Enrollment
305
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Selma, AL
Sophia P Kingston Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Sophia P Kingston Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010297000152
👥 S:T ratio 0
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 60
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sophia P Kingston Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Alabama schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #2 of 6
- schools in Selma · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 25.4:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 63.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Sophia P Kingston Elementary School has class sizes larger than 98% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sophia P Kingston Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Selma, AL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
12.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
25.4:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+44% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
63.1%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sophia P Kingston Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sophia P Kingston Elementary School
Sophia P Kingston Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Selma, Alabama, enrolling 305 students.
Class loads run heavy: 25.4:1 is larger than about 98% of Alabama schools and 44% above the 17.7:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 63.1% lands close to the Alabama typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 305 puts it in the smaller third of Alabama schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 285 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #150.
Its student body is predominantly African American (96% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 8/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 305 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
16.1% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 29.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Selma's public schools, it stands alongside Brantley Elementary School (204 students): Sophia P Kingston Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (25.4:1 vs 25.5:1).
Selma City also operates Selma High School (680 students) and Edgewood Elementary School (402 students) alongside Sophia P Kingston 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 Sophia P Kingston Elementary School compares
Sophia P Kingston 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 | 25.4:1 | ▲ 44% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.1% | ▲ 7% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 305 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
25.4:1
Leaner classes than 5% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
305
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
63.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
25.4:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 98% in Alabama - lower ratio than 2% of state schools
Well above 20:1, one of the more stretched staffing loads nationally relative to enrollment.
Engagement
16.1%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$14,289
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $12,491
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 305 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
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 95.7%
Two or More 3.0%
White 0.7%
Hispanic or Latino 0.7%
Largest group: African American at 95.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 8.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 8.3, Sophia P Kingston Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Selma City, which includes Sophia P Kingston Elementary School.
$14,289
Per student
+14%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-14%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 17.5%
State 53.2%
Federal 29.3%
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 Sophia P Kingston Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Selma High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Edgewood Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Meadowview Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| The Rbhudson Steam Academy | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| School of Discovery Genesis Center | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sophia P Kingston Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 680
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 402
- Students per teacher
- 20.1:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 334
- Students per teacher
- 23.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 279
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 172
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar other schools in Selma
5 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Brantley Elementary School
Standard public school
204 students 25.5:1 students per teacher
Payne Elementary School
Standard public school
164 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Southside Primary School
Standard public school
147 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Clark Elementary School
Standard public school
113 students 10.3:1 students per teacher
Saints Virtual Academy
Standard public school
24 students 4:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~305 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sophia P Kingston Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Sophia P Kingston Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Selma 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 Sophia P Kingston Elementary School
How many students attend Sophia P Kingston Elementary School?
Sophia P Kingston Elementary School has 305 students enrolled. It is a public school in Selma, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sophia P Kingston Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Sophia P Kingston Elementary School is 25.4:1, which is 44% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 62% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sophia P Kingston Elementary School?
63.1% of students at Sophia P Kingston Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sophia P Kingston Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Sophia P Kingston Elementary School is African American at 95.7% of enrollment, in Selma, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sophia P Kingston Elementary School?
Sophia P Kingston Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Sophia P Kingston Elementary School rank among schools in Selma?
By Resource Investment Index, Sophia P Kingston Elementary School ranks #2 of 6 schools in Selma, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Selma on the city page.
Is Sophia P Kingston Elementary School a good school?
Sophia P Kingston Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 98% of Alabama schools. It is also less 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 Selma City?
Besides Sophia P Kingston Elementary School, Selma City also operates Selma High School (680 students), Edgewood Elementary School (402 students), and Meadowview Elementary School (334 students). See the Selma 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.