Enrollment
551
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Jacksonville, NC
Bell Fork Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Bell Fork Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 30/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370345001417
👥 S:T ratio 37
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 13
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Bell Fork Elementary earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #7 of 11
- elementary schools in Jacksonville · Resource Index
- 30
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.7:1
- students per teacher
- 64.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Bell Fork Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Fork Elementary ranks #7 of 11 elementary schools in Jacksonville, NC.
School address
District: Onslow County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370345001417 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
35.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.7:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-1% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.4%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-2% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Bell Fork Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Bell Fork Elementary
Bell Fork Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Jacksonville, North Carolina, enrolling 551 students.
At 15.7:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 64.4% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 551 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 444 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #388, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (40%) and Hispanic or Latino (25%) (diversity index 71/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 551 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 34.7% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 21.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Jacksonville's elementary schools, it stands alongside Stateside Elementary (579 students): Bell Fork Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.7:1 vs 15.6:1).
Onslow County Schools also operates Jacksonville High (1,441 students) and White Oak High (1,252 students) alongside Bell Fork 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 Bell Fork Elementary compares
Bell Fork 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 | 15.7:1 | ▼ 1% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.4% | ▼ 2% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 551 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.7:1
Leaner classes than 41% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
551
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
64.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 2% below 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
15.7:1
students per teacher
- 1% below state mean
Top 59% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 41% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.7%
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
$10,680
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 551 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
26
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.5 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 39.7%
Hispanic or Latino 24.9%
White 24.7%
Two or More 9.6%
Asian 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 39.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.0, Bell Fork Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Onslow County Schools, which includes Bell Fork Elementary.
$10,680
Per student
-11%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.1%
State 57.2%
Federal 21.7%
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 Bell Fork Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| White Oak High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Swansboro High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dixon High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northside High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Bell Fork Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,441
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,252
- Students per teacher
- 21.2:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,232
- Students per teacher
- 19.9:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,085
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,067
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar elementary schools in Jacksonville
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Stateside Elementary
Standard public school
579 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Carolina Forest Elementary
Standard public school
570 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Meadow View Elementary
Standard public school
520 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Jacksonville Commons Elem
Standard public school
506 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Blue Creek Elementary
Standard public school
498 students 14.2:1 students per teacher
Parkwood Elementary
Standard public school
457 students 13.1:1 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 (~551 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Bell Fork Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Bell Fork Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Onslow 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 Bell Fork Elementary
How many students attend Bell Fork Elementary?
Bell Fork Elementary has 551 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Jacksonville, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Bell Fork Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Bell Fork Elementary is 15.7:1, which is 1% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 0% higher 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 Bell Fork Elementary?
64.4% of students at Bell Fork Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Bell Fork Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Bell Fork Elementary is African American at 39.7% of enrollment, in Jacksonville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Bell Fork Elementary?
Bell Fork Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 30/100 (lower 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 Bell Fork Elementary rank among elementary schools in Jacksonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Bell Fork Elementary ranks #7 of 11 elementary schools in Jacksonville, 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 Jacksonville on the city page.
Is Bell Fork Elementary a good school?
Bell Fork Elementary earns 30/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. 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 Onslow County Schools?
Besides Bell Fork Elementary, Onslow County Schools also operates Jacksonville High (1,441 students), White Oak High (1,252 students), and Swansboro High (1,232 students). See the Onslow 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.