Enrollment
161
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Elberton, GA
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center
Federal NCES profile for Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 24/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130201004085
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 5
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Georgia.
- #5 of 5
- public schools in Elberton · Resource Index
- 24
- Resource Index · Lower
- 16.1:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 84.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center has class sizes larger than 77% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Elberton, GA.
School address
District: Elbert County · Georgia
NCES ID 130201004085 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
10.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.1:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
+12% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
84.8%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+40% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Elberton, Georgia, enrolling 161 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.1:1 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 84.8% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 96% of Georgia schools, with 161 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 98% of the 2,314 Georgia schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 21 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #20, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (42%) and White (37%) (diversity index 67/100).
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 37.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Elbert County also operates Elbert County High School (916 students) and Elbert County Middle School (650 students) alongside Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center.
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 Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center compares
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 16.1:1 | ▲ 12% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 84.8% | ▲ 40% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 161 | top 96% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
161
Bigger than 16% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
84.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 77% in Georgia - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
37.9%
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
$14,087
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $13,863
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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.
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
African American 41.6%
White 37.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.4%
Two or More 8.1%
Asian 0.6%
Largest group: African American at 41.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.6, Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Elbert County, which includes Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center.
$14,087
Per student
+2%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-15%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 29.9%
State 48.5%
Federal 21.6%
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 Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Elbert County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elbert County Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Elbert County Primary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Elbert County Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 650
- Students per teacher
- 10:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 633
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Georgia, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~161 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center's federal record.
- Compare Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center against another school. Compare schools
- Elbert County'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 Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center
How many students attend Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center?
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center has 161 students enrolled. It is a public school in Elberton, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center?
The student-teacher ratio at Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center is 16.1:1, which is 12% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center?
84.8% of students at Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center?
The largest demographic group at Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center is African American at 41.6% of enrollment, in Elberton, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center?
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center has a Resource Investment Index of 24/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center rank among public schools in Elberton?
By Resource Investment Index, Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center ranks #5 of 5 public schools in Elberton, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Elberton on the city page.
Is Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center a good school?
Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center earns 24/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of Georgia schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in Georgia. 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 Elbert County?
Besides Paul J. Blackwell Learning Center, Elbert County also operates Elbert County High School (916 students), Elbert County Middle School (650 students), and Elbert County Primary School (647 students). See the Elbert County 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.