- Enrollment
- 1,299
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Morganton, NC
Forest Hill Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Forest Hill Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 60/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370048000175
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 70
📋 Attendance 67
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Forest Hill Elementary earns 60/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 72% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 12
- schools in Morganton · Resource Index
- 60
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.9:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 92.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Forest Hill Elementary has class sizes larger than 72% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Hill Elementary ranks #1 of 12 schools in Morganton, NC.
School address
District: Burke County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370048000175 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
Forest Hill Elementary grew from 269 students in 2022-23 to 291 in 2023-24 (+8.2%).
Teacher FTE added 18.1 → 20.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+22 students YoY 370048000175 · Morganton, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
305 enr · 16.9:1 · 92.2% lunch · RII 60
Nearest enrollment peer: Freedom High (1,299 students)
Forest Hill Elementary grew from 269 students in 2022-23 to 291 in 2023-24 (+8.2%). Teacher FTE added 18.1 → 20.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Forest Hill Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Freedom High
Freedom High
1,299 students
- East Burke Hig
East Burke High
874 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Elementary
762 students
- Robert L. Patt
Robert L. Patton High School
756 students
- Jimmy C Draugh
Jimmy C Draughn High School
661 students
- This school 305
Forest Hill Elementary
305 students
What this shows Forest Hill Elementary reports 305 students on the CCD universe file.
How Forest Hill Elementary compares
Forest Hill Elementary is a growing 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 | 16.9:1 | ▲ 7% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 92.2% | ▲ 40% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 305 | top 76% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.9:1
Leaner classes than 31% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
305
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
92.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
16.9:1
students per teacher
- 7% above state mean
Top 72% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 28% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$12,261
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 153 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 57.4%
White 25.6%
African American 8.2%
Two or More 6.6%
Asian 2.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 57.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.3, Forest Hill Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Burke County Schools reports $12,261 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Forest Hill Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Burke High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Robert L. Patton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jimmy C Draughn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Forest Hill Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 874
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 762
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Morganton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Mountain View Elementary
Standard public school
762 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Drexel Elementary
Standard public school
477 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Salem Elementary
Standard public school
476 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
W a Young Elementary
Standard public school
327 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Oak Hill Elementary
Standard public school
310 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Glen Alpine Elementary
Standard public school
295 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~305 students)
Frequently asked questions about Forest Hill Elementary
How many students attend Forest Hill Elementary?
Forest Hill Elementary has 305 students enrolled. It is a public school in Morganton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 269 (2022-23) → 291 (2023-24), up 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Forest Hill Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Forest Hill Elementary is 16.9:1, which is 7% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 8% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Forest Hill Elementary?
92.2% of students at Forest Hill Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Forest Hill Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Forest Hill Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 57.4% of enrollment, in Morganton, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Forest Hill Elementary?
Forest Hill Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 60/100 (higher 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 Forest Hill Elementary rank among schools in Morganton?
By Resource Investment Index, Forest Hill Elementary ranks #1 of 12 schools in Morganton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Morganton on the city page.
What other schools are in Burke County Schools?
Besides Forest Hill Elementary, Burke County Schools also operates Freedom High (1,299 students), East Burke High (874 students), and Mountain View Elementary (762 students). See the Burke County Schools district page for the complete list.