Enrollment
715
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Athens, GA
South Jackson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for South Jackson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 52/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130294001251
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 28
📋 Attendance 57
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Jackson Elementary School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia schools.
- #1 of 13
- schools in Athens · Resource Index
- 52
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.3:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 51.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Jackson Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Jackson Elementary School ranks #1 of 13 schools in Athens, GA.
School address
District: Jackson County · Georgia
NCES ID 130294001251 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
58.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.3:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
51.6%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-15% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Jackson Elementary School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Jackson Elementary School
South Jackson Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Athens, Georgia, enrolling 715 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of Georgia schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 51.6% lands close to the Georgia typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 715 students, its enrollment sits close to the Georgia median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,314 scored Georgia schools.
Among 443 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #25, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (67%) and Hispanic or Latino (19%) (diversity index 51/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 358 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
17.2% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Athens's public schools, it stands alongside Whitehead Road Elementary School (632 students): South Jackson Elementary School is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (12.3:1 vs 8.7:1).
Jackson County also operates Jackson County High School (2,222 students) and East Jackson Comprehensive High School (1,395 students) alongside South Jackson 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 South Jackson Elementary School compares
South Jackson 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 | 12.3:1 | ▼ 15% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.6% | ▼ 15% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 715 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.3:1
Leaner classes than 73% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
715
Bigger than 81% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
51.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% below the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.3:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 23% in Georgia - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
17.2%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$13,475
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $13,863
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 358 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.0 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
White 66.6%
Hispanic or Latino 19.0%
African American 7.7%
Two or More 5.6%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 66.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.1, South Jackson 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 Jackson County, which includes South Jackson Elementary School.
$13,475
Per student
-3%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 51.1%
State 39.1%
Federal 9.8%
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 South Jackson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jackson County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Jackson Comprehensive High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Jackson Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Jackson Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gum Springs Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Jackson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,222
- Students per teacher
- 23.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,395
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,082
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 951
- Students per teacher
- 9.7:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 939
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar other schools in Athens
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Whitehead Road Elementary School
Standard public school
632 students 8.7:1 students per teacher
Gaines Elementary School
Standard public school
568 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Timothy Elementary School
Standard public school
565 students 10.5:1 students per teacher
Oglethorpe Avenue Elementary School
Standard public school
563 students 10.1:1 students per teacher
Chase Street Elementary School
Standard public school
492 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Barnett Shoals Elementary School
Standard public school
490 students 10.7:1 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 (~715 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Jackson Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare South Jackson Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Jackson 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 South Jackson Elementary School
How many students attend South Jackson Elementary School?
South Jackson Elementary School has 715 students enrolled. It is a public school in Athens, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Jackson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at South Jackson Elementary School is 12.3:1, which is 15% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 22% 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 South Jackson Elementary School?
51.6% of students at South Jackson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Jackson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at South Jackson Elementary School is White at 66.6% of enrollment, in Athens, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Jackson Elementary School?
South Jackson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 52/100 (higher 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 South Jackson Elementary School rank among schools in Athens?
By Resource Investment Index, South Jackson Elementary School ranks #1 of 13 schools in Athens, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Athens on the city page.
Is South Jackson Elementary School a good school?
South Jackson Elementary School earns 52/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of Georgia 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 Jackson County?
Besides South Jackson Elementary School, Jackson County also operates Jackson County High School (2,222 students), East Jackson Comprehensive High School (1,395 students), and West Jackson Elementary School (1,082 students). See the Jackson 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.