Enrollment
1,247
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cumming, GA
George W. Whitlow Elementary
Federal NCES profile for George W. Whitlow Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130222003853
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
George W. Whitlow Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Georgia schools.
- #8 of 16
- schools in Cumming · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.2:1
- students per teacher
- 18.0%
- free-lunch eligible
George W. Whitlow Elementary has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, George W. Whitlow Elementary ranks #8 of 16 schools in Cumming, GA.
School address
District: Forsyth County · Georgia
NCES ID 130222003853 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
88.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.2:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
18.0%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-70% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How George W. Whitlow Elementary compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at George W. Whitlow Elementary
George W. Whitlow Elementary is a lower-poverty, large combined-grade school in Cumming, Georgia, enrolling 1,247 students.
At 14.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Georgia median, within a few percentage points of the 14.4:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 18.0% free-meal eligibility runs 70% below the Georgia average.
Enrollment of 1,247 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.
Against 229 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #117.
Its student body is led by Asian (40%) and White (29%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 416 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.8% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
The surrounding Forsyth County spends $10,928 per pupil, 21% below the Georgia average, a leaner-resourced district than most.
Among Cumming's public schools, it stands alongside Sawnee Elementary School (1,591 students): George W. Whitlow Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.2:1 vs 16.2:1).
Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students) and South Forsyth High School (2,634 students) alongside George W. Whitlow Elementary.
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 George W. Whitlow Elementary compares
George W. Whitlow Elementary on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.2:1 | ▼ 1% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.0% | ▼ 70% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,247 | top 12% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.2:1
Leaner classes than 55% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,247
Bigger than 94% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
18.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 70% 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
14.2:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 52% in Georgia - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$10,928
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
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 416 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
9
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 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
Asian 40.2%
White 29.0%
Hispanic or Latino 21.1%
African American 6.2%
Two or More 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: Asian at 40.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.5, George W. Whitlow Elementary is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Forsyth County, which includes George W. Whitlow Elementary.
$10,928
Per student
-21%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 54.6%
State 38.4%
Federal 7.0%
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 George W. Whitlow Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lambert High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Forsyth High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Denmark High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Forsyth High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forsyth Central High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to George W. Whitlow Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,249
- Students per teacher
- 21.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,634
- Students per teacher
- 20.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,527
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 2,503
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 2,457
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Similar other schools in Cumming
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sawnee Elementary School
Standard public school
1,591 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Poole's Mill Elementary
Standard public school
1,384 students 20.1:1 students per teacher
Matt Elementary School
Standard public school
1,171 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Silver City Elementary School
Standard public school
1,142 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Kelly Mill Elementary
Standard public school
1,104 students 17:1 students per teacher
Vickery Creek Elementary School
Standard public school
982 students 15.3:1 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 (~1,247 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on George W. Whitlow Elementary's federal record.
- Compare George W. Whitlow Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Forsyth 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 George W. Whitlow Elementary
How many students attend George W. Whitlow Elementary?
George W. Whitlow Elementary has 1,247 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cumming, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at George W. Whitlow Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at George W. Whitlow Elementary is 14.2:1, which is 1% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 10% lower 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 George W. Whitlow Elementary?
18.0% of students at George W. Whitlow Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of George W. Whitlow Elementary?
The largest demographic group at George W. Whitlow Elementary is Asian at 40.2% of enrollment, in Cumming, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for George W. Whitlow Elementary?
George W. Whitlow Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 George W. Whitlow Elementary rank among schools in Cumming?
By Resource Investment Index, George W. Whitlow Elementary ranks #8 of 16 schools in Cumming, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Cumming on the city page.
Is George W. Whitlow Elementary a good school?
George W. Whitlow Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. 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 Forsyth County?
Besides George W. Whitlow Elementary, Forsyth County also operates Lambert High School (3,249 students), South Forsyth High School (2,634 students), and Denmark High School (2,527 students). See the Forsyth 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.