Enrollment
393
Alabama · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Opelika, AL
West Forest Intermediate School
Federal NCES profile for West Forest Intermediate School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 35/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010258000093
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 21
📋 Attendance 58
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Forest Intermediate School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median.
- #3 of 7
- elementary schools in Opelika · Resource Index
- 35
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.1:1
- students per teacher
- 86.1%
- free-lunch eligible
West Forest Intermediate School has class sizes near the Alabama median. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Forest Intermediate School ranks #3 of 7 elementary schools in Opelika, AL.
School address
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17.1:1
vs 17.7:1 Alabama avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
86.1%
vs 58.8% Alabama avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Forest Intermediate School compares with Alabama and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Forest Intermediate School
West Forest Intermediate School is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Opelika, Alabama, enrolling 393 students.
At 17.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the Alabama median, within a few percentage points of the 17.7:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need is high: 86.1% of students qualify for free meals, 46% above the Alabama average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 393 students, its enrollment sits close to the Alabama median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 1,365 scored Alabama schools.
Against 219 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #111.
Its student body is led by African American (48%) and Hispanic or Latino (41%) (diversity index 60/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 393 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
16.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Opelika's elementary schools, it stands alongside Sanford Middle School (533 students): West Forest Intermediate School is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17.1:1 vs 16.7:1).
Opelika City also operates Opelika High School (1,590 students) and Opelika Middle School (812 students) alongside West Forest Intermediate 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 Forest Intermediate School compares
West Forest Intermediate 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 | 17.1:1 | ▼ 3% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 86.1% | ▲ 46% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 393 | top 65% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.1:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
393
Bigger than 46% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
86.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
17.1:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 46% in Alabama - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,407
per pupil, district-wide
- below Alabama avg of $12,491
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 393 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 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
African American 47.6%
Hispanic or Latino 40.7%
White 7.9%
Two or More 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 1.0%
Largest group: African American at 47.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.1, West Forest Intermediate School is more mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Opelika City, which includes West Forest Intermediate School.
$11,407
Per student
-9%
vs Alabama
Avg $12,491
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 37.5%
State 46.5%
Federal 16.1%
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 Forest Intermediate School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Opelika High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Opelika Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southview Primary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northside School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jeter Primary School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Forest Intermediate School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,590
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 812
- Students per teacher
- 12.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 480
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 464
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Opelika
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Sanford Middle School
Standard public school
533 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Southview Primary School
Standard public school
480 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
Northside School
Standard public school
464 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Jeter Primary School
Standard public school
435 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Carver Primary School
Standard public school
414 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Morris Avenue Intermediate School
Standard public school
397 students 20.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~393 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Forest Intermediate School's federal record.
- Compare West Forest Intermediate School against another school. Compare schools
- Opelika 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 Forest Intermediate School
How many students attend West Forest Intermediate School?
West Forest Intermediate School has 393 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Opelika, AL.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Forest Intermediate School?
The student-teacher ratio at West Forest Intermediate School is 17.1:1, which is 3% lower than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 9% 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 Forest Intermediate School?
86.1% of students at West Forest Intermediate School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Forest Intermediate School?
The largest demographic group at West Forest Intermediate School is African American at 47.6% of enrollment, in Opelika, AL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Forest Intermediate School?
West Forest Intermediate School has a Resource Investment Index of 35/100 (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 Forest Intermediate School rank among elementary schools in Opelika?
By Resource Investment Index, West Forest Intermediate School ranks #3 of 7 elementary schools in Opelika, 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 Opelika on the city page.
Is West Forest Intermediate School a good school?
West Forest Intermediate School earns 35/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the Alabama median. 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 Opelika City?
Besides West Forest Intermediate School, Opelika City also operates Opelika High School (1,590 students), Opelika Middle School (812 students), and Southview Primary School (480 students). See the Opelika 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.