Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 36 schools in district

DavisEmerson Middle School

1500 Bulldog Blvd, Cottondale, AL 35453Tuscaloosa County
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 0608Non-Charter
392
Students
Total enrolled
$12,636
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
12% vs nat'l
17.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
16% vs nat'l
Mid-sized public school
Serves 392 students in grades 06–08 in Cottondale, Alabama.
12% below average funding
District spends $12,636 per pupil, 12% less than the national average of $14,347.
17.8 : 1 student-teacher ratio
This is near the national average of 15.4:1.
About This School

DavisEmerson Middle School is a mid-sized middle in Cottondale, Alabama, serving grades 06–08 with 392 students. The district invests $12,636 per student — 12% below the national average of $14,347, with a 17.8:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 96% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community.

Student Body & Demographics at DavisEmerson Middle School

392
Total Students
17.8 : 1
Student:Teacher
96%
Free Lunch
22
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (0608) are served by this school
Gender Distribution196 male · 196 female
50%
50%
Male 50%Female 50%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility96%
National avg 52% · 376 students
Student Composition
25%
24%
49%
White25%
Hispanic / Latino24%
Black49%
Multiracial1%
Native American1%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 010339002088

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,636Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$12,636
State avg
$14,511
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$5,560
Student Support$2,401
Administration$1,516
Operations$1,895
Other$1,264
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $12,636 spent per student, an estimated $5,598 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
58%
27%
State government
58.1%
Local (property tax)
27.0%
Federal programs
14.9%
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
  • 96% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location
CountyTuscaloosa County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
Phone: (205)342-2750
NCES ID: 010339002088
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Cottondale seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing a diverse, community-focused learning environment. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

Location
1500 Bulldog Blvd, Cottondale, AL 35453
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.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
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.