- Enrollment
- 1,441
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-14 students YoY
Bell Fork Elementary held near 539 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 35.9 → 38.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-14 students YoY 370345001417 · Jacksonville, NC Elementary · MID · TRAD
551 enr · 15.7:1 · 64.4% lunch · RII 30
Nearest enrollment peer: Jacksonville High (1,441 students)
Bell Fork Elementary held near 539 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-14 headcount). Teacher FTE added 35.9 → 38.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Bell Fork Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Jacksonville H
Jacksonville High
1,441 students
- White Oak High
White Oak High
1,252 students
- Swansboro High
Swansboro High
1,232 students
- Dixon High
Dixon High
1,085 students
- Northside High
Northside High
1,067 students
- This school 551
Bell Fork Elementary
551 students
What this shows Bell Fork Elementary reports 551 students on the CCD universe file.
How Bell Fork Elementary compares
Bell Fork Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs 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 methodology
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
$11,056
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
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.
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
District finance for Onslow County Schools reports $11,056 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,252
- 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
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~551 students)
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. CCD year-over-year: 553 (2022-23) → 539 (2023-24), nearly flat (-14).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.