Enrollment
400
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gadsden, AL
W E Striplin Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for W E Striplin Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010162000564
👥 S:T ratio 20
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 26
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W E Striplin Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Alabama schools.
- #8 of 11
- schools in Gadsden · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 20:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 83.0%
- free-lunch eligible
W E Striplin Elementary School has class sizes larger than 84% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W E Striplin Elementary School ranks #8 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
20:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+13% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
83.0%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+41% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How W E Striplin Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at W E Striplin Elementary School
W E Striplin Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Gadsden, Alabama, enrolling 400 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 20:1 puts it in the larger third of Alabama schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 83.0% of students qualify for free meals, 41% above the Alabama average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 400 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 261 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #149.
Its student body is led by African American (56%) and Hispanic or Latino (31%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 400 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 29.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 24.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Gadsden's public schools, it stands alongside Adams Elementary School (433 students): W E Striplin Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (20:1 vs 17.3:1).
Gadsden City also operates Gadsden City High School (1,361 students) and Gadsden Middle School (438 students) alongside W E Striplin 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 W E Striplin Elementary School compares
W E Striplin Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 20:1 | ▲ 13% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 83.0% | ▲ 41% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 400 | top 63% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
20:1
Leaner classes than 16% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
400
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
83.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 41% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
20:1
students per teacher
- 13% above state mean
Top 84% in Alabama - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
29.5%
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
$12,669
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $12,491
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 400 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
18
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.0 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
African American 55.5%
Hispanic or Latino 30.5%
White 9.3%
Two or More 3.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: African American at 55.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.9, W E Striplin Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Gadsden City, which includes W E Striplin Elementary School.
$12,669
Per student
+1%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-24%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 18.6%
State 57.1%
Federal 24.3%
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 W E Striplin Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gadsden City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Gadsden Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Adams Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Floyd Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eura Brown Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W E Striplin Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,361
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 438
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 433
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 56/100
- Enrollment
- 384
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 340
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Similar other schools in Gadsden
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Adams Elementary School
Standard public school
433 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Floyd Elementary School
Standard public school
384 students 24:1 students per teacher
Gaston High School
Standard public school
380 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Eura Brown Elementary School
Standard public school
340 students 16.2:1 students per teacher
Gaston Elementary School
Standard public school
290 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Thompson Elementary School
Standard public school
288 students 26.2:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Alabama, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~400 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~20:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on W E Striplin Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare W E Striplin Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Gadsden City'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 W E Striplin Elementary School
How many students attend W E Striplin Elementary School?
W E Striplin Elementary School has 400 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gadsden, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W E Striplin Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at W E Striplin Elementary School is 20:1, which is 13% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 27% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at W E Striplin Elementary School?
83.0% of students at W E Striplin Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W E Striplin Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at W E Striplin Elementary School is African American at 55.5% of enrollment, in Gadsden, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W E Striplin Elementary School?
W E Striplin Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (typical 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 W E Striplin Elementary School rank among schools in Gadsden?
By Resource Investment Index, W E Striplin Elementary School ranks #8 of 11 schools in Gadsden, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gadsden on the city page.
Is W E Striplin Elementary School a good school?
W E Striplin Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of Alabama 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 Gadsden City?
Besides W E Striplin Elementary School, Gadsden City also operates Gadsden City High School (1,361 students), Gadsden Middle School (438 students), and Adams Elementary School (433 students). See the Gadsden City 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.