- Enrollment
- 1,405
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Columbus, GA
Waddell Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Waddell Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 28/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 130387001434
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Waddell Elementary School earns 28/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia schools.
- #13 of 14
- elementary schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 28
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.6:1
- large classes for Georgia
- 96.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Waddell Elementary School has class sizes larger than 93% of Georgia schools. Computed live against every Georgia school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Waddell Elementary School ranks #13 of 14 elementary schools in Columbus, GA.
School address
District: Muscogee County · Georgia
NCES ID 130387001434 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
Waddell Elementary School held near 482 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 28.5 → 28.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+9 students YoY 130387001434 · Columbus, GA Elementary · MID · TRAD
520 enr · 18.6:1 · 96.6% lunch · RII 28
Nearest enrollment peer: Northside High School (1,405 students)
Waddell Elementary School held near 482 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+9 headcount). Teacher FTE held 28.5 → 28.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Georgia schools → · Find another →
Waddell Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Northside High
Northside High School
1,405 students
- Shaw High Scho
Shaw High School
1,162 students
- Columbus High
Columbus High School
1,161 students
- Hardaway High
Hardaway High School
1,067 students
- Jordan Vocatio
Jordan Vocational High School
1,040 students
- This school 520
Waddell Elementary School
520 students
What this shows Waddell Elementary School reports 520 students on the CCD universe file.
How Waddell Elementary School compares
Waddell 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 | 18.6:1 | ▲ 29% | 14.4:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.6% | ▲ 59% | 60.7% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 520 | top 66% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
520
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 59% 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
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 29% above state mean
Top 93% in Georgia - lower ratio than 7% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
33.3%
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
$13,792
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 520 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 77.3%
White 8.5%
Hispanic or Latino 7.1%
Two or More 6.2%
Asian 1.0%
Largest group: African American at 77.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.6, Waddell Elementary School is less mixed than the Georgia school average of 50.0.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Muscogee County reports $13,792 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Waddell Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northside High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shaw High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Columbus High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hardaway High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jordan Vocational High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Waddell Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,162
- Students per teacher
- 15.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,161
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 13.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,040
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar elementary schools in Columbus
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Britt David Elementary Computer Magnet Academy
Standard public school
552 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Martin Luther King- Jr. Elementary School
Standard public school
487 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Blanchard Elementary School
Standard public school
451 students 15:1 students per teacher
St. Marys Video and Communication Technology
Standard public school
450 students 19.6:1 students per teacher
Gentian Elementary School
Standard public school
442 students 11.6:1 students per teacher
Allen Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
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 (~520 students)
Frequently asked questions about Waddell Elementary School
How many students attend Waddell Elementary School?
Waddell Elementary School has 520 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Columbus, GA. CCD year-over-year: 473 (2022-23) → 482 (2023-24), nearly flat (+9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Waddell Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Waddell Elementary School is 18.6:1, which is 29% higher than the Georgia average of 14.4:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Waddell Elementary School?
96.6% of students at Waddell Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Georgia average of 60.7%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Waddell Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Waddell Elementary School is African American at 77.3% of enrollment, in Columbus, GA.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Waddell Elementary School?
Waddell Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 28/100 (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 Waddell Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, Waddell Elementary School ranks #13 of 14 elementary schools in Columbus, GA. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Columbus on the city page.
What other schools are in Muscogee County?
Besides Waddell Elementary School, Muscogee County also operates Northside High School (1,405 students), Shaw High School (1,162 students), and Columbus High School (1,161 students). See the Muscogee County district page for the complete list.