Enrollment
705
Georgia · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Powder Springs, GA
Varner Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Varner Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130129002107
👥 S:T ratio 54
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 45
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Varner Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% of Georgia schools.
- #2 of 8
- schools in Powder Springs · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 11.6:1
- small classes for Georgia
- 43.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Varner Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 85% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Varner Elementary School ranks #2 of 8 schools in Powder Springs, GA.
School address
District: Cobb County · Georgia
NCES ID 130129002107 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
61.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.6:1
vs 14.4:1 Georgia avg
-19% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
43.3%
vs 60.7% Georgia avg
-29% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Varner Elementary School compares with Georgia and U.S. medians
What stands out at Varner Elementary School
Varner Elementary School is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Powder Springs, Georgia, enrolling 705 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.6:1, Varner Elementary School is leaner than roughly 85% of Georgia schools and 19% under the state's 14.4:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 43.3% of students eligible for free meals.
With 705 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 437 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need Georgia schools statewide, it ranks #45, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (52%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%) (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 353 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 22.0% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Powder Springs's public schools, it stands alongside Kemp Elementary School (894 students): Varner Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.6:1 vs 14.7:1).
Cobb County also operates Campbell High School (3,085 students) and Osborne High School (2,790 students) alongside Varner 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 Varner Elementary School compares
Varner 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 | 11.6:1 | ▼ 19% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 43.3% | ▼ 29% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 705 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.6:1
Leaner classes than 79% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
705
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
43.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
11.6:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 15% in Georgia - lower ratio than 85% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
22.0%
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
$13,203
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 353 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
11
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 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 52.2%
Hispanic or Latino 22.3%
White 13.2%
Two or More 9.4%
Asian 2.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 52.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Varner Elementary School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cobb County, which includes Varner Elementary School.
$13,203
Per student
-5%
vs Georgia
Avg $13,863
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 52.6%
State 35.4%
Federal 11.9%
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 Varner Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Campbell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Osborne High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pebblebrook High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Cobb High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Varner Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 3,085
- Students per teacher
- 18.8:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 2,790
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 2,705
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,574
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 2,463
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Powder Springs
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Kemp Elementary School
Standard public school
894 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Powder Springs Elementary School
Standard public school
805 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Still Elementary School
Standard public school
755 students 12.4:1 students per teacher
Vaughan Elementary School
Standard public school
600 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Compton Elementary School
Standard public school
593 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
Bessie L. Baggett Elementary
Standard public school
549 students 11.9:1 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 (~705 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Varner Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare Varner Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Cobb 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 Varner Elementary School
How many students attend Varner Elementary School?
Varner Elementary School has 705 students enrolled. It is a public school in Powder Springs, GA.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Varner Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Varner Elementary School is 11.6:1, which is 19% lower than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 26% 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 Varner Elementary School?
43.3% of students at Varner Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Varner Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Varner Elementary School is African American at 52.2% of enrollment, in Powder Springs, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Varner Elementary School?
Varner Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 Varner Elementary School rank among schools in Powder Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, Varner Elementary School ranks #2 of 8 schools in Powder Springs, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Powder Springs on the city page.
Is Varner Elementary School a good school?
Varner Elementary School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 85% 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 Cobb County?
Besides Varner Elementary School, Cobb County also operates Campbell High School (3,085 students), Osborne High School (2,790 students), and Walton High School (2,705 students). See the Cobb 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.