- Enrollment
- 760
- Students per teacher
- 20.5:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bessemer, AL
Westhills Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Westhills Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 34/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 010033000090
👥 S:T ratio 21
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 45
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Westhills Elementary School earns 34/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of Alabama schools.
- #8 of 12
- public schools in Bessemer · Resource Index
- 34
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.8:1
- large classes for Alabama
- 71.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Westhills Elementary School has class sizes larger than 82% of Alabama schools. Computed live against every Alabama school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Westhills Elementary School ranks #8 of 12 public schools in Bessemer, AL.
School address
District: Bessemer City · Alabama
NCES ID 010033000090 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
Westhills Elementary School shrank from 315 students in 2022-23 to 297 in 2023-24 (-5.7%).
Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-18 students YoY 010033000090 · Bessemer, AL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
277 enr · 19.8:1 · 71.7% lunch · RII 34
Nearest enrollment peer: Bessemer City High School (760 students)
Westhills Elementary School shrank from 315 students in 2022-23 to 297 in 2023-24 (-5.7%). Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 17.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Alabama schools → · Find another →
Westhills Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Bessemer City
Bessemer City High School
760 students
- Bessemer City
Bessemer City Middle School
616 students
- Jonesboro Elem
Jonesboro Elementary School
474 students
- Charles F Hard
Charles F Hard Elementary School
364 students
- Greenwood Elem 290
Greenwood Elementary School
290 students
- This school 277
Westhills Elementary School
277 students
What this shows Westhills Elementary School reports 277 students on the CCD universe file.
How Westhills Elementary School compares
Westhills Elementary School is a shrinking campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Alabama and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Alabama | Alabama avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 19.8:1 | ▲ 12% | 17.7:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 71.7% | ▲ 22% | 58.8% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 277 | top 84% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.8:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
277
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
71.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% above the Alabama average of 58.8%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
19.8:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 82% in Alabama - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
41.5%
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
$15,437
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 277 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 0 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 85.2%
Hispanic or Latino 11.9%
White 1.4%
Two or More 1.4%
Largest group: African American at 85.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 26.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 26.0, Westhills Elementary School is less mixed than the Alabama school average of 42.5.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Bessemer City reports $15,437 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Westhills Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bessemer City High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Bessemer City Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jonesboro Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Charles F Hard Elementary School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Greenwood Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Westhills Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 616
- Students per teacher
- 22.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 474
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 364
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 290
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Bessemer
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 (~277 students)
Frequently asked questions about Westhills Elementary School
How many students attend Westhills Elementary School?
Westhills Elementary School has 277 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bessemer, AL. CCD year-over-year: 315 (2022-23) → 297 (2023-24), down 18.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Westhills Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Westhills Elementary School is 19.8:1, which is 12% higher than the Alabama average of 17.7:1 and 26% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Westhills Elementary School?
71.7% of students at Westhills Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the Alabama average of 58.8%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Westhills Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Westhills Elementary School is African American at 85.2% of enrollment, in Bessemer, AL.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Westhills Elementary School?
Westhills Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 34/100 (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 Westhills Elementary School rank among public schools in Bessemer?
By Resource Investment Index, Westhills Elementary School ranks #8 of 12 public schools in Bessemer, AL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Bessemer on the city page.
What other schools are in Bessemer City?
Besides Westhills Elementary School, Bessemer City also operates Bessemer City High School (760 students), Bessemer City Middle School (616 students), and Jonesboro Elementary School (474 students). See the Bessemer City district page for the complete list.