- Enrollment
- 1,386
- Students per teacher
- 24.8:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Dallas, NC
Costner Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Costner Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370162000678
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 14
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Costner Elementary earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 6
- public schools in Dallas · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 58.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Costner Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Costner Elementary ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Dallas, NC.
School address
District: Gaston County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370162000678 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-32 students YoY
Costner Elementary shrank from 485 students in 2022-23 to 453 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE added 28.2 → 29.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-32 students YoY 370162000678 · Dallas, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
430 enr · 15.4:1 · 58.8% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Ashbrook High (1,386 students)
Costner Elementary shrank from 485 students in 2022-23 to 453 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE added 28.2 → 29.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Costner Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Ashbrook High
Ashbrook High
1,386 students
- Hunter Huss Hi
Hunter Huss High
1,165 students
- Forestview Hig
Forestview High
1,133 students
- North Gaston H
North Gaston High
1,061 students
- South Point Hi
South Point High
989 students
- This school 430
Costner Elementary
430 students
What this shows Costner Elementary reports 430 students on the CCD universe file.
How Costner Elementary compares
Costner 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 | 15.4:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.8% | ▼ 11% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 430 | top 59% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
430
Bigger than 52% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 55% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.6%
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
$12,190
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 430 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
23
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 9.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.9%
African American 15.3%
Hispanic or Latino 15.1%
Two or More 4.2%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: White at 64.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.1, Costner Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Gaston County Schools reports $12,190 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Costner Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ashbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hunter Huss High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Forestview High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Gaston High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Point High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Costner Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,165
- Students per teacher
- 25.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 1,133
- Students per teacher
- 21:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,061
- Students per teacher
- 19.6:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 989
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar other schools in Dallas
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~430 students)
Frequently asked questions about Costner Elementary
How many students attend Costner Elementary?
Costner Elementary has 430 students enrolled. It is a public school in Dallas, NC. CCD year-over-year: 485 (2022-23) → 453 (2023-24), down 32.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Costner Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Costner Elementary is 15.4:1, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 2% 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 Costner Elementary?
58.8% of students at Costner Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Costner Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Costner Elementary is White at 64.9% of enrollment, in Dallas, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Costner Elementary?
Costner Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Costner Elementary rank among public schools in Dallas?
By Resource Investment Index, Costner Elementary ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Dallas, 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 Dallas on the city page.
What other schools are in Gaston County Schools?
Besides Costner Elementary, Gaston County Schools also operates Ashbrook High (1,386 students), Hunter Huss High (1,165 students), and Forestview High (1,133 students). See the Gaston County Schools district page for the complete list.