- Enrollment
- 2,234
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lithonia, GA
Panola Way Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Panola Way Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130174001998
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Panola Way Elementary School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #10 of 12
- schools in Lithonia · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Panola Way Elementary School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Panola Way Elementary School ranks #10 of 12 schools in Lithonia, GA.
School address
District: Dekalb County · Georgia
NCES ID 130174001998 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-17 students YoY
Panola Way Elementary School held near 636 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.7 → 33.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-17 students YoY 130174001998 · Lithonia, GA Other · MID · TRAD
550 enr · 14.9:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Lakeside High School (2,234 students)
Panola Way Elementary School held near 636 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-17 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.7 → 33.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Panola Way Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lakeside High
Lakeside High School
2,234 students
- Dunwoody High
Dunwoody High School
2,012 students
- Chamblee High
Chamblee High School
1,867 students
- Cross Keys Hig
Cross Keys High School
1,748 students
- Sequoyah Middl
Sequoyah Middle School
1,713 students
- This school 550
Panola Way Elementary School
550 students
What this shows Panola Way Elementary School reports 550 students on the CCD universe file.
How Panola Way Elementary School compares
Panola Way Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.9:1 | ▲ 3% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 65% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 550 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
550
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
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
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 3% above state mean
Top 63% in Georgia - lower ratio than 37% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
52.5%
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
$15,368
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 550 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 63 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 85.6%
Hispanic or Latino 9.5%
Two or More 2.7%
White 0.9%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 85.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 25.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 25.7, Panola Way Elementary School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Dekalb County reports $15,368 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Panola Way Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakeside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dunwoody High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chamblee High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cross Keys High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sequoyah Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Panola Way Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,012
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,867
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 1,748
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,713
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Lithonia
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Flat Rock Elementary School
Standard public school
977 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Stoneview Elementary School
Standard public school
782 students 15:1 students per teacher
Princeton Elementary School
Standard public school
751 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Edward L. Bouie- Sr. Elementary School
Standard public school
599 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
Redan Elementary School
Standard public school
525 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Rock Chapel Elementary School
Standard public school
524 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~550 students)
Frequently asked questions about Panola Way Elementary School
How many students attend Panola Way Elementary School?
Panola Way Elementary School has 550 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lithonia, GA. CCD year-over-year: 653 (2022-23) → 636 (2023-24), nearly flat (-17).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Panola Way Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Panola Way Elementary School is 14.9:1, which is 3% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 5% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Panola Way Elementary School?
100.0% of students at Panola Way Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Panola Way Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Panola Way Elementary School is African American at 85.6% of enrollment, in Lithonia, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Panola Way Elementary School?
Panola Way Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Panola Way Elementary School rank among schools in Lithonia?
By Resource Investment Index, Panola Way Elementary School ranks #10 of 12 schools in Lithonia, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lithonia on the city page.
What other schools are in Dekalb County?
Besides Panola Way Elementary School, Dekalb County also operates Lakeside High School (2,234 students), Dunwoody High School (2,012 students), and Chamblee High School (1,867 students). See the Dekalb County district page for the complete list.