- Enrollment
- 1,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Newton, NC
Blackburn Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Blackburn Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370069000276
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 3
📋 Attendance 16
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Blackburn Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #9 of 9
- public schools in Newton · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 51.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Blackburn Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Blackburn Elementary ranks #9 of 9 public schools in Newton, NC.
School address
District: Catawba County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370069000276 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
Blackburn Elementary shrank from 527 students in 2022-23 to 488 in 2023-24 (-7.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 33.5 → 31.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 370069000276 · Newton, NC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
484 enr · 14.7:1 · 51.2% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Saint Stephens High (1,268 students)
Blackburn Elementary shrank from 527 students in 2022-23 to 488 in 2023-24 (-7.4%). Teacher FTE lost 33.5 → 31.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Blackburn Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Saint Stephens
Saint Stephens High
1,268 students
- Bandys High
Bandys High
935 students
- Fred T Foard H
Fred T Foard High
930 students
- Maiden High
Maiden High
852 students
- Bunker Hill Hi
Bunker Hill High
845 students
- This school 484
Blackburn Elementary
484 students
What this shows Blackburn Elementary reports 484 students on the CCD universe file.
How Blackburn Elementary compares
Blackburn Elementary is a shrinking campus on CCD: 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 | 14.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 51.2% | ▼ 22% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 484 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
484
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
51.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 22% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
33.5%
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
$11,487
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 484 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
17
in-school suspensions + 31 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 57.2%
Hispanic or Latino 16.9%
Asian 12.4%
Two or More 8.1%
African American 5.0%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: White at 57.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.0, Blackburn Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Catawba County Schools reports $11,487 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Blackburn Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Stephens High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bandys High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fred T Foard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maiden High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bunker Hill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Blackburn Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 930
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 852
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
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 (~484 students)
Frequently asked questions about Blackburn Elementary
How many students attend Blackburn Elementary?
Blackburn Elementary has 484 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Newton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 527 (2022-23) → 488 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Blackburn Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Blackburn Elementary is 14.7:1, which is 7% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% 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 Blackburn Elementary?
51.2% of students at Blackburn Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Blackburn Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Blackburn Elementary is White at 57.2% of enrollment, in Newton, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Blackburn Elementary?
Blackburn Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Blackburn Elementary rank among public schools in Newton?
By Resource Investment Index, Blackburn Elementary ranks #9 of 9 public schools in Newton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Newton on the city page.
What other schools are in Catawba County Schools?
Besides Blackburn Elementary, Catawba County Schools also operates Saint Stephens High (1,268 students), Bandys High (935 students), and Fred T Foard High (930 students). See the Catawba County Schools district page for the complete list.