- Enrollment
- 1,278
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Athens, AL
James L Cowart Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for James L Cowart Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 47/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010012001474
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 56
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James L Cowart Elementary School earns 47/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Athens · Resource Index
- 47
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.5:1
- students per teacher
- 61.4%
- free-lunch eligible
James L Cowart Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James L Cowart Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Athens, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-1 students YoY
James L Cowart Elementary School held near 331 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-1 students YoY 010012001474 · Athens, AL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
332 enr · 17.5:1 · 61.4% lunch · RII 47
Nearest enrollment peer: Athens High School (1,278 students)
James L Cowart Elementary School held near 331 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 19.0 → 19.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
James L Cowart Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Athens High Sc
Athens High School
1,278 students
- Athens Middle
Athens Middle School
935 students
- Athens Interme
Athens Intermediate School
641 students
- Athens Renaiss
Athens Renaissance School
606 students
- Athens Element 474
Athens Elementary School
474 students
- This school 332
James L Cowart Elementary School
332 students
What this shows James L Cowart Elementary School reports 332 students on the CCD universe file.
How James L Cowart Elementary School compares
James L Cowart 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 | 17.5:1 | ▼ 1% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 61.4% | ▲ 4% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 332 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
332
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
61.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% 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
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 52% in Alabama - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
17.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,561
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 332 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 36.4%
African American 28.3%
Hispanic or Latino 27.4%
Two or More 7.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 36.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.7, James L Cowart Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Athens City reports $11,561 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James L Cowart Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Athens High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Athens Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Athens Intermediate School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Athens Renaissance School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Athens Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James L Cowart Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 641
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 24.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 474
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Athens
2 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 (~332 students)
Frequently asked questions about James L Cowart Elementary School
How many students attend James L Cowart Elementary School?
James L Cowart Elementary School has 332 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Athens, AL. CCD year-over-year: 332 (2022-23) → 331 (2023-24), nearly flat (-1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James L Cowart Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at James L Cowart Elementary School is 17.5:1, which is 1% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 11% 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 James L Cowart Elementary School?
61.4% of students at James L Cowart Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James L Cowart Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at James L Cowart Elementary School is White at 36.4% of enrollment, in Athens, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James L Cowart Elementary School?
James L Cowart Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 47/100 (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 James L Cowart Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Athens?
By Resource Investment Index, James L Cowart Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Athens, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Athens on the city page.
What other schools are in Athens City?
Besides James L Cowart Elementary School, Athens City also operates Athens High School (1,278 students), Athens Middle School (935 students), and Athens Intermediate School (641 students). See the Athens City district page for the complete list.