Enrollment
436
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Alexander City, AL
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010003000005
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 13
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #3 of 5
- public schools in Alexander City · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.8:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 53.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School has class sizes larger than 82% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Alexander City, AL.
School address
District: Alexander City · Alabama
NCES ID 010003000005 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
19.8:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
53.3%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
-9% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Alexander City, Alabama, enrolling 436 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 19.8:1 puts it in the larger third of Alabama schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 53.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 436 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 435 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #133.
Its student body is led by White (43%) and African American (41%), more mixed than most schools in the state (diversity index 63/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 436 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
12.4% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 21.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 114 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 436 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Alexander City's elementary schools, it stands alongside William L Radney Elementary School (414 students): Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (19.8:1 vs 17.3:1).
Alexander City also operates Benjamin Russell High School (852 students) and Jim Pearson Elementary School (704 students) alongside Nathaniel H Stephens 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 Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School compares
Nathaniel H Stephens 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 | 19.8:1 | ▲ 12% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.3% | ▼ 9% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 436 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.8:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
436
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
53.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% 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
19.8:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 82% in Alabama - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
12.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,566
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 436 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
84
in-school suspensions + 30 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 19.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 26.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
White 42.7%
African American 41.1%
Hispanic or Latino 10.8%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 42.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.4, Nathaniel H Stephens 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 Alexander City, which includes Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School.
$12,566
Per student
+1%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.6%
State 50.2%
Federal 21.2%
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 Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Benjamin Russell High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jim Pearson Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Alexander City Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| William L Radney Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 852
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 704
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 430
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 414
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Alexander City
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~436 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Alexander 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 Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School
How many students attend Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School?
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School has 436 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Alexander City, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School is 19.8:1, which is 12% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 26% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School?
53.3% of students at Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School is White at 42.7% of enrollment, in Alexander City, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School?
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School rank among public schools in Alexander City?
By Resource Investment Index, Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School ranks #3 of 5 public schools in Alexander City, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Alexander City on the city page.
Is Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School a good school?
Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% 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 Alexander City?
Besides Nathaniel H Stephens Elementary School, Alexander City also operates Benjamin Russell High School (852 students), Jim Pearson Elementary School (704 students), and Alexander City Middle School (430 students). See the Alexander 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.