Enrollment
397
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Cottondale, AL
Davisemerson Middle School
Federal NCES profile for Davisemerson Middle School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 010339002088
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 33
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Davisemerson Middle School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Cottondale · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18:1
- students per teacher
- 91.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Davisemerson Middle School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Davisemerson Middle School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Cottondale, AL.
School address
District: Tuscaloosa County · Alabama
NCES ID 010339002088 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
91.3%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+55% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Davisemerson Middle School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Davisemerson Middle School
Davisemerson Middle School is a high-poverty, mid-sized middle school in Cottondale, Alabama, enrolling 397 students.
At 18:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Alabama median, within a few percentage points of the 17.7:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 91.3% of students qualify for free meals, 55% above the Alabama average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 397 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Among 161 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Alabama schools statewide, it ranks #116, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (42%) and Hispanic or Latino (35%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 397 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 26.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Discipline events run high: 232 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 397 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 11 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Cottondale's middle schools, it stands alongside Eastwood Middle School (711 students): Davisemerson Middle School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (18:1 vs 19.8:1).
Tuscaloosa County also operates Tuscaloosa County High School (1,607 students) and Hillcrest High School (1,434 students) alongside Davisemerson Middle 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 Davisemerson Middle School compares
Davisemerson Middle School on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 2% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.3% | ▲ 55% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 397 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
397
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
91.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
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
18:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 60% in Alabama - lower ratio than 40% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.7%
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
$11,186
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $12,491
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 397 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
140
in-school suspensions + 92 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 35.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 58.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 11 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
African American 41.6%
Hispanic or Latino 34.5%
White 21.9%
Two or More 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 41.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.0, Davisemerson Middle School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Tuscaloosa County, which includes Davisemerson Middle School.
$11,186
Per student
-10%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-33%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.0%
State 58.1%
Federal 14.9%
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 Davisemerson Middle School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tuscaloosa County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hillcrest High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Brookwood High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Lake View Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walker Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Davisemerson Middle School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,607
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- 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
Similar middle schools in Cottondale
1 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~397 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Davisemerson Middle School's federal record.
- Compare Davisemerson Middle School against another school. Compare schools
- Tuscaloosa County'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 Davisemerson Middle School
How many students attend Davisemerson Middle School?
Davisemerson Middle School has 397 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Cottondale, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Davisemerson Middle School?
The student-teacher ratio at Davisemerson Middle School is 18:1, which is 2% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Davisemerson Middle School?
91.3% of students at Davisemerson Middle School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Davisemerson Middle School?
The largest demographic group at Davisemerson Middle School is African American at 41.6% of enrollment, in Cottondale, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Davisemerson Middle School?
Davisemerson Middle School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Davisemerson Middle School rank among public schools in Cottondale?
By Resource Investment Index, Davisemerson Middle School ranks #4 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. See all public schools in Cottondale on the city page.
Is Davisemerson Middle School a good school?
Davisemerson Middle School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools. 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 Tuscaloosa County?
Besides Davisemerson Middle 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.
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.