- Enrollment
- 1,807
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Huntsville, AL
Virgil Grissom High School
Federal NCES profile for Virgil Grissom High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 010180000629
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Virgil Grissom High School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 79% of Alabama schools. It is also one of the largest schools in Alabama.
- #5 of 6
- high schools in Huntsville · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.6:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 41.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Virgil Grissom High School has class sizes larger than 79% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Virgil Grissom High School ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Huntsville, AL.
School address
District: Huntsville City · Alabama
NCES ID 010180000629 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-89 students YoY
Virgil Grissom High School held near 1,885 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-89 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 94.0 → 101.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-89 students YoY 010180000629 · Huntsville, AL High · MID · TRAD
1,847 enr · 19.6:1 · 41.3% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Huntsville High School (1,807 students)
Virgil Grissom High School held near 1,885 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-89 headcount). Teacher FTE added 94.0 → 101.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Virgil Grissom High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
Virgil Grissom High School
1,847 students
- Huntsville Hig
Huntsville High School
1,807 students
- Providence Ele
Providence Elementary
1,152 students
- Goldsmithschif
Goldsmithschiffman Elementary
935 students
- Columbia High
Columbia High School
916 students
- Lee High Schoo
Lee High School
877 students
What this shows Virgil Grissom High School reports 1,847 students on the CCD universe file.
How Virgil Grissom High School compares
Virgil Grissom High School held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.6:1 | ▲ 11% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.3% | ▼ 30% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,847 | top 1% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.6:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,847
Bigger than 98% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 30% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 79% in Alabama - lower ratio than 21% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
24.7%
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
$13,146
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 462 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
68
in-school suspensions + 79 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 20 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 51.7%
Hispanic or Latino 20.8%
African American 17.4%
Two or More 6.5%
Asian 3.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 51.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.4, Virgil Grissom High School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
AP courses offered 25
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Huntsville City reports $13,146 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Virgil Grissom High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Huntsville High School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Providence Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Goldsmithschiffman Elementary | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbia High School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lee High School | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Virgil Grissom High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,152
- Students per teacher
- 24.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 916
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 877
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar high schools in Huntsville
5 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Huntsville High School
Standard public school
1,807 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Columbia High School
Standard public school
916 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Lee High School
Standard public school
877 students 19.5:1 students per teacher
Jemison High School
Standard public school
858 students 18.7:1 students per teacher
New Century Technology High School
Standard public school
366 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Nationwide high 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 (~1,847 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~19.6:1)
Frequently asked questions about Virgil Grissom High School
How many students attend Virgil Grissom High School?
Virgil Grissom High School has 1,847 students enrolled. It is a high school in Huntsville, AL. CCD year-over-year: 1,974 (2022-23) → 1,885 (2023-24), nearly flat (-89).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Virgil Grissom High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Virgil Grissom High School is 19.6:1, which is 11% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Virgil Grissom High School?
41.3% of students at Virgil Grissom High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Virgil Grissom High School?
The largest demographic group at Virgil Grissom High School is White at 51.7% of enrollment, in Huntsville, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Virgil Grissom High School?
Virgil Grissom High School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Virgil Grissom High School rank among high schools in Huntsville?
By Resource Investment Index, Virgil Grissom High School ranks #5 of 6 high schools in Huntsville, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Huntsville on the city page.
What other schools are in Huntsville City?
Besides Virgil Grissom High School, Huntsville City also operates Huntsville High School (1,807 students), Providence Elementary (1,152 students), and Goldsmithschiffman Elementary (935 students). See the Huntsville City district page for the complete list.