- Enrollment
- 1,453
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Dalton, GA
Varnell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Varnell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 57/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 130570001831
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 78
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Varnell Elementary School earns 57/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 74% of Georgia schools.
- #2 of 28
- public schools in Dalton · Resource Index
- 57
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.5:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 49.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Varnell Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 74% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Varnell Elementary School ranks #2 of 28 public schools in Dalton, GA.
School address
District: Whitfield County · Georgia
NCES ID 130570001831 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Varnell Elementary School held near 389 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.3 → 28.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 130570001831 · Dalton, GA Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
350 enr · 12.5:1 · 49.5% lunch · RII 57
Nearest enrollment peer: Southeast Whitfield County High School (1,453 students)
Varnell Elementary School held near 389 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.3 → 28.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Varnell Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Southeast Whit
Southeast Whitfield County High School
1,453 students
- Northwest Whit
Northwest Whitfield County High School
1,098 students
- Coahulla Creek
Coahulla Creek High School
1,041 students
- North Whitfiel
North Whitfield Middle School
731 students
- Eastbrook Midd
Eastbrook Middle School
624 students
- This school 350
Varnell Elementary School
350 students
What this shows Varnell Elementary School reports 350 students on the CCD universe file.
How Varnell Elementary School compares
Varnell Elementary School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Georgia and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Georgia | Georgia avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.5:1 | ▼ 13% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.5% | ▼ 18% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 350 | top 86% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
350
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% 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
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 26% in Georgia - lower ratio than 74% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
8.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$13,284
per pupil, district-wide
- below Georgia avg of $14,615
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 350 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 59.4%
Hispanic or Latino 32.6%
African American 2.9%
Asian 2.3%
Two or More 2.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Largest group: White at 59.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.9, Varnell Elementary School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Whitfield County reports $13,284 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Varnell Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southeast Whitfield County High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northwest Whitfield County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Coahulla Creek High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Whitfield Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Eastbrook Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Varnell Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,098
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,041
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 731
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 624
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar elementary schools in Dalton
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~350 students)
Frequently asked questions about Varnell Elementary School
How many students attend Varnell Elementary School?
Varnell Elementary School has 350 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Dalton, GA. CCD year-over-year: 374 (2022-23) → 389 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Varnell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Varnell Elementary School is 12.5:1, which is 13% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 20% 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 Varnell Elementary School?
49.5% of students at Varnell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Varnell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Varnell Elementary School is White at 59.4% of enrollment, in Dalton, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Varnell Elementary School?
Varnell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 57/100 (higher 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 Varnell Elementary School rank among public schools in Dalton?
By Resource Investment Index, Varnell Elementary School ranks #2 of 28 public schools in Dalton, 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 Dalton on the city page.
What other schools are in Whitfield County?
Besides Varnell Elementary School, Whitfield County also operates Southeast Whitfield County High School (1,453 students), Northwest Whitfield County High School (1,098 students), and Coahulla Creek High School (1,041 students). See the Whitfield County district page for the complete list.