- Enrollment
- 1,633
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Waycross, GA
Memorial Drive Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Memorial Drive Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 130543001776
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 31
📋 Attendance 34
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Memorial Drive Elementary School earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Georgia schools.
- #2 of 5
- elementary schools in Waycross · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 10.2:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 93.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Memorial Drive Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 94% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Memorial Drive Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Waycross, GA.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
Memorial Drive Elementary School grew from 353 students in 2022-23 to 372 in 2023-24 (+5.4%).
Teacher FTE held 34.2 → 34.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+19 students YoY 130543001776 · Waycross, GA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
346 enr · 10.2:1 · 93.8% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Ware County High School (1,633 students)
Memorial Drive Elementary School grew from 353 students in 2022-23 to 372 in 2023-24 (+5.4%). Teacher FTE held 34.2 → 34.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Memorial Drive Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ware County Hi
Ware County High School
1,633 students
- Wacona Element
Wacona Elementary School
885 students
- Ware County Mi
Ware County Middle School
752 students
- Waycross Middl 606
Waycross Middle School
606 students
- Center Element 470
Center Elementary School
470 students
- This school 346
Memorial Drive Elementary School
346 students
What this shows Memorial Drive Elementary School reports 346 students on the CCD universe file.
How Memorial Drive Elementary School compares
Memorial Drive Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.2:1 | ▼ 29% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 93.8% | ▲ 55% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 346 | top 86% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
346
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
93.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 29% below state mean
Top 6% in Georgia - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
26.6%
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
$15,387
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $14,615
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 346 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 48.0%
African American 36.1%
Two or More 7.5%
Hispanic or Latino 4.6%
Asian 2.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: White at 48.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.1, Memorial Drive Elementary School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ware County reports $15,387 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Memorial Drive Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ware County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wacona Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ware County Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Waycross Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Center Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Memorial Drive Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 885
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 752
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 470
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar elementary schools in Waycross
4 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Center Elementary School
Standard public school
470 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Williams Heights Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 11.5:1 students per teacher
Waresboro Elementary School
Standard public school
429 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Ruskin Elementary School
Standard public school
363 students 11.7:1 students per teacher
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 (~346 students)
Frequently asked questions about Memorial Drive Elementary School
How many students attend Memorial Drive Elementary School?
Memorial Drive Elementary School has 346 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Waycross, GA. CCD year-over-year: 353 (2022-23) → 372 (2023-24), up 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Memorial Drive Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Memorial Drive Elementary School is 10.2:1, which is 29% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 35% 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 Memorial Drive Elementary School?
93.8% of students at Memorial Drive Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Memorial Drive Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Memorial Drive Elementary School is White at 48.0% of enrollment, in Waycross, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Memorial Drive Elementary School?
Memorial Drive Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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 Memorial Drive Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Waycross?
By Resource Investment Index, Memorial Drive Elementary School ranks #2 of 5 elementary schools in Waycross, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Waycross on the city page.
What other schools are in Ware County?
Besides Memorial Drive Elementary School, Ware County also operates Ware County High School (1,633 students), Wacona Elementary School (885 students), and Ware County Middle School (752 students). See the Ware County district page for the complete list.