- Enrollment
- 2,416
- Students per teacher
- 30.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Gainesville, FL
Stephen Foster Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Stephen Foster Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 120003000003
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 11
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Stephen Foster Elementary School earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 78% of Florida schools.
- #8 of 9
- elementary schools in Gainesville · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.9:1
- small classes for Florida
- 59.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Stephen Foster Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 78% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Stephen Foster Elementary School ranks #8 of 9 elementary schools in Gainesville, FL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-72 students YoY
Stephen Foster Elementary School shrank from 458 students in 2022-23 to 386 in 2023-24 (-15.7%).
Teacher FTE added 29.3 → 30.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-72 students YoY 120003000003 · Gainesville, FL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
403 enr · 13.9:1 · 59.8% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: F. W. Buchholz High School (2,416 students)
Stephen Foster Elementary School shrank from 458 students in 2022-23 to 386 in 2023-24 (-15.7%). Teacher FTE added 29.3 → 30.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Florida schools → · Find another →
Stephen Foster Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- F. W. Buchholz
F. W. Buchholz High School
2,416 students
- Gainesville Hi
Gainesville High School
1,825 students
- Eastside High
Eastside High School
1,291 students
- Santa Fe High
Santa Fe High School
1,132 students
- Kanapaha Middl
Kanapaha Middle School
1,014 students
- This school 403
Stephen Foster Elementary School
403 students
What this shows Stephen Foster Elementary School reports 403 students on the CCD universe file.
How Stephen Foster Elementary School compares
Stephen Foster Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 13.9:1 | ▼ 22% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 59.8% | ▲ 15% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 403 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.9:1
Leaner classes than 58% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
403
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
59.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 15% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.9:1
students per teacher
- 22% below state mean
Top 22% in Florida - lower ratio than 78% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
35.7%
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
$11,075
per pupil, district-wide
- below Florida avg of $12,081
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 403 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 46.4%
White 22.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 8.4%
Asian 6.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 46.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.7, Stephen Foster Elementary School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Alachua reports $11,075 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Stephen Foster Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| F. W. Buchholz High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gainesville High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastside High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Santa Fe High School | Larger | Lower economic need | No ratio data |
| Kanapaha Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Stephen Foster Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,825
- Students per teacher
- 29:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 1,291
- Students per teacher
- 30.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 1,132
- Students per teacher
- -
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,014
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
Nationwide elementary 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 (~403 students)
Frequently asked questions about Stephen Foster Elementary School
How many students attend Stephen Foster Elementary School?
Stephen Foster Elementary School has 403 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Gainesville, FL. CCD year-over-year: 458 (2022-23) → 386 (2023-24), down 72.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Stephen Foster Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Stephen Foster Elementary School is 13.9:1, which is 22% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 11% 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 Stephen Foster Elementary School?
59.8% of students at Stephen Foster Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Stephen Foster Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Stephen Foster Elementary School is African American at 46.4% of enrollment, in Gainesville, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Stephen Foster Elementary School?
Stephen Foster Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (typical 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 Stephen Foster Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Gainesville?
By Resource Investment Index, Stephen Foster Elementary School ranks #8 of 9 elementary schools in Gainesville, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Gainesville on the city page.
What other schools are in Alachua?
Besides Stephen Foster Elementary School, Alachua also operates F. W. Buchholz High School (2,416 students), Gainesville High School (1,825 students), and Eastside High School (1,291 students). See the Alachua district page for the complete list.