- Enrollment
- 1,441
- Students per teacher
- 20.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Jacksonville, NC
Carolina Forest Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Carolina Forest Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370345002738
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 43
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Carolina Forest Elementary earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 11
- elementary schools in Jacksonville · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 39.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Carolina Forest Elementary has class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Carolina Forest Elementary ranks #2 of 11 elementary schools in Jacksonville, NC.
School address
District: Onslow County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370345002738 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-47 students YoY
Carolina Forest Elementary shrank from 678 students in 2022-23 to 631 in 2023-24 (-6.9%).
Teacher FTE added 42.6 → 43.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-47 students YoY 370345002738 · Jacksonville, NC Elementary · MID · TRAD
570 enr · 13.6:1 · 39.5% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Jacksonville High (1,441 students)
Carolina Forest Elementary shrank from 678 students in 2022-23 to 631 in 2023-24 (-6.9%). Teacher FTE added 42.6 → 43.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Carolina Forest 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 570
Carolina Forest Elementary
570 students
What this shows Carolina Forest Elementary reports 570 students on the CCD universe file.
How Carolina Forest Elementary compares
Carolina Forest 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 | 13.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 39.5% | ▼ 40% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 570 | top 39% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
570
Bigger than 70% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
39.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 30% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.2%
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 285 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 36.3%
African American 24.6%
Hispanic or Latino 20.7%
Two or More 11.6%
Asian 5.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.2%
Largest group: White at 36.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.8, Carolina Forest 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 Carolina Forest Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jacksonville High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| White Oak High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Swansboro High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Dixon High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northside High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Carolina Forest 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
Bell Fork Elementary
Standard public school
551 students 15.7:1 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 (~570 students)
Frequently asked questions about Carolina Forest Elementary
How many students attend Carolina Forest Elementary?
Carolina Forest Elementary has 570 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Jacksonville, NC. CCD year-over-year: 678 (2022-23) → 631 (2023-24), down 47.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carolina Forest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Carolina Forest Elementary is 13.6:1, which is 14% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 13% 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 Carolina Forest Elementary?
39.5% of students at Carolina Forest Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Carolina Forest Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Carolina Forest Elementary is White at 36.3% of enrollment, in Jacksonville, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Carolina Forest Elementary?
Carolina Forest Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Carolina Forest Elementary rank among elementary schools in Jacksonville?
By Resource Investment Index, Carolina Forest Elementary ranks #2 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 Carolina Forest 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.