- Enrollment
- 1,847
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Huntsville, AL
James Dawson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James Dawson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010180000650
👥 S:T ratio 6
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 11
📋 Attendance 23
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Dawson Elementary earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 96% of Alabama schools.
- #27 of 29
- schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 23.5:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 81.9%
- free-lunch eligible
James Dawson Elementary has class sizes larger than 96% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Dawson Elementary ranks #27 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Huntsville City · Alabama
NCES ID 010180000650 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
James Dawson Elementary held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.8 → 22.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 010180000650 · Huntsville, AL Other · SMALL · TRAD
447 enr · 23.5:1 · 81.9% lunch · RII 27
Nearest enrollment peer: Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students)
James Dawson Elementary held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.8 → 22.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
James Dawson Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Virgil Grissom
Virgil Grissom High School
1,847 students
- Huntsville Hig
Huntsville High School
1,807 students
- Providence Ele
Providence Elementary
1,152 students
- Goldsmithschif
Goldsmithschiffman Elementary
935 students
- Columbia High
Columbia High School
916 students
- This school 447
James Dawson Elementary
447 students
What this shows James Dawson Elementary reports 447 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Dawson Elementary compares
James Dawson Elementary 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 | 23.5:1 | ▲ 33% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 81.9% | ▲ 39% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 447 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
23.5:1
Leaner classes than 7% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
447
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
81.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
23.5:1
students per teacher
- 33% above state mean
Top 96% in Alabama - lower ratio than 4% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
30.9%
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
$13,146
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 447 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 46 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 69.6%
Hispanic or Latino 17.9%
White 5.8%
Two or More 4.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.9%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 69.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 47.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 47.8, James Dawson Elementary is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Huntsville City reports $13,146 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James Dawson Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Virgil Grissom High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Huntsville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Providence Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Goldsmithschiffman Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbia High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Dawson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar other schools in Huntsville
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Providence Elementary
Standard public school
1,152 students 24.5:1 students per teacher
Mt Carmel Elementary School
Standard public school
638 students 17.2:1 students per teacher
Central School
Standard public school
610 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Monrovia Elementary School
Standard public school
600 students 21.4:1 students per teacher
Blossomwood Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Riverton Elementary School
Standard public school
596 students 19.2:1 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 (~447 students)
Frequently asked questions about James Dawson Elementary
How many students attend James Dawson Elementary?
James Dawson Elementary has 447 students enrolled. It is a public school in Huntsville, AL. CCD year-over-year: 432 (2022-23) → 447 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Dawson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James Dawson Elementary is 23.5:1, which is 33% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 50% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at James Dawson Elementary?
81.9% of students at James Dawson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Dawson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James Dawson Elementary is African American at 69.6% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Dawson Elementary?
James Dawson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower 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 James Dawson Elementary rank among schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, James Dawson Elementary ranks #27 of 29 schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Huntsville on the city page.
What other schools are in Huntsville City?
Besides James Dawson Elementary, Huntsville City also operates Virgil Grissom High School (1,847 students), Huntsville High School (1,807 students), and Providence Elementary (1,152 students). See the Huntsville City district page for the complete list.