Enrollment
557
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sanford, NC
Deep River Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Deep River Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 27/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370256001075
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Deep River Elementary earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #9 of 9
- elementary schools in Sanford · Resource Index
- 27
- Resource Index · Lower
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 69.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Deep River Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Deep River Elementary ranks #9 of 9 elementary schools in Sanford, NC.
School address
District: Lee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370256001075 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
69.8%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Deep River Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Deep River Elementary
Deep River Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Sanford, North Carolina, enrolling 557 students.
At 15.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 69.8% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 557 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 95% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 349 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #329, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (48%) and White (29%) (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 557 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 44.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Sanford's elementary schools, it stands alongside Highland Elementary (854 students): Deep River Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.1:1 vs 14:1).
Lee County Schools also operates Lee County High (1,459 students) and Southern Lee High School (1,180 students) alongside Deep River Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Deep River Elementary compares
Deep River Elementary on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 69.8% | ▲ 6% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 557 | top 41% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
557
Bigger than 68% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
69.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% above 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 50% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
44.3%
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
$12,250
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
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 557 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 47.9%
White 28.5%
African American 15.4%
Two or More 6.8%
Asian 0.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 47.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.1, Deep River Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lee County Schools, which includes Deep River Elementary.
$12,250
Per student
+2%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.8%
State 59.9%
Federal 23.3%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Deep River Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southern Lee High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Sanlee Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wb Wicker Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| J Glenn Edwards Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Deep River Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,459
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 587
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Sanford
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Highland Elementary
Standard public school
854 students 14:1 students per teacher
Wb Wicker Elementary
Standard public school
588 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
J Glenn Edwards Elementary
Standard public school
587 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Greenwood Elementary
Standard public school
571 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Tramway Elementary
Standard public school
559 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Bt Bullock Elementary
Standard public school
511 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~557 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Deep River Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Deep River Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Lee County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Deep River Elementary
How many students attend Deep River Elementary?
Deep River Elementary has 557 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sanford, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Deep River Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Deep River Elementary is 15.1:1, which is 4% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 4% 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 Deep River Elementary?
69.8% of students at Deep River Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Deep River Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Deep River Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 47.9% of enrollment, in Sanford, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Deep River Elementary?
Deep River Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 27/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Deep River Elementary rank among elementary schools in Sanford?
By Resource Investment Index, Deep River Elementary ranks #9 of 9 elementary schools in Sanford, 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 Sanford on the city page.
Is Deep River Elementary a good school?
Deep River Elementary earns 27/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Lee County Schools?
Besides Deep River Elementary, Lee County Schools also operates Lee County High (1,459 students), Southern Lee High School (1,180 students), and Sanlee Middle School (792 students). See the Lee County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.