- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Chelsea, AL
Forest Oaks Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Forest Oaks Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010303002189
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 80
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forest Oaks Elementary School earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 73% of Alabama schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Chelsea · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.9:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 23.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Forest Oaks Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 73% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Oaks Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Chelsea, AL.
School address
District: Shelby County · Alabama
NCES ID 010303002189 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-40 students YoY
Forest Oaks Elementary School shrank from 683 students in 2022-23 to 643 in 2023-24 (-5.9%).
Teacher FTE lost 38.1 → 34.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-40 students YoY 010303002189 · Chelsea, AL Elementary · MID · TRAD
606 enr · 15.9:1 · 23.6% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students)
Forest Oaks Elementary School shrank from 683 students in 2022-23 to 643 in 2023-24 (-5.9%). Teacher FTE lost 38.1 → 34.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Forest Oaks Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Oak Mountain H
Oak Mountain High School
1,648 students
- Helena High Sc
Helena High School
1,383 students
- Chelsea High S
Chelsea High School
1,235 students
- Oak Mountain M
Oak Mountain Middle School
1,168 students
- Calera High
Calera High
1,018 students
- This school 606
Forest Oaks Elementary School
606 students
What this shows Forest Oaks Elementary School reports 606 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forest Oaks Elementary School compares
Forest Oaks Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.9:1 | ▼ 10% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.6% | ▼ 60% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 606 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
606
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% 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
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 10% below state mean
Top 27% in Alabama - lower ratio than 73% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
7.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$12,436
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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 404 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.9%
Hispanic or Latino 9.7%
African American 7.8%
Two or More 1.8%
Asian 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 78.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.1, Forest Oaks Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Shelby County reports $12,436 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Forest Oaks Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oak Mountain High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Helena High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chelsea High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oak Mountain Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Calera High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forest Oaks Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,383
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,235
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,168
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,018
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~606 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.9:1)
Frequently asked questions about Forest Oaks Elementary School
How many students attend Forest Oaks Elementary School?
Forest Oaks Elementary School has 606 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Chelsea, AL. CCD year-over-year: 683 (2022-23) → 643 (2023-24), down 40.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Oaks Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Oaks Elementary School is 15.9:1, which is 10% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 1% higher 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 Forest Oaks Elementary School?
23.6% of students at Forest Oaks Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forest Oaks Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Forest Oaks Elementary School is White at 78.9% of enrollment, in Chelsea, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forest Oaks Elementary School?
Forest Oaks Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (higher 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 Forest Oaks Elementary School rank among public schools in Chelsea?
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Oaks Elementary School ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Chelsea, 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 Shelby County?
Besides Forest Oaks Elementary School, Shelby County also operates Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students), Helena High School (1,383 students), and Chelsea High School (1,235 students). See the Shelby County district page for the complete list.