- Enrollment
- 439
- Students per teacher
- 7.4:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · West Helena, AR
J.F. Wahl Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for J.F. Wahl Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 050768001637
👥 S:T ratio 35
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J.F. Wahl Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Arkansas schools.
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.3:1
- large classes for Arkansas
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
- 539
- students enrolled
J.F. Wahl Elementary School has class sizes larger than 74% of Arkansas schools. Computed live against every Arkansas school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Helena/ W.Helena School Dist. · Arkansas
NCES ID 050768001637 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
J.F. Wahl Elementary School held near 541 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 33.9 → 36.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+22 students YoY 050768001637 · West Helena, AR Other · MID · TRAD
539 enr · 16.3:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Central High School (439 students)
J.F. Wahl Elementary School held near 541 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+22 headcount). Teacher FTE added 33.9 → 36.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Arkansas schools → · Find another →
How J.F. Wahl Elementary School compares
J.F. Wahl Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Arkansas and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Arkansas | Arkansas avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.3:1 | ▲ 20% | 13.6:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 69% | 59.2% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 539 | top 27% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.3:1
Leaner classes than 36% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
539
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 69% above the Arkansas average of 59.2%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
16.3:1
students per teacher
- 20% above state mean
Top 74% in Arkansas - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
21.5%
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
$14,610
per pupil, district-wide
- above Arkansas avg of $12,818
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 270 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
51
in-school suspensions + 169 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 40.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 90.9%
White 5.0%
Two or More 1.5%
Asian 1.3%
Hispanic or Latino 1.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 90.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 17.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 17.1, J.F. Wahl Elementary School is less mixed than the Arkansas school average of 40.4.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Helena/ W.Helena School Dist. reports $14,610 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How J.F. Wahl Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Central High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J.F. Wahl Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
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 (~539 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about J.F. Wahl Elementary School
How many students attend J.F. Wahl Elementary School?
J.F. Wahl Elementary School has 539 students enrolled. It is a public school in West Helena, AR. CCD year-over-year: 519 (2022-23) → 541 (2023-24), nearly flat (+22).
What is the student-teacher ratio at J.F. Wahl Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at J.F. Wahl Elementary School is 16.3:1, which is 20% higher than the Arkansas average of 13.6:1 and 4% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at J.F. Wahl Elementary School?
100.0% of students at J.F. Wahl Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Arkansas average of 59.2%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J.F. Wahl Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at J.F. Wahl Elementary School is African American at 90.9% of enrollment, in West Helena, AR.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J.F. Wahl Elementary School?
J.F. Wahl Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Helena/ W.Helena School Dist.?
Besides J.F. Wahl Elementary School, Helena/ W.Helena School Dist. also operates Central High School (439 students). See the Helena/ W.Helena School Dist. district page for the complete list.