- Enrollment
- 825
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 20/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gadsden, AL
Gaston Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Gaston Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010138002453
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gaston Elementary School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #4 of 11
- schools in Gadsden · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.1:1
- students per teacher
- 68.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Gaston Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston Elementary School ranks #4 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL.
School address
District: Etowah County · Alabama
NCES ID 010138002453 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+12 students YoY
Gaston Elementary School held near 284 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 16.2 → 16.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+12 students YoY 010138002453 · Gadsden, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
290 enr · 18.1:1 · 68.8% lunch · RII 52
Nearest enrollment peer: Southside High School (825 students)
Gaston Elementary School held near 284 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+12 headcount). Teacher FTE held 16.2 → 16.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Gaston Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Southside High
Southside High School
825 students
- John S Jones E
John S Jones Elementary School
745 students
- Rainbow Middle
Rainbow Middle School
634 students
- Hokes Bluff El
Hokes Bluff Elementary School
610 students
- Southside Elem
Southside Elementary School
585 students
- This school 290
Gaston Elementary School
290 students
What this shows Gaston Elementary School reports 290 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gaston Elementary School compares
Gaston Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.1:1 | ▲ 2% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.8% | ▲ 17% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 290 | top 82% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
290
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
68.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 62% in Alabama - lower ratio than 38% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
12.4%
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
$11,215
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 290 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 84.8%
Two or More 6.9%
African American 4.8%
Hispanic or Latino 2.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.0%
Largest group: White at 84.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 27.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 27.3, Gaston Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Etowah County reports $11,215 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gaston Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John S Jones Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Rainbow Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hokes Bluff Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southside Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gaston Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 745
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 19.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 610
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 585
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Gadsden
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Adams Elementary School
Standard public school
433 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
W E Striplin Elementary School
Standard public school
400 students 20:1 students per teacher
Floyd Elementary School
Standard public school
384 students 24:1 students per teacher
Gaston High School
Standard public school
380 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Eura Brown Elementary School
Standard public school
340 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Thompson Elementary School
Standard public school
288 students 26.2:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~290 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gaston Elementary School
How many students attend Gaston Elementary School?
Gaston Elementary School has 290 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gadsden, AL. CCD year-over-year: 272 (2022-23) → 284 (2023-24), nearly flat (+12).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gaston Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Gaston Elementary School is 18.1:1, 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 Gaston Elementary School?
68.8% of students at Gaston Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gaston Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Gaston Elementary School is White at 84.8% of enrollment, in Gadsden, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gaston Elementary School?
Gaston Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (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 Gaston Elementary School rank among schools in Gadsden?
By Resource Investment Index, Gaston Elementary School ranks #4 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gadsden on the city page.
What other schools are in Etowah County?
Besides Gaston Elementary School, Etowah County also operates Southside High School (825 students), John S Jones Elementary School (745 students), and Rainbow Middle School (634 students). See the Etowah County district page for the complete list.