- Enrollment
- 1,648
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Helena, AL
Helena Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Helena Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010303001175
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 73
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Helena Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #4 of 4
- public schools in Helena · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.9:1
- students per teacher
- 25.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Helena Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Helena Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Helena, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Helena Elementary School held near 855 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 46.0 → 44.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 010303001175 · Helena, AL Elementary · MID · TRAD
778 enr · 16.9:1 · 25.9% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Oak Mountain High School (1,648 students)
Helena Elementary School held near 855 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 46.0 → 44.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Helena 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
Helena Elementary School
778 students
What this shows Helena Elementary School reports 778 students on the CCD universe file.
How Helena Elementary School compares
Helena 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 | 16.9:1 | ▼ 5% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 25.9% | ▼ 56% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 778 | top 15% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
778
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
25.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% 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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 42% in Alabama - lower ratio than 58% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
10.9%
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
$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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 778 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 72.0%
African American 12.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.2%
Asian 2.7%
Two or More 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 72.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.4, Helena Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
District finance for Shelby County reports $12,436 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Helena 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 | Similar 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 Helena 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
Similar elementary schools in Helena
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~778 students)
Frequently asked questions about Helena Elementary School
How many students attend Helena Elementary School?
Helena Elementary School has 778 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Helena, AL. CCD year-over-year: 868 (2022-23) → 855 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Helena Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Helena Elementary School is 16.9:1, which is 5% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 8% 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 Helena Elementary School?
25.9% of students at Helena Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Helena Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Helena Elementary School is White at 72.0% of enrollment, in Helena, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Helena Elementary School?
Helena Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Helena Elementary School rank among public schools in Helena?
By Resource Investment Index, Helena Elementary School ranks #4 of 4 public schools in Helena, 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 Helena 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.