Enrollment
704
Florida · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Defuniak Springs, FL
West Defuniak Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for West Defuniak Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 120198002018
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 39
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Defuniak Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Florida schools.
- #3 of 11
- public schools in Defuniak Springs · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- small classes for Florida
- 60.8%
- free-lunch eligible
West Defuniak Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 70% of Florida schools. Computed live against every Florida school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Defuniak Elementary School ranks #3 of 11 public schools in Defuniak Springs, FL.
School address
NCES ID 120198002018 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
48.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.7:1
vs 17.8:1 Florida avg
-17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
60.8%
vs 52.0% Florida avg
+17% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Defuniak Elementary School compares with Florida and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Defuniak Elementary School
West Defuniak Elementary School is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Defuniak Springs, Florida, enrolling 704 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.7:1 puts it in the smaller third of Florida schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 60.8% of students eligible for free meals.
With 704 students, its enrollment sits close to the Florida median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 3,996 scored Florida schools.
Against 1,080 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #268.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%) (diversity index 59/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 704 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 24.3% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Walton also operates South Walton High School (1,127 students) and Freeport Elementary School (1,120 students) alongside West Defuniak 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 Defuniak Elementary School compares
West Defuniak Elementary School on the metrics families compare, against Florida and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Florida | Florida avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.7:1 | ▼ 17% | 17.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 60.8% | ▲ 17% | 52.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 704 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
704
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
60.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% above the Florida average of 52.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 30% in Florida - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.3%
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
$11,790
per pupil, district-wide
- above Florida avg of $11,167
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 704 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
29
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.5 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
White 58.1%
Hispanic or Latino 23.2%
African American 9.9%
Two or More 7.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Asian 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 58.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.3, West Defuniak Elementary School is more mixed than the Florida school average of 52.3.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Walton, which includes West Defuniak Elementary School.
$11,790
Per student
+6%
vs Florida
Avg $11,167
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 75.6%
State 11.8%
Federal 12.6%
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 Defuniak Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Walton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Freeport Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Walton High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dune Lakes Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Van R. Butler Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Defuniak Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,127
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,120
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 969
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 924
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 914
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of Florida, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~704 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Defuniak Elementary School's federal record.
- Compare West Defuniak Elementary School against another school. Compare schools
- Walton'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 Defuniak Elementary School
How many students attend West Defuniak Elementary School?
West Defuniak Elementary School has 704 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Defuniak Springs, FL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Defuniak Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Defuniak Elementary School is 14.7:1, which is 17% lower than the Florida average of 17.8:1 and 6% lower 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 West Defuniak Elementary School?
60.8% of students at West Defuniak Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Florida average of 52.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Defuniak Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at West Defuniak Elementary School is White at 58.1% of enrollment, in Defuniak Springs, FL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Defuniak Elementary School?
West Defuniak Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Defuniak Elementary School rank among public schools in Defuniak Springs?
By Resource Investment Index, West Defuniak Elementary School ranks #3 of 11 public schools in Defuniak Springs, FL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Defuniak Springs on the city page.
Is West Defuniak Elementary School a good school?
West Defuniak Elementary School earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of Florida 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 Walton?
Besides West Defuniak Elementary School, Walton also operates South Walton High School (1,127 students), Freeport Elementary School (1,120 students), and Walton High School (969 students). See the Walton 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.