Enrollment
280
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Williamston, NC
E J Hayes Elementary
Federal NCES profile for E J Hayes Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370288001159
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 7
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
E J Hayes Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Williamston · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 98.9%
- free-lunch eligible
E J Hayes Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, E J Hayes Elementary ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Williamston, NC.
School address
District: Martin County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370288001159 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
19.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.7:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-7% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
98.9%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How E J Hayes Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at E J Hayes Elementary
E J Hayes Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Williamston, North Carolina, enrolling 280 students.
At 14.7:1, 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.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 98.9% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 280 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 306 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #282, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (56%) and White (24%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 467 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 47.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Martin County Schools spends $14,638 per pupil, 22% above the North Carolina average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Williamston's elementary schools, it stands alongside Rodgers Elementary (219 students): E J Hayes Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.7:1 vs 13.7:1).
Martin County Schools also operates Riverside High (447 students) and Williamston Primary (361 students) alongside E J Hayes 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 E J Hayes Elementary compares
E J Hayes 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 | 14.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.9% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 280 | top 79% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.7:1
Leaner classes than 50% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
280
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
98.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
14.7:1
students per teacher
- 7% below state mean
Top 45% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 55% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
47.5%
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
$14,638
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.6 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 38 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 18.6 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
African American 56.1%
White 24.3%
Two or More 10.4%
Hispanic or Latino 8.6%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: African American at 56.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.8, E J Hayes 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 Martin County Schools, which includes E J Hayes Elementary.
$14,638
Per student
+22%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-12%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.8%
State 63.5%
Federal 19.7%
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 E J Hayes Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Riverside High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Williamston Primary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Creek Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverside Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Creek High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to E J Hayes Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 447
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 361
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
- Enrollment
- 337
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 14/100
- Enrollment
- 335
- Students per teacher
- 14:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 236
- Students per teacher
- 12.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
Similar elementary schools in Williamston
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
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 (~280 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on E J Hayes Elementary's federal record.
- Compare E J Hayes Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Martin 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 E J Hayes Elementary
How many students attend E J Hayes Elementary?
E J Hayes Elementary has 280 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Williamston, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at E J Hayes Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at E J Hayes Elementary is 14.7:1, which is 7% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% 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 E J Hayes Elementary?
98.9% of students at E J Hayes Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of E J Hayes Elementary?
The largest demographic group at E J Hayes Elementary is African American at 56.1% of enrollment, in Williamston, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for E J Hayes Elementary?
E J Hayes Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (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 E J Hayes Elementary rank among public schools in Williamston?
By Resource Investment Index, E J Hayes Elementary ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Williamston, 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 Williamston on the city page.
Is E J Hayes Elementary a good school?
E J Hayes Elementary earns 29/100 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 Martin County Schools?
Besides E J Hayes Elementary, Martin County Schools also operates Riverside High (447 students), Williamston Primary (361 students), and South Creek Elementary (337 students). See the Martin 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.