Enrollment
274
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Wilson, NC
B O Barnes Elementary
Federal NCES profile for B O Barnes Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370502001992
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 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
B O Barnes Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 6
- elementary schools in Wilson · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.5:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 98.7%
- free-lunch eligible
B O Barnes Elementary has class sizes smaller than 84% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, B O Barnes Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Wilson, NC.
School address
District: Wilson County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370502001992 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
22.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.5:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-21% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
98.7%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How B O Barnes Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at B O Barnes Elementary
B O Barnes Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Wilson, North Carolina, enrolling 274 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 12.5:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 98.7% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 274 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 293 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #147.
Its student body is led by African American (76%) and Hispanic or Latino (18%) (diversity index 38/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 274 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 46.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 20.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 74 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 274 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Wilson's elementary schools, it stands alongside Rock Ridge Elementary (476 students): B O Barnes Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.5:1 vs 17.6:1).
Wilson County Schools also operates James Hunt High (1,115 students) and Fike High (1,028 students) alongside B O Barnes Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How B O Barnes Elementary compares
B O Barnes Elementary on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 12.5:1 | ▼ 21% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.7% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 274 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
274
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
98.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 16% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
46.7%
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
$12,063
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
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 274 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 73 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 76.3%
Hispanic or Latino 18.2%
White 2.9%
Two or More 2.6%
Largest group: African American at 76.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 38.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 38.3, B O Barnes Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Wilson County Schools, which includes B O Barnes Elementary.
$12,063
Per student
+0%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-27%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.1%
State 58.4%
Federal 20.5%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How B O Barnes Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Hunt High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fike High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forest Hills Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Beddingfield High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John W Jones Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to B O Barnes Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,115
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,028
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 654
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 653
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 601
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Wilson
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Rock Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
476 students 17.6:1 students per teacher
New Hope Elementary
Standard public school
460 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Vinson-Bynum Elementary
Standard public school
458 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Wells Elementary
Standard public school
383 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
Vick Elementary
Standard public school
359 students 21.1:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~274 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on B O Barnes Elementary's federal record.
- Compare B O Barnes Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Wilson County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about B O Barnes Elementary
How many students attend B O Barnes Elementary?
B O Barnes Elementary has 274 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Wilson, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at B O Barnes Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at B O Barnes Elementary is 12.5:1, which is 21% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 20% 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 B O Barnes Elementary?
98.7% of students at B O Barnes Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of B O Barnes Elementary?
The largest demographic group at B O Barnes Elementary is African American at 76.3% of enrollment, in Wilson, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for B O Barnes Elementary?
B O Barnes Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does B O Barnes Elementary rank among elementary schools in Wilson?
By Resource Investment Index, B O Barnes Elementary ranks #3 of 6 elementary schools in Wilson, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Wilson on the city page.
Is B O Barnes Elementary a good school?
B O Barnes Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of North Carolina schools. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Wilson County Schools?
Besides B O Barnes Elementary, Wilson County Schools also operates James Hunt High (1,115 students), Fike High (1,028 students), and Forest Hills Middle (654 students). See the Wilson County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
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. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.