- Enrollment
- 1,127
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Defuniak Springs, FL
Maude Saunders Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Maude Saunders Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 120198002026
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 8
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Maude Saunders Elementary School earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 81% of Florida schools.
- #5 of 11
- public schools in Defuniak Springs · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.5:1
- small classes for Florida
- 83.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Maude Saunders Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 81% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Maude Saunders Elementary School ranks #5 of 11 public schools in Defuniak Springs, FL.
School address
NCES ID 120198002026 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
Maude Saunders Elementary School held near 561 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 39.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 120198002026 · Defuniak Springs, FL Elementary · MID · TRAD
554 enr · 13.5:1 · 83.4% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: South Walton High School (1,127 students)
Maude Saunders Elementary School held near 561 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 41.0 → 39.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Maude Saunders Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- South Walton H
South Walton High School
1,127 students
- Freeport Eleme
Freeport Elementary School
1,120 students
- Walton High Sc
Walton High School
969 students
- Dune Lakes Ele
Dune Lakes Elementary School
924 students
- Van R. Butler
Van R. Butler Elementary School
914 students
- This school
Maude Saunders Elementary School
554 students
What this shows Maude Saunders Elementary School reports 554 students on the CCD universe file.
How Maude Saunders Elementary School compares
Maude Saunders Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.5:1 | ▼ 24% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 83.4% | ▲ 60% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 554 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
554
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
83.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 60% above the Florida average of 52.0%
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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 24% below state mean
Top 19% in Florida - lower ratio than 81% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
36.8%
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
$13,721
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $12,081
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 554 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
35
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 55.2%
Hispanic or Latino 21.1%
African American 13.2%
Two or More 9.0%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 55.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.5, Maude Saunders Elementary School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Walton reports $13,721 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Maude Saunders Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Walton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freeport Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dune Lakes Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Van R. Butler Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Maude Saunders Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,120
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 969
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 924
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 914
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~554 students)
Frequently asked questions about Maude Saunders Elementary School
How many students attend Maude Saunders Elementary School?
Maude Saunders Elementary School has 554 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Defuniak Springs, FL. CCD year-over-year: 553 (2022-23) → 561 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Maude Saunders Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Maude Saunders Elementary School is 13.5:1, which is 24% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 14% lower 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 Maude Saunders Elementary School?
83.4% of students at Maude Saunders Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Maude Saunders Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Maude Saunders Elementary School is White at 55.2% of enrollment, in Defuniak Springs, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Maude Saunders Elementary School?
Maude Saunders Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (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 Maude Saunders Elementary School rank among public schools in Defuniak Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Maude Saunders Elementary School ranks #5 of 11 public schools in Defuniak Springs, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Defuniak Springs on the city page.
What other schools are in Walton?
Besides Maude Saunders Elementary School, Walton also operates South Walton High School (1,127 students), Freeport Elementary School (1,120 students), and Walton High School (969 students). See the Walton district page for the complete list.