Enrollment
881
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Valdosta, GA
S.L. Mason Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for S.L. Mason Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130531003812
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
S.L. Mason Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median.
- #7 of 10
- schools in Valdosta · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 92.3%
- free-lunch eligible
S.L. Mason Elementary School has class sizes near the Georgia median. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, S.L. Mason Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 schools in Valdosta, GA.
School address
District: Valdosta City · Georgia
NCES ID 130531003812 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
64.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.8:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
92.3%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
+52% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How S.L. Mason Elementary School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at S.L. Mason Elementary School
S.L. Mason Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Valdosta, Georgia, enrolling 881 students.
At 13.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Georgia median, within a few percentage points of the 14.4:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 92.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 881 puts it in the larger third of Georgia schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Against 399 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #169.
Its student body is led by African American (68%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%) (diversity index 51/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 441 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 26.2% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Valdosta's public schools, it stands alongside Sallas Mahone Elementary (1,045 students): S.L. Mason Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.8:1 vs 13.9:1).
Valdosta City also operates Valdosta High School (2,457 students) and Sallas Mahone Elementary (1,045 students) alongside S.L. Mason 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 S.L. Mason Elementary School compares
S.L. Mason Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.8:1 | ▼ 4% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 92.3% | ▲ 52% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 881 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
881
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
92.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 52% 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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 45% in Georgia - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
28.3%
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
$12,517
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 441 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
56
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.0 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 67.8%
Hispanic or Latino 13.4%
White 11.0%
Two or More 5.8%
Asian 1.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 67.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 50.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 50.7, S.L. Mason Elementary School is about as mixed as the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Valdosta City, which includes S.L. Mason Elementary School.
$12,517
Per student
-10%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 33.3%
State 40.5%
Federal 26.2%
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 S.L. Mason Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Valdosta High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sallas Mahone Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Valdosta Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| W.G. Nunn Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Newbern Middle School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to S.L. Mason Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,457
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
- Enrollment
- 1,045
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 974
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 725
- Students per teacher
- 12.3:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Similar other schools in Valdosta
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Sallas Mahone Elementary
Standard public school
1,045 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
W.G. Nunn Elementary
Standard public school
974 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Westside Elementary School
Standard public school
904 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Dewar Elementary
Standard public school
821 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Pine Grove Elementary School
Standard public school
756 students 14:1 students per teacher
Clyattville Elementary School
Standard public school
614 students 11.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~881 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on S.L. Mason Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare S.L. Mason Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Valdosta 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 S.L. Mason Elementary School
How many students attend S.L. Mason Elementary School?
S.L. Mason Elementary School has 881 students enrolled. It is a public school in Valdosta, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at S.L. Mason Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at S.L. Mason Elementary School is 13.8:1, which is 4% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 12% 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 S.L. Mason Elementary School?
92.3% of students at S.L. Mason Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of S.L. Mason Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at S.L. Mason Elementary School is African American at 67.8% of enrollment, in Valdosta, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 50.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for S.L. Mason Elementary School?
S.L. Mason Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (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 S.L. Mason Elementary School rank among schools in Valdosta?
By Resource Investment Index, S.L. Mason Elementary School ranks #7 of 10 schools in Valdosta, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Valdosta on the city page.
Is S.L. Mason Elementary School a good school?
S.L. Mason Elementary School earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Georgia median. 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 Valdosta City?
Besides S.L. Mason Elementary School, Valdosta City also operates Valdosta High School (2,457 students), Sallas Mahone Elementary (1,045 students), and Valdosta Middle School (1,024 students). See the Valdosta 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.