- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Cary, NC
Carpenter Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Carpenter Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370472002864
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Carpenter Elementary earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools.
- #13 of 15
- schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 30.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Carpenter Elementary has class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Carpenter Elementary ranks #13 of 15 schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472002864 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Carpenter Elementary held near 680 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 46.7 → 46.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+23 students YoY 370472002864 · Cary, NC Other · MID · TRAD
604 enr · 13.1:1 · 30.0% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Carpenter Elementary held near 680 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount). Teacher FTE held 46.7 → 46.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Carpenter Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apex Friendshi
Apex Friendship High
2,748 students
- Enloe High
Enloe High
2,643 students
- Panther Creek
Panther Creek High
2,609 students
- Millbrook High
Millbrook High
2,498 students
- Apex High
Apex High
2,449 students
- This school 604
Carpenter Elementary
604 students
What this shows Carpenter Elementary reports 604 students on the CCD universe file.
How Carpenter Elementary compares
Carpenter 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 | 13.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.0% | ▼ 55% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 604 | top 35% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
604
Bigger than 73% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
30.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 23% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
26.0%
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
$11,691
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 604 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
47
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 7.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Asian 43.4%
White 23.8%
Hispanic or Latino 22.8%
African American 7.0%
Two or More 2.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: Asian at 43.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.7, Carpenter Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wake County Schools reports $11,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Carpenter Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Carpenter Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,643
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,609
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Cary
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Standard public school
1,904 students 45.3:1 students per teacher
Alston Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
917 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Hortons Creek Elementary
Standard public school
739 students 15.7:1 students per teacher
Weatherstone Elementary
Standard public school
730 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Highcroft Elementary
Standard public school
698 students 14:1 students per teacher
Adams Elementary
Standard public school
655 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~604 students)
Frequently asked questions about Carpenter Elementary
How many students attend Carpenter Elementary?
Carpenter Elementary has 604 students enrolled. It is a public school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 657 (2022-23) → 680 (2023-24), nearly flat (+23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Carpenter Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Carpenter Elementary is 13.1:1, which is 17% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% 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 Carpenter Elementary?
30.0% of students at Carpenter Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Carpenter Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Carpenter Elementary is Asian at 43.4% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Carpenter Elementary?
Carpenter Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Carpenter Elementary rank among schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Carpenter Elementary ranks #13 of 15 schools in Cary, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Cary on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Carpenter Elementary, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Panther Creek High (2,609 students). See the Wake County Schools district page for the complete list.