Enrollment
1,216
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Athens, AL
East Limestone High School
Federal NCES profile for East Limestone High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010210000800
👥 S:T ratio 12
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East Limestone High School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Alabama schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama.
- #3 of 9
- schools in Athens · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 22.1:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 35.1%
- free-lunch eligible
East Limestone High School has class sizes larger than 94% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East Limestone High School ranks #3 of 9 schools in Athens, AL.
School address
District: Limestone County · Alabama
NCES ID 010210000800 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
55.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
22.1:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+25% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
35.1%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
-40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How East Limestone High School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at East Limestone High School
East Limestone High School is a large combined-grade school in Athens, Alabama, enrolling 1,216 students.
Class loads run heavy: 22.1:1 is larger than about 94% of Alabama schools and 25% above the 17.7:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 35.1% free-meal eligibility runs 40% below the Alabama average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in Alabama, bigger than 96% of state schools at 1,216 students.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 104 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #42.
Its student body is led by White (64%) and African American (22%) (diversity index 54/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 405 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
The surrounding Limestone County spends $8,021 per pupil, 36% below the Alabama average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 10 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Athens's public schools, it stands alongside Alabama Connections Academy (7,822 students): East Limestone High School is smaller than that campus by headcount.
Limestone County also operates Alabama Connections Academy (7,822 students) and Ardmore High School (964 students) alongside East Limestone 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 East Limestone High School compares
East Limestone High 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 | 22.1:1 | ▲ 25% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.1% | ▼ 40% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,216 | top 4% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.1:1
Leaner classes than 10% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,216
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
35.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
22.1:1
students per teacher
- 25% above state mean
Top 94% in Alabama - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
14.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$8,021
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 405 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
62
in-school suspensions + 54 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 10 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
White 63.7%
African American 21.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.0%
Two or More 4.3%
Asian 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 63.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.9, East Limestone High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Limestone County, which includes East Limestone High School.
$8,021
Per student
-36%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-52%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 27.4%
State 61.6%
Federal 11.1%
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 East Limestone High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama Connections Academy | Larger | Higher economic need | No ratio data |
| Ardmore High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Limestone High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sugar Creek Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Elkmont Elementary School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to East Limestone High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 7,822
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 964
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 736
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 631
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 599
- Students per teacher
- 25:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Athens
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Alabama Connections Academy
Standard public school
7,822 students
Athens Renaissance School
Standard public school
606 students 24.2:1 students per teacher
Blue Springs Elementary School
Standard public school
558 students 19.2:1 students per teacher
Clements High School
Standard public school
525 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Johnson Elementary School
Standard public school
475 students 21.6:1 students per teacher
Athens Elementary School
Standard public school
474 students 18.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~1,216 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on East Limestone High School's federal record.
- Compare East Limestone High School against another school. Compare schools
- Limestone 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 East Limestone High School
How many students attend East Limestone High School?
East Limestone High School has 1,216 students enrolled. It is a public school in Athens, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Limestone High School?
The student-teacher ratio at East Limestone High School is 22.1:1, which is 25% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 41% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at East Limestone High School?
35.1% of students at East Limestone High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East Limestone High School?
The largest demographic group at East Limestone High School is White at 63.7% of enrollment, in Athens, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East Limestone High School?
East Limestone High School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 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 East Limestone High School rank among schools in Athens?
By Resource Investment Index, East Limestone High School ranks #3 of 9 schools in Athens, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Athens on the city page.
Is East Limestone High School a good school?
East Limestone High School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of Alabama schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama. 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 Limestone County?
Besides East Limestone High School, Limestone County also operates Alabama Connections Academy (7,822 students), Ardmore High School (964 students), and West Limestone High School (736 students). See the Limestone 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.