- Enrollment
- 724
- Students per teacher
- 16.5:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Newton, NC
Discovery High School
Federal NCES profile for Discovery High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370336002754
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 71
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Discovery High School earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Newton · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.3:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 18.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Discovery High School has class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery High School ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Newton, NC.
School address
District: Newton Conover City Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370336002754 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-31 students YoY
Discovery High School shrank from 193 students in 2022-23 to 162 in 2023-24 (-16.1%).
Teacher FTE lost 8.6 → 6.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-31 students YoY 370336002754 · Newton, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
146 enr · 18.3:1 · 18.1% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Newton-Conover High (724 students)
Discovery High School shrank from 193 students in 2022-23 to 162 in 2023-24 (-16.1%). Teacher FTE lost 8.6 → 6.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Discovery High School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Newton-Conover
Newton-Conover High
724 students
- Newton-Conover
Newton-Conover Middle
559 students
- Shuford Elemen
Shuford Elementary
402 students
- North Newton E
North Newton Elementary
388 students
- South Newton E
South Newton Elementary
328 students
- This school 146
Discovery High School
146 students
What this shows Discovery High School reports 146 students on the CCD universe file.
How Discovery High School compares
Discovery High School 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 | 18.3:1 | ▲ 16% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 18.1% | ▼ 73% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 146 | top 92% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
146
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
18.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 73% 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
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 83% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
43.8%
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
$12,359
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 146 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 58.2%
Hispanic or Latino 19.2%
Asian 10.3%
Two or More 9.6%
African American 2.7%
Largest group: White at 58.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.4, Discovery High School is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 13
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Newton Conover City Schools reports $12,359 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Discovery High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Newton-Conover High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Newton-Conover Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Shuford Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| North Newton Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| South Newton Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Discovery High School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 559
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 402
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 388
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 328
- Students per teacher
- 14.3:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar high schools in Newton
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~146 students)
Frequently asked questions about Discovery High School
How many students attend Discovery High School?
Discovery High School has 146 students enrolled. It is a high school in Newton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 193 (2022-23) → 162 (2023-24), down 31.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Discovery High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Discovery High School is 18.3:1, which is 16% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Discovery High School?
18.1% of students at Discovery High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Discovery High School?
The largest demographic group at Discovery High School is White at 58.2% of enrollment, in Newton, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Discovery High School?
Discovery High School 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 Discovery High School rank among high schools in Newton?
By Resource Investment Index, Discovery High School ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Newton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Newton on the city page.
What other schools are in Newton Conover City Schools?
Besides Discovery High School, Newton Conover City Schools also operates Newton-Conover High (724 students), Newton-Conover Middle (559 students), and Shuford Elementary (402 students). See the Newton Conover City Schools district page for the complete list.