Enrollment
895
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Atlanta, GA
Fernbank Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Fernbank Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130174000664
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 61
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fernbank Elementary School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Georgia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #42 of 70
- schools in Atlanta · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.3:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 16.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Fernbank Elementary School has class sizes larger than 79% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fernbank Elementary School ranks #42 of 70 schools in Atlanta, GA.
School address
District: Dekalb County · Georgia
NCES ID 130174000664 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
55.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.3:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
16.4%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-73% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Fernbank Elementary School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Fernbank Elementary School
Fernbank Elementary School is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Atlanta, Georgia, enrolling 895 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.3:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 16.4% free-meal eligibility runs 73% below the Georgia average.
Enrollment of 895 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 279 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #225, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (45%) and African American (23%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 895 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
15.6% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 15.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Atlanta's public schools, it stands alongside Georgia Cyber Academy (9,952 students): Fernbank Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (16.3:1 vs 15.2:1).
Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students) and Dunwoody High School (2,012 students) alongside Fernbank Elementary 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 Fernbank Elementary School compares
Fernbank Elementary 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 | 16.3:1 | ▲ 13% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 16.4% | ▼ 73% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 895 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
895
Bigger than 89% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
16.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
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
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 79% in Georgia - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
15.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,594
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $13,863
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 895 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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 44.8%
African American 23.0%
Asian 16.1%
Two or More 7.8%
Hispanic or Latino 7.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 44.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.8, Fernbank Elementary School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dekalb County, which includes Fernbank Elementary School.
$15,594
Per student
+12%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-6%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.6%
State 32.7%
Federal 15.7%
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 Fernbank Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dunwoody High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Chamblee High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Cross Keys High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sequoyah Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fernbank Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,234
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,867
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,748
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Atlanta
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Georgia Cyber Academy
Standard public school
9,952 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
Doraville United Elementary School
Standard public school
1,003 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Charles R. Drew Charter School
Standard public school
961 students 12:1 students per teacher
Charles Drew Charter Ja/Sr Academy
Standard public school
941 students 11.9:1 students per teacher
Cobb Horizon High School
Standard public school
927 students 11.3:1 students per teacher
Morris Brandon Elementary School
Standard public school
911 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~895 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Fernbank Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Fernbank Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Dekalb 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 Fernbank Elementary School
How many students attend Fernbank Elementary School?
Fernbank Elementary School has 895 students enrolled. It is a public school in Atlanta, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fernbank Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fernbank Elementary School is 16.3:1, which is 13% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fernbank Elementary School?
16.4% of students at Fernbank Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fernbank Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Fernbank Elementary School is White at 44.8% of enrollment, in Atlanta, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fernbank Elementary School?
Fernbank Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical 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 Fernbank Elementary School rank among schools in Atlanta?
By Resource Investment Index, Fernbank Elementary School ranks #42 of 70 schools in Atlanta, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Atlanta on the city page.
Is Fernbank Elementary School a good school?
Fernbank Elementary School earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Georgia schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia 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 Dekalb County?
Besides Fernbank Elementary School, Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students), Dunwoody High School (2,012 students), and Chamblee High School (1,867 students). See the Dekalb 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.