- Enrollment
- 786
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbia, AL
Houston County High School
Federal NCES profile for Houston County High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010177000614
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Houston County High School earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Alabama schools.
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 16.1:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 78.6%
- free-lunch eligible
- 322
- students enrolled
Houston County High School has class sizes smaller than 70% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Houston County · Alabama
NCES ID 010177000614 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Houston County High School held near 336 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 20.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+14 students YoY 010177000614 · Columbia, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
322 enr · 16.1:1 · 78.6% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Rehobeth High School (786 students)
Houston County High School held near 336 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+14 headcount). Teacher FTE held 20.0 → 20.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Houston County High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Rehobeth High
Rehobeth High School
786 students
- Ashford Elemen
Ashford Elementary School
668 students
- Wicksburg Elem
Wicksburg Elementary School
636 students
- Rehobeth Eleme
Rehobeth Elementary School
590 students
- Cottonwood Ele
Cottonwood Elementary School
502 students
- This school
Houston County High School
322 students
What this shows Houston County High School reports 322 students on the CCD universe file.
How Houston County High School compares
Houston County High 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 | 16.1:1 | ▼ 9% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.6% | ▲ 34% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 322 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
322
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 34% 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
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 30% in Alabama - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
24.8%
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
$10,971
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 322 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
131
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 40.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 41.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 53 expulsions.
Student demographics
African American 44.1%
White 43.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.4%
Two or More 2.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Asian 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 44.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.9, Houston County High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Houston County reports $10,971 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Houston County High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rehobeth High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ashford Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wicksburg Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rehobeth Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Cottonwood Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Houston County High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 668
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 636
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 590
- Students per teacher
- 9.4:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 502
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
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 (~322 students)
Frequently asked questions about Houston County High School
How many students attend Houston County High School?
Houston County High School has 322 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbia, AL. CCD year-over-year: 322 (2022-23) → 336 (2023-24), nearly flat (+14).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Houston County High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Houston County High School is 16.1:1, which is 9% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 3% 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 Houston County High School?
78.6% of students at Houston County High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Houston County High School?
The largest demographic group at Houston County High School is African American at 44.1% of enrollment, in Columbia, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Houston County High School?
Houston County High School has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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).
What other schools are in Houston County?
Besides Houston County High School, Houston County also operates Rehobeth High School (786 students), Ashford Elementary School (668 students), and Wicksburg Elementary School (636 students). See the Houston County district page for the complete list.