- Enrollment
- 1,479
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Candler, NC
Enka Middle
Federal NCES profile for Enka Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370045000161
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 31
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Enka Middle earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 6
- public schools in Candler · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.7:1
- students per teacher
- 57.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Enka Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Enka Middle ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Candler, NC.
School address
District: Buncombe County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370045000161 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+15 students YoY
Enka Middle held near 617 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 40.8 → 41.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+15 students YoY 370045000161 · Candler, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
588 enr · 14.7:1 · 57.8% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Roberson High (1,479 students)
Enka Middle held near 617 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+15 headcount). Teacher FTE added 40.8 → 41.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Enka Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Roberson High
Roberson High
1,479 students
- Reynolds High
Reynolds High
1,169 students
- Enka High
Enka High
1,051 students
- Erwin High
Erwin High
1,013 students
- North Buncombe
North Buncombe High
896 students
- This school 588
Enka Middle
588 students
What this shows Enka Middle reports 588 students on the CCD universe file.
How Enka Middle compares
Enka Middle held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 14.7:1 | ▼ 7% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.8% | ▼ 12% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 588 | top 37% | - | - |
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.
588
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
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
27.7%
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
$13,585
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 294 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
118
in-school suspensions + 86 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 20.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 34.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 64.5%
Hispanic or Latino 24.8%
Two or More 5.1%
African American 4.8%
Asian 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 64.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 51.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 51.8, Enka Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Buncombe County Schools reports $13,585 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Enka Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Roberson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Reynolds High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enka High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Erwin High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Buncombe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Enka Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,169
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,051
- Students per teacher
- 16.2:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 1,013
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 896
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- 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 (~588 students)
Frequently asked questions about Enka Middle
How many students attend Enka Middle?
Enka Middle has 588 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Candler, NC. CCD year-over-year: 602 (2022-23) → 617 (2023-24), nearly flat (+15).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Enka Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Enka Middle 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 Enka Middle?
57.8% of students at Enka Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Enka Middle?
The largest demographic group at Enka Middle is White at 64.5% of enrollment, in Candler, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 51.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Enka Middle?
Enka Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Enka Middle rank among public schools in Candler?
By Resource Investment Index, Enka Middle ranks #3 of 6 public schools in Candler, 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 Candler on the city page.
What other schools are in Buncombe County Schools?
Besides Enka Middle, Buncombe County Schools also operates Roberson High (1,479 students), Reynolds High (1,169 students), and Enka High (1,051 students). See the Buncombe County Schools district page for the complete list.