- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Decatur, AL
Walter Jackson Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Walter Jackson Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010117000436
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walter Jackson Elementary School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Alabama schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Alabama schools.
- #1 of 3
- elementary schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.7:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 65.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Walter Jackson Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 76% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter Jackson Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Decatur, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-4 students YoY
Walter Jackson Elementary School held near 240 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 16.8 → 14.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-4 students YoY 010117000436 · Decatur, AL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
251 enr · 15.7:1 · 65.6% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Austin High School (999 students)
Walter Jackson Elementary School held near 240 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-4 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 16.8 → 14.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Walter Jackson Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Austin High Sc
Austin High School
999 students
- Decatur High S
Decatur High School
915 students
- Decatur Middle
Decatur Middle School
818 students
- Austin Middle
Austin Middle School
727 students
- Austin Junior
Austin Junior High School
664 students
- This school 251
Walter Jackson Elementary School
251 students
What this shows Walter Jackson Elementary School reports 251 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter Jackson Elementary School compares
Walter Jackson Elementary 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 | 15.7:1 | ▼ 11% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.6% | ▲ 12% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 251 | top 87% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
251
Bigger than 25% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 24% in Alabama - lower ratio than 76% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.9%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$14,832
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $13,538
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 251 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 45.0%
African American 22.3%
Hispanic or Latino 20.3%
Two or More 10.4%
Asian 1.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: White at 45.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.5, Walter Jackson Elementary School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Decatur City reports $14,832 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walter Jackson Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Decatur Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Austin Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Austin Junior High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Walter Jackson Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 915
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 727
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 664
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Decatur
2 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~251 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walter Jackson Elementary School
How many students attend Walter Jackson Elementary School?
Walter Jackson Elementary School has 251 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Decatur, AL. CCD year-over-year: 244 (2022-23) → 240 (2023-24), nearly flat (-4).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter Jackson Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter Jackson Elementary School is 15.7:1, which is 11% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 0% higher 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 Walter Jackson Elementary School?
65.6% of students at Walter Jackson Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter Jackson Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Walter Jackson Elementary School is White at 45.0% of enrollment, in Decatur, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter Jackson Elementary School?
Walter Jackson Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Walter Jackson Elementary School rank among elementary schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter Jackson Elementary School ranks #1 of 3 elementary schools in Decatur, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Decatur on the city page.
What other schools are in Decatur City?
Besides Walter Jackson Elementary School, Decatur City also operates Austin High School (999 students), Decatur High School (915 students), and Decatur Middle School (818 students). See the Decatur City district page for the complete list.