- Enrollment
- 542
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Elk Park, NC
Cranberry Middle
Federal NCES profile for Cranberry Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370030001723
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 19
📋 Attendance 47
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Cranberry Middle earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 52.4%
- free-lunch eligible
- 202
- students enrolled
Cranberry Middle has class sizes smaller than 72% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Avery County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370030001723 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+14 students YoY
Cranberry Middle grew from 170 students in 2022-23 to 184 in 2023-24 (+8.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 15.7 → 14.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+14 students YoY 370030001723 · Elk Park, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
202 enr · 13.5:1 · 52.4% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: Avery County High (542 students)
Cranberry Middle grew from 170 students in 2022-23 to 184 in 2023-24 (+8.2%). Teacher FTE lost 15.7 → 14.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Cranberry Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Avery County H
Avery County High
542 students
- Newland Elemen 214
Newland Elementary
214 students
- This school 202
Cranberry Middle
202 students
- Freedom Trail 202
Freedom Trail Elementary
202 students
- Crossnore Elem 184
Crossnore Elementary
184 students
- Avery Middle 181
Avery Middle
181 students
What this shows Cranberry Middle reports 202 students on the CCD universe file.
How Cranberry Middle compares
Cranberry Middle is a growing 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.4% | ▼ 21% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 202 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
202
Bigger than 20% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
52.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 21% 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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 28% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.3%
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
$15,513
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
19
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.4 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 91.6%
Hispanic or Latino 6.9%
Two or More 1.5%
Largest group: White at 91.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 15.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 15.6, Cranberry Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Avery County Schools reports $15,513 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Cranberry Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Avery County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Newland Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Freedom Trail Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crossnore Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Avery Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Cranberry Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 214
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 202
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 184
- Students per teacher
- 11.5:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 181
- Students per teacher
- 8.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Nationwide middle 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 (~202 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about Cranberry Middle
How many students attend Cranberry Middle?
Cranberry Middle has 202 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Elk Park, NC. CCD year-over-year: 170 (2022-23) → 184 (2023-24), up 14.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Cranberry Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Cranberry Middle is 13.5:1, which is 15% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 14% 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 Cranberry Middle?
52.4% of students at Cranberry Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Cranberry Middle?
The largest demographic group at Cranberry Middle is White at 91.6% of enrollment, in Elk Park, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Cranberry Middle?
Cranberry Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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).
What other schools are in Avery County Schools?
Besides Cranberry Middle, Avery County Schools also operates Avery County High (542 students), Newland Elementary (214 students), and Freedom Trail Elementary (202 students). See the Avery County Schools district page for the complete list.