- Enrollment
- 1,625
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Vestavia Hills, AL
West Elementary
Federal NCES profile for West Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 010343001303
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 86
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Elementary earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 76% of Alabama schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Vestavia Hills · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.7:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 13.0%
- free-lunch eligible
West Elementary has class sizes smaller than 76% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Vestavia Hills, AL.
School address
District: Vestavia Hills City · Alabama
NCES ID 010343001303 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-25 students YoY
West Elementary held near 720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 44.0 → 52.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-25 students YoY 010343001303 · Vestavia Hills, AL Other · MID · TRAD
691 enr · 15.7:1 · 13.0% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Vestavia Hills High School (1,625 students)
West Elementary held near 720 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-25 headcount). Teacher FTE added 44.0 → 52.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
West Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Vestavia Hills
Vestavia Hills High School
1,625 students
- Pizitz Middle
Pizitz Middle School
1,131 students
- East Elementar
East Elementary
771 students
- This school
West Elementary
691 students
- Vestavia Hills
Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge
657 students
- Vestavia Hills 548
Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus
548 students
What this shows West Elementary reports 691 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Elementary compares
West Elementary 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 | 13.0% | ▼ 78% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 691 | top 22% | - | - |
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.
691
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
13.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 78% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
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
5.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 5-10% range, close to the pre-pandemic national baseline.
Funding equity
$14,810
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
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 461 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
6
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 75.3%
Asian 9.0%
Two or More 5.6%
African American 5.1%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 75.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.7, West Elementary is about as mixed as the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Vestavia Hills City reports $14,810 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Vestavia Hills High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pizitz Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Vestavia Hills High School Freshman Campus | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,131
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 54/100
- Enrollment
- 771
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 657
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 548
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
Similar other schools in Vestavia Hills
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
East Elementary
Standard public school
771 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Vestavia Hills Elementary Dolly Ridge
Standard public school
657 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Liberty Park Elementary
Standard public school
546 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Vestavia Hills Elementary Cahaba Heights
Standard public school
451 students 15:1 students per teacher
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 (~691 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Elementary
How many students attend West Elementary?
West Elementary has 691 students enrolled. It is a public school in Vestavia Hills, AL. CCD year-over-year: 745 (2022-23) → 720 (2023-24), nearly flat (-25).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elementary 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 West Elementary?
13.0% of students at West Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elementary?
The largest demographic group at West Elementary is White at 75.3% of enrollment, in Vestavia Hills, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elementary?
West Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (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 West Elementary rank among schools in Vestavia Hills?
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Vestavia Hills, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Vestavia Hills on the city page.
What other schools are in Vestavia Hills City?
Besides West Elementary, Vestavia Hills City also operates Vestavia Hills High School (1,625 students), Pizitz Middle School (1,131 students), and East Elementary (771 students). See the Vestavia Hills City district page for the complete list.