- Enrollment
- 1,014
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Cullman, AL
West Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for West Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010099000372
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 42
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of Alabama schools.
- #3 of 3
- elementary schools in Cullman · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.2:1
- small classes for Alabama
- 39.4%
- free-lunch eligible
West Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 94% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Cullman, AL.
School address
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+8 students YoY
West Elementary School held near 592 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 31.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+8 students YoY 010099000372 · Cullman, AL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
490 enr · 13.2:1 · 39.4% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Cullman High School (1,014 students)
West Elementary School held near 592 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+8 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 37.0 → 31.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
West Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Cullman High S
Cullman High School
1,014 students
- Cullman City P
Cullman City Primary School
782 students
- Cullman Middle
Cullman Middle School
491 students
- This school
West Elementary School
490 students
- East Elementar
East Elementary School
466 students
What this shows West Elementary School reports 490 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Elementary School compares
West 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 | 13.2:1 | ▼ 25% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.4% | ▼ 33% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 490 | top 48% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.2:1
Leaner classes than 65% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
490
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 33% below the Alabama average of 58.8%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.2:1
students per teacher
- 25% below state mean
Top 6% in Alabama - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.3%
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
$12,808
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $13,538
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 490 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 79.4%
Hispanic or Latino 16.1%
African American 1.6%
Two or More 1.6%
Asian 1.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 79.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.3, West Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cullman City reports $12,808 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cullman High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cullman City Primary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cullman Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Elementary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 782
- Students per teacher
- 27.9:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 491
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar elementary schools in Cullman
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 (~490 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Elementary School
How many students attend West Elementary School?
West Elementary School has 490 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Cullman, AL. CCD year-over-year: 584 (2022-23) → 592 (2023-24), nearly flat (+8).
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Elementary School is 13.2:1, which is 25% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 16% 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 Elementary School?
39.4% of students at West Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at West Elementary School is White at 79.4% of enrollment, in Cullman, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Elementary School?
West Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (typical 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 School rank among elementary schools in Cullman?
By Resource Investment Index, West Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 elementary schools in Cullman, 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 Cullman on the city page.
What other schools are in Cullman City?
Besides West Elementary School, Cullman City also operates Cullman High School (1,014 students), Cullman City Primary School (782 students), and Cullman Middle School (491 students). See the Cullman City district page for the complete list.