (707 students) alongside Dalton High School.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Dalton High School compares
Dalton High School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 21.8:1 | ▲ 51% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.5% | ▼ 32% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,919 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.8:1
Leaner classes than 11% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,919
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
41.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
21.8:1
students per teacher
- 51% above state mean
Top 98% in Georgia - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
33.5%
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
$13,574
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 640 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 33 expulsions.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 72.3%
White 18.0%
African American 4.7%
Asian 2.8%
Two or More 2.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 72.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 44.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 44.1, Dalton High School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dalton Public Schools, which includes Dalton High School.
$13,574
Per student
-2%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-18%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 36.1%
State 44.1%
Federal 19.8%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Dalton High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hammond Creek Middle School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| City Park Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Brookwood Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Blue Ridge Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Westwood Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Dalton High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,057
- Students per teacher
- 12:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 707
- Students per teacher
- 11.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 688
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
- Enrollment
- 632
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 605
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar high schools in Dalton
4 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Southeast Whitfield County High School
Standard public school
1,453 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Coahulla Creek High School
Standard public school
1,041 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
The Dalton Academy
Standard public school
469 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Phoenix High School
Standard public school
141 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Similar high schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,919 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~21.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Dalton High School's federal record.
- Compare Dalton High School against another school. Compare schools
- Dalton Public Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Dalton High School
How many students attend Dalton High School?
Dalton High School has 1,919 students enrolled. It is a high school in Dalton, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Dalton High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Dalton High School is 21.8:1, which is 51% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 39% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Dalton High School?
41.5% of students at Dalton High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Dalton High School?
The largest demographic group at Dalton High School is Hispanic or Latino at 72.3% of enrollment, in Dalton, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Dalton High School?
Dalton High School has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Dalton High School rank among high schools in Dalton?
By Resource Investment Index, Dalton High School ranks #5 of 5 high schools in Dalton, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Dalton on the city page.
Is Dalton High School a good school?
Dalton High School earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Georgia. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Dalton Public Schools?
Besides Dalton High School, Dalton Public Schools also operates Hammond Creek Middle School (1,057 students), City Park Elementary School (707 students), and Brookwood Elementary School (688 students). See the Dalton Public Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.