- Enrollment
- 1,191
- Students per teacher
- 12.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Columbus, MS
West Lowndes Elementary
Federal NCES profile for West Lowndes Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 280273001177
👥 S:T ratio 59
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Lowndes Elementary earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 89% of Mississippi schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most Mississippi schools.
- #1 of 8
- schools in Columbus · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.2:1
- small classes for Mississippi
- 100.0%
- free-lunch eligible
West Lowndes Elementary has class sizes smaller than 89% of Mississippi schools. Computed live against every Mississippi school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Lowndes Elementary ranks #1 of 8 schools in Columbus, MS.
School address
District: Lowndes Co School Dist · Mississippi
NCES ID 280273001177 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
West Lowndes Elementary grew from 234 students in 2022-23 to 253 in 2023-24 (+8.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 27.1 → 24.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+19 students YoY 280273001177 · Columbus, MS Other · SMALL · TRAD
276 enr · 10.2:1 · 100.0% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: New Hope Elementary School (1,191 students)
West Lowndes Elementary grew from 234 students in 2022-23 to 253 in 2023-24 (+8.1%). Teacher FTE lost 27.1 → 24.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Mississippi schools → · Find another →
West Lowndes Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- New Hope Eleme
New Hope Elementary School
1,191 students
- Caledonia Elem
Caledonia Elementary School
1,070 students
- New Hope High
New Hope High School
787 students
- Caledonia High
Caledonia High School
640 students
- New Hope Middl
New Hope Middle School
604 students
- This school 276
West Lowndes Elementary
276 students
What this shows West Lowndes Elementary reports 276 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Lowndes Elementary compares
West Lowndes Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Mississippi and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Mississippi | Mississippi avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 10.2:1 | ▼ 23% | 13.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 100.0% | ▲ 24% | 80.5% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 276 | top 77% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.2:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
276
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
100.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% above the Mississippi average of 80.5%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
10.2:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 11% in Mississippi - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
20.3%
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
$11,059
per pupil, district-wide
- below Mississippi avg of $13,683
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 276 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 97.1%
Hispanic or Latino 1.4%
White 1.1%
Two or More 0.4%
Largest group: African American at 97.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 5.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 5.7, West Lowndes Elementary is less mixed than the Mississippi school average of 41.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lowndes Co School Dist reports $11,059 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Lowndes Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| New Hope Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Caledonia Elementary School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| New Hope High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Caledonia High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| New Hope Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Lowndes Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,070
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 787
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 640
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 604
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
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 (~276 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about West Lowndes Elementary
How many students attend West Lowndes Elementary?
West Lowndes Elementary has 276 students enrolled. It is a public school in Columbus, MS. CCD year-over-year: 234 (2022-23) → 253 (2023-24), up 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Lowndes Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Lowndes Elementary is 10.2:1, which is 23% lower than the Mississippi average of 13.3:1 and 35% 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 Lowndes Elementary?
100.0% of students at West Lowndes Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Mississippi average of 80.5%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Lowndes Elementary?
The largest demographic group at West Lowndes Elementary is African American at 97.1% of enrollment, in Columbus, MS.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Lowndes Elementary?
West Lowndes Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (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 Lowndes Elementary rank among schools in Columbus?
By Resource Investment Index, West Lowndes Elementary ranks #1 of 8 schools in Columbus, MS. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Columbus on the city page.
What other schools are in Lowndes Co School Dist?
Besides West Lowndes Elementary, Lowndes Co School Dist also operates New Hope Elementary School (1,191 students), Caledonia Elementary School (1,070 students), and New Hope High School (787 students). See the Lowndes Co School Dist district page for the complete list.