- Enrollment
- 1,633
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waycross, GA
Wacona Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Wacona Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 130543001774
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 22
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wacona Elementary School earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 91% of Georgia schools.
- #10 of 10
- public schools in Waycross · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.1:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 93.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Wacona Elementary School has class sizes larger than 91% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wacona Elementary School ranks #10 of 10 public schools in Waycross, GA.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+26 students YoY
Wacona Elementary School held near 963 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+26 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 49.5 → 50.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+26 students YoY 130543001774 · Waycross, GA Other · MID · TRAD
885 enr · 18.1:1 · 93.7% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Ware County High School (1,633 students)
Wacona Elementary School held near 963 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+26 headcount). Teacher FTE added 49.5 → 50.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Wacona Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ware County Hi
Ware County High School
1,633 students
- This school
Wacona Elementary School
885 students
- Ware County Mi
Ware County Middle School
752 students
- Waycross Middl 606
Waycross Middle School
606 students
- Center Element 470
Center Elementary School
470 students
- Williams Heigh 436
Williams Heights Elementary School
436 students
What this shows Wacona Elementary School reports 885 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wacona Elementary School compares
Wacona 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 | 18.1:1 | ▲ 26% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 93.7% | ▲ 54% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 885 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
885
Bigger than 88% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
93.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 54% above the Georgia average of 60.7%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 26% above state mean
Top 91% in Georgia - lower ratio than 9% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
31.2%
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
$15,387
per pupil, district-wide
- above Georgia avg of $14,615
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 578 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 57 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 57.6%
African American 27.1%
Hispanic or Latino 8.8%
Two or More 5.8%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 57.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.4, Wacona Elementary School is more mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Ware County reports $15,387 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Wacona Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ware County High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Ware County Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Waycross Middle School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Center Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Williams Heights Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wacona Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 752
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 470
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 436
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
Similar other schools in Waycross
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nationwide other 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 (~885 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Wacona Elementary School
How many students attend Wacona Elementary School?
Wacona Elementary School has 885 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waycross, GA. CCD year-over-year: 937 (2022-23) → 963 (2023-24), nearly flat (+26).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wacona Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wacona Elementary School is 18.1:1, which is 26% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Wacona Elementary School?
93.7% of students at Wacona Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wacona Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Wacona Elementary School is White at 57.6% of enrollment, in Waycross, GA. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wacona Elementary School?
Wacona Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Wacona Elementary School rank among public schools in Waycross?
By Resource Investment Index, Wacona Elementary School ranks #10 of 10 public schools in Waycross, 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 Waycross on the city page.
What other schools are in Ware County?
Besides Wacona Elementary School, Ware County also operates Ware County High School (1,633 students), Ware County Middle School (752 students), and Waycross Middle School (606 students). See the Ware County district page for the complete list.