A.C.E. Academy

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. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Harrisburg, North Carolina - 1 schools

An equity score of 42/100 ranks A.C.E. Academy #154 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,351 per pupil, A.C.E. Academy ranks #117 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

419
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$12,351
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

A.C.E. Academy operates 1 public schools serving 419 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 elementary schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Cabarrus County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,351 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Carolina compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 26.3% local, 56.3% state, and 17.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 42/100, ranked #154 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

a 421:1 student-counselor ratio, above both the ASCA benchmark and the roughly 408:1 national average, and 21.9% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 76.7% African American, 16.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% White across the district's schools.

Its largest campus is A.C.E. Academy, enrolling 421 students (100% of the district's total enrollment).

A.C.E. Academy accounts for 100.0% of all A.C.E. Academy student enrollment

That is an overwhelming concentration, leaving the rest of A.C.E. Academy a distant remainder — means A.C.E. Academy-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: elementary. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

A.C.E. Academy has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 57.0% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

A.C.E. Academy student-counselor ratio is 421:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment, districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

A.C.E. Academy chronic absenteeism rate is 21.9% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason, illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within A.C.E. Academy is typically wider than the A.C.E. Academy-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

17.4%
Federal
56.3%
State
26.3%
Local

Funding Equity

42
Equity Score
154 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in A.C.E. Academy.

White 2.1%
Hispanic or Latino 16.2%
African American 76.7%
Asian 1.7%
Multiracial 3.1%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

421:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
21.9%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in A.C.E. Academy

School Enrollment
A.C.E. Academy
Charter
421

How A.C.E. Academy Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The North Carolina districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Kestrel Heights School Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Brevard Academy Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Piedmont Classical High School Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
West Lake Preparatory Academy Similar size Higher spending Similar funding mix
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

Comparisons are relative to A.C.E. Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $11,859/pupil
Compare vs A.C.E. Academy →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs A.C.E. Academy →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs A.C.E. Academy →
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
52,717 students · 81 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs A.C.E. Academy →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/pupil
Compare vs A.C.E. Academy →

Compare A.C.E. Academy

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in A.C.E. Academy?

A.C.E. Academy has 1 school, including 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 419 students.

How much does A.C.E. Academy spend per student?

A.C.E. Academy spends $12,351 per student. The district has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #154 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of A.C.E. Academy?

A.C.E. Academy students are 76.7% African American, 16.2% Hispanic or Latino, 2.1% White, 1.7% Asian, averaged across 1 school. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for A.C.E. Academy?

A.C.E. Academy has an equity score of 42/100, ranking #154 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.