Enrollment
516
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Dothan, AL
Kelly Springs Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Kelly Springs Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010123001817
👥 S:T ratio 24
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Kelly Springs Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #4 of 11
- elementary schools in Dothan · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.1:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 72.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Kelly Springs Elementary School has class sizes larger than 74% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Kelly Springs Elementary School ranks #4 of 11 elementary schools in Dothan, AL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.1:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
72.2%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+23% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Kelly Springs Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Kelly Springs Elementary School
Kelly Springs Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Dothan, Alabama, enrolling 516 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.1:1 puts it in the larger third of Alabama schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 72.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 516 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 390 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #155.
Its student body is led by African American (55%) and White (21%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 516 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
16.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 25.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Dothan's elementary schools, it stands alongside Highlands Elementary School (501 students): Kelly Springs Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.1:1 vs 17.9:1).
Dothan City also operates Dothan High School (1,588 students) and Dothan Preparatory Academy (1,034 students) alongside Kelly Springs 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 Kelly Springs Elementary School compares
Kelly Springs Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.1:1 | ▲ 8% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 72.2% | ▲ 23% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 516 | top 42% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.1:1
Leaner classes than 19% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
516
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
72.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
19.1:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 74% in Alabama - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,004
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $12,491
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 516 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
49
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 13.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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 54.5%
White 20.9%
Hispanic or Latino 15.7%
Two or More 5.8%
Asian 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 54.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.0, Kelly Springs Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Dothan City, which includes Kelly Springs Elementary School.
$12,004
Per student
-4%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.5%
State 53.0%
Federal 25.5%
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 Kelly Springs Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dothan High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Dothan Preparatory Academy | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Carver 9th Grade Academy | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Highlands Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hidden Lake Primary School | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Kelly Springs Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,588
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 1,034
- Students per teacher
- 17.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 583
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 17/100
- Enrollment
- 501
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 476
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
Similar elementary schools in Dothan
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Highlands Elementary School
Standard public school
501 students 17.9:1 students per teacher
Hidden Lake Primary School
Standard public school
476 students 19:1 students per teacher
Girard Intermediate School
Standard public school
449 students 29.9:1 students per teacher
Carver School of Mathematics Science and Technology
Standard public school
429 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Selma Street Elementary School
Standard public school
421 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Heard Elementary School
Standard public school
389 students 20.5:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~516 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Kelly Springs Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Kelly Springs Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Dothan 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 Kelly Springs Elementary School
How many students attend Kelly Springs Elementary School?
Kelly Springs Elementary School has 516 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Dothan, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Kelly Springs Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Kelly Springs Elementary School is 19.1:1, which is 8% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 22% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Kelly Springs Elementary School?
72.2% of students at Kelly Springs Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Kelly Springs Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Kelly Springs Elementary School is African American at 54.5% of enrollment, in Dothan, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Kelly Springs Elementary School?
Kelly Springs 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 Kelly Springs Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Dothan?
By Resource Investment Index, Kelly Springs Elementary School ranks #4 of 11 elementary schools in Dothan, 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 Dothan on the city page.
Is Kelly Springs Elementary School a good school?
Kelly Springs Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama 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 Dothan City?
Besides Kelly Springs Elementary School, Dothan City also operates Dothan High School (1,588 students), Dothan Preparatory Academy (1,034 students), and Carver 9th Grade Academy (583 students). See the Dothan 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.