Enrollment
576
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Valdosta, GA
J. L. Lomax Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for J. L. Lomax Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130531001728
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J. L. Lomax Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia schools.
- #8 of 10
- schools in Valdosta · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.3:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 91.9%
- free-lunch eligible
J. L. Lomax Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J. L. Lomax Elementary School ranks #8 of 10 schools in Valdosta, GA.
School address
District: Valdosta City · Georgia
NCES ID 130531001728 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
47.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.3:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
91.9%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J. L. Lomax Elementary School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at J. L. Lomax Elementary School
J. L. Lomax Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Valdosta, Georgia, enrolling 576 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 91.9% of students eligible for free meals.
With 576 students, its enrollment sits close to the Georgia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 528 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #285.
Its student body is predominantly African American (80% of enrollment) (diversity index 33/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 576 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 26.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Valdosta's public schools, it stands alongside Sallas Mahone Elementary (1,045 students): J. L. Lomax Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.3:1 vs 13.9:1).
Valdosta City also operates Valdosta High School (2,457 students) and Sallas Mahone Elementary (1,045 students) alongside J. L. Lomax Elementary School.
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 J. L. Lomax Elementary School compares
J. L. Lomax Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.3:1 | ▼ 15% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.9% | ▲ 51% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 576 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
576
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
91.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 23% in Georgia - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
28.3%
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
$12,517
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 576 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 20 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.1 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
African American 80.0%
Hispanic or Latino 15.8%
Two or More 2.8%
White 1.4%
Largest group: African American at 80.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 33.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 33.4, J. L. Lomax Elementary School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Valdosta City, which includes J. L. Lomax Elementary School.
$12,517
Per student
-10%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.3%
State 40.5%
Federal 26.2%
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 J. L. Lomax Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sallas Mahone Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Valdosta Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| W.G. Nunn Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| S.L. Mason Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J. L. Lomax Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,457
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 974
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 881
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Valdosta
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sallas Mahone Elementary
Standard public school
1,045 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
W.G. Nunn Elementary
Standard public school
974 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Westside Elementary School
Standard public school
904 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
S.L. Mason Elementary School
Standard public school
881 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Dewar Elementary
Standard public school
821 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Pine Grove Elementary School
Standard public school
756 students 14:1 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 (~576 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J. L. Lomax Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare J. L. Lomax Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Valdosta City'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 J. L. Lomax Elementary School
How many students attend J. L. Lomax Elementary School?
J. L. Lomax Elementary School has 576 students enrolled. It is a public school in Valdosta, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J. L. Lomax Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at J. L. Lomax Elementary School is 12.3:1, which is 15% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 22% 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 J. L. Lomax Elementary School?
91.9% of students at J. L. Lomax Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J. L. Lomax Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at J. L. Lomax Elementary School is African American at 80.0% of enrollment, in Valdosta, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J. L. Lomax Elementary School?
J. L. Lomax Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 J. L. Lomax Elementary School rank among schools in Valdosta?
By Resource Investment Index, J. L. Lomax Elementary School ranks #8 of 10 schools in Valdosta, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Valdosta on the city page.
Is J. L. Lomax Elementary School a good school?
J. L. Lomax Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of 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 Valdosta City?
Besides J. L. Lomax Elementary School, Valdosta City also operates Valdosta High School (2,457 students), Sallas Mahone Elementary (1,045 students), and Valdosta Middle School (1,024 students). See the Valdosta City 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.