Enrollment
407
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Decatur, AL
West Decatur Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for West Decatur Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010117000435
👥 S:T ratio 14
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Decatur Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% of Alabama schools.
- #6 of 11
- schools in Decatur · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 21.4:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 86.7%
- free-lunch eligible
West Decatur Elementary School has class sizes larger than 92% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Decatur Elementary School ranks #6 of 11 schools in Decatur, AL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
21.4:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
+21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
86.7%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Decatur Elementary School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Decatur Elementary School
West Decatur Elementary School is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Decatur, Alabama, enrolling 407 students.
Class loads run heavy: 21.4:1 is larger than about 92% of Alabama schools and 21% above the 17.7:1 state mean, so each teacher carries more students than is typical.
Economic need is high: 86.7% of students qualify for free meals, 47% above the Alabama average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 407 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 213 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #45.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (68%) and African American (19%) (diversity index 49/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 407 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
13.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Among Decatur's public schools, it stands alongside Austin Junior High School (664 students): West Decatur Elementary School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (21.4:1 vs 14.4:1).
Decatur City also operates Austin High School (999 students) and Decatur High School (915 students) alongside West Decatur 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 West Decatur Elementary School compares
West Decatur 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 | 21.4:1 | ▲ 21% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.7% | ▲ 47% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 407 | top 62% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
21.4:1
Leaner classes than 12% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
407
Bigger than 48% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
86.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% 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
21.4:1
students per teacher
- 21% above state mean
Top 92% in Alabama - lower ratio than 8% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
13.5%
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
$13,764
per pupil, district-wide
- above Alabama avg of $12,491
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 407 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 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
Hispanic or Latino 67.8%
African American 18.7%
White 10.1%
Two or More 2.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.5%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 67.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 49.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 49.4, West Decatur 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 Decatur City, which includes West Decatur Elementary School.
$13,764
Per student
+10%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-17%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 39.5%
State 47.0%
Federal 13.5%
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 West Decatur Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Austin High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Decatur High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Decatur Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Austin Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Austin Junior High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Decatur Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 999
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- 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 other schools in Decatur
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Austin Junior High School
Standard public school
664 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Oak Park Elementary School
Standard public school
481 students 16:1 students per teacher
Bankscaddell Elementary School
Standard public school
477 students 19.9:1 students per teacher
Austinville Elementary School
Standard public school
463 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Chestnut Grove Elementary School
Standard public school
436 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Frances Nungester Elementary School
Standard public school
428 students 17.8:1 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 (~407 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Decatur Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare West Decatur Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Decatur 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 West Decatur Elementary School
How many students attend West Decatur Elementary School?
West Decatur Elementary School has 407 students enrolled. It is a public school in Decatur, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Decatur Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Decatur Elementary School is 21.4:1, which is 21% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 36% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Decatur Elementary School?
86.7% of students at West Decatur Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Decatur Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at West Decatur Elementary School is Hispanic or Latino at 67.8% of enrollment, in Decatur, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Decatur Elementary School?
West Decatur Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 West Decatur Elementary School rank among schools in Decatur?
By Resource Investment Index, West Decatur Elementary School ranks #6 of 11 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 schools in Decatur on the city page.
Is West Decatur Elementary School a good school?
West Decatur Elementary School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 92% 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 Decatur City?
Besides West Decatur 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.
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.