- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Decatur, AL
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010117000431
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 82
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #2 of 3
- elementary schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.6:1
- students per teacher
- 49.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Decatur, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-13 students YoY
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School held near 290 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 16.1 → 16.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-13 students YoY 010117000431 · Decatur, AL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
297 enr · 18.6:1 · 49.5% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Austin High School (999 students)
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School held near 290 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-13 headcount). Teacher FTE held 16.1 → 16.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Austin High Sc
Austin High School
999 students
- Decatur High S
Decatur High School
915 students
- Decatur Middle
Decatur Middle School
818 students
- Austin Middle
Austin Middle School
727 students
- Austin Junior
Austin Junior High School
664 students
- This school 297
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School
297 students
What this shows Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School reports 297 students on the CCD universe file.
How Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School compares
Leon Sheffield Magnet 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 5% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.5% | ▼ 16% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 297 | top 81% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
297
Bigger than 32% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 16% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 5% above state mean
Top 68% in Alabama - lower ratio than 32% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
7.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$14,832
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 297 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 48.5%
African American 28.6%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 48.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.2, Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Decatur City reports $14,832 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Decatur Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Austin Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Austin Junior High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 915
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 664
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Decatur
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 (~297 students)
Frequently asked questions about Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School
How many students attend Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School?
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School has 297 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Decatur, AL. CCD year-over-year: 303 (2022-23) → 290 (2023-24), nearly flat (-13).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School is 18.6:1, which is 5% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School?
49.5% of students at Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School is White at 48.5% of enrollment, in Decatur, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School?
Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (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).
How does Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School ranks #2 of 3 elementary schools in Decatur, 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 Decatur on the city page.
What other schools are in Decatur City?
Besides Leon Sheffield Magnet Elementary School, Decatur City also operates Austin High School (999 students), Decatur High School (915 students), and Decatur Middle School (818 students). See the Decatur City district page for the complete list.