Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Elementary· 12 schools in district

Lakewood Elementary School

24 Explorer Drive, Phenix City, AL 36867Phenix City →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 03–05Non-Charter
485
Students
Total enrolled
$13,713
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
23.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 55% vs nat'l
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 29% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 485 students in grades 03–05 in Phenix City, Alabama.
Near-average funding
District spends $13,713 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Lakewood Elementary School is a mid-sized elementary in Phenix City, Alabama, serving grades 03–05 with 485 students. The district invests $13,713 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio that is higher than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 51% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Lakewood Elementary School

485
Total Students
23.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
51%
Free Lunch
20
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (03–05) are served by this school
Gender Distribution242 male · 243 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility51%
National avg 52% · 249 students
Student Composition
53%
9%
30%
Asian1%
White53%
Hispanic / Latino9%
Black30%
Multiracial6%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 010270001547

Academic Outcomes at Lakewood Elementary School

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 11th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 36867

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$13,713Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$13,713
State avg
$14,511
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,034
Student Support$2,605
Administration$1,646
Operations$2,057
Other$1,371
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $13,713 spent per student, an estimated $6,075 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
58%
19%
State government
57.8%
Local (property tax)
19.1%
Federal programs
23.1%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • 23.8:1 student-teacher ratio — larger classes than the national average of 15.4:1
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (36/100) — national median is 50
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Ridgecrest Elementary SchoolPhenix City Elementary SchoolLakewood Primary SchoolSherwood Elementary School
+2 more
↓
Middle
Phenix City Intermediate SchoolSouth Girard School
↓
High School
Central High School
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelElementary
Grades03 – 05
Location—
CountyLee County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictPhenix City →
Phone: (334)732-1173
NCES ID: 010270001547
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Phenix City seeking a public elementary school, especially those prioritizing a solid, no-frills public education. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Phenix City
High
Central High School
1,495 students · 09–12
● 36 opp74% FRL
Mid
Phenix City Intermediate School
1,044 students · 06–07
● 36 opp80% FRL
Elem
Ridgecrest Elementary School
796 students · PK–05
● 35 opp89% FRL
Elem
Phenix City Elementary School
715 students · PK–05
● 36 opp90% FRL
Elem
Lakewood Primary School
543 students · KG–02
● 36 opp54% FRL
Other
Central Freshman Academy
532 students · 09–09
● 36 opp79% FRL
Elem
Sherwood Elementary School
521 students · PK–05
● 36 opp80% FRL
Mid
South Girard School
513 students · 08–08
● 35 opp82% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
24 Explorer Drive, Phenix City, AL 36867
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Elementary
1
How is early reading and literacy taught?
Look for evidence-based, structured approaches
2
How does the school communicate with families?
Frequency, channels, translation support
3
What support exists for students who fall behind?
Tutoring, intervention programs, IEPs
4
What's the average class size here?
National avg is ~23 for elementary
5
What before/after-school programs are available?
Important for working parents
6
How is student social-emotional wellbeing supported?
Counselors, community circles, conflict resolution
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.