- Enrollment
- 1,459
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sanford, NC
East Lee Middle
Federal NCES profile for East Lee Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370256001076
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
East Lee Middle earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 4
- middle schools in Sanford · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.9:1
- students per teacher
- 65.3%
- free-lunch eligible
East Lee Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, East Lee Middle ranks #2 of 4 middle schools in Sanford, NC.
School address
District: Lee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370256001076 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-54 students YoY
East Lee Middle shrank from 531 students in 2022-23 to 477 in 2023-24 (-10.2%).
Teacher FTE added 33.0 → 35.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-54 students YoY 370256001076 · Sanford, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
526 enr · 15.9:1 · 65.3% lunch · RII 38
Nearest enrollment peer: Lee County High (1,459 students)
East Lee Middle shrank from 531 students in 2022-23 to 477 in 2023-24 (-10.2%). Teacher FTE added 33.0 → 35.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
East Lee Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lee County Hig
Lee County High
1,459 students
- Southern Lee H
Southern Lee High School
1,180 students
- Sanlee Middle
Sanlee Middle School
792 students
- Wb Wicker Elem
Wb Wicker Elementary
588 students
- J Glenn Edward
J Glenn Edwards Elementary
587 students
- This school 526
East Lee Middle
526 students
What this shows East Lee Middle reports 526 students on the CCD universe file.
How East Lee Middle compares
East Lee Middle 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 | 15.9:1 | ▲ 1% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.3% | ▼ 1% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 526 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.9:1
Leaner classes than 39% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
526
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
65.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% 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
15.9:1
students per teacher
- 1% above state mean
Top 61% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 39% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
52.1%
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
$13,241
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 263 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
114
in-school suspensions + 100 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 40.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 44.3%
White 28.1%
African American 21.1%
Two or More 6.1%
Asian 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 44.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.7, East Lee Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lee County Schools reports $13,241 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How East Lee Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Southern Lee High School | Larger | Similar 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 East Lee Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 middle schools in Sanford
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~526 students)
Frequently asked questions about East Lee Middle
How many students attend East Lee Middle?
East Lee Middle has 526 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sanford, NC. CCD year-over-year: 531 (2022-23) → 477 (2023-24), down 54.
What is the student-teacher ratio at East Lee Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at East Lee Middle is 15.9:1, which is 1% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 1% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at East Lee Middle?
65.3% of students at East Lee Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of East Lee Middle?
The largest demographic group at East Lee Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 44.3% of enrollment, in Sanford, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for East Lee Middle?
East Lee Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 East Lee Middle rank among middle schools in Sanford?
By Resource Investment Index, East Lee Middle ranks #2 of 4 middle 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 middle schools in Sanford on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee County Schools?
Besides East Lee Middle, 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.