- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Fort Payne, AL
Fort Payne High School
Federal NCES profile for Fort Payne High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010156000538
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 79
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Fort Payne High School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama.
- #1 of 5
- public schools in Fort Payne · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.8:1
- students per teacher
- 66.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Fort Payne High School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Payne High School ranks #1 of 5 public schools in Fort Payne, AL.
School address
District: Fort Payne City · Alabama
NCES ID 010156000538 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+54 students YoY
Fort Payne High School grew from 1,058 students in 2022-23 to 1,112 in 2023-24 (+5.1%).
Teacher FTE held 62.5 → 62.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+54 students YoY 010156000538 · Fort Payne, AL High · MID · TRAD
1,106 enr · 17.8:1 · 66.1% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Little Ridge Intermediate School (792 students)
Fort Payne High School grew from 1,058 students in 2022-23 to 1,112 in 2023-24 (+5.1%). Teacher FTE held 62.5 → 62.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Fort Payne High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Fort Payne High School
1,106 students
- Little Ridge I
Little Ridge Intermediate School
792 students
- Fort Payne Mid
Fort Payne Middle School
741 students
- Wills Valley E
Wills Valley Elementary School
738 students
- Williams Avenu 131
Williams Avenue Elementary School
131 students
What this shows Fort Payne High School reports 1,106 students on the CCD universe file.
How Fort Payne High School compares
Fort Payne High School is a growing 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 | 17.8:1 | ▲ 1% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 66.1% | ▲ 12% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,106 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.8:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,106
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
66.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
17.8:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 56% in Alabama - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
8.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$11,328
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
Counselors2.5 FTE
Per 442 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
33
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 47.2%
White 45.5%
African American 3.1%
Two or More 2.2%
Asian 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 47.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 56.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 56.9, Fort Payne High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Fort Payne City reports $11,328 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Fort Payne High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Little Ridge Intermediate School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fort Payne Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wills Valley Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Williams Avenue Elementary School | Smaller | No free-lunch data | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Fort Payne High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 741
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 738
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 131
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 25/100
Nationwide high 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 (~1,106 students)
Frequently asked questions about Fort Payne High School
How many students attend Fort Payne High School?
Fort Payne High School has 1,106 students enrolled. It is a high school in Fort Payne, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,058 (2022-23) → 1,112 (2023-24), up 54.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Fort Payne High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Fort Payne High School is 17.8:1, which is 1% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Fort Payne High School?
66.1% of students at Fort Payne High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Fort Payne High School?
The largest demographic group at Fort Payne High School is Hispanic or Latino at 47.2% of enrollment, in Fort Payne, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 56.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Fort Payne High School?
Fort Payne High School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (typical 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 Fort Payne High School rank among public schools in Fort Payne?
By Resource Investment Index, Fort Payne High School ranks #1 of 5 public schools in Fort Payne, 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 Fort Payne on the city page.
What other schools are in Fort Payne City?
Besides Fort Payne High School, Fort Payne City also operates Little Ridge Intermediate School (792 students), Fort Payne Middle School (741 students), and Wills Valley Elementary School (738 students). See the Fort Payne City district page for the complete list.