- Enrollment
- 1,115
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Elm City, NC
Gardners Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Gardners Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 51/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370502001999
👥 S:T ratio 30
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 44
📋 Attendance 59
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Gardners Elementary earns 51/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 77% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 4
- public schools in Elm City · Resource Index
- 51
- Resource Index · Higher
- 17.5:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 96.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Gardners Elementary has class sizes larger than 77% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Gardners Elementary ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Elm City, NC.
School address
District: Wilson County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370502001999 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Gardners Elementary grew from 219 students in 2022-23 to 242 in 2023-24 (+10.5%).
Teacher FTE held 16.1 → 15.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+23 students YoY 370502001999 · Elm City, NC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
280 enr · 17.5:1 · 96.3% lunch · RII 51
Nearest enrollment peer: James Hunt High (1,115 students)
Gardners Elementary grew from 219 students in 2022-23 to 242 in 2023-24 (+10.5%). Teacher FTE held 16.1 → 15.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Gardners Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- James Hunt Hig
James Hunt High
1,115 students
- Fike High
Fike High
1,028 students
- Forest Hills M
Forest Hills Middle
654 students
- Beddingfield H
Beddingfield High
653 students
- John W Jones E
John W Jones Elementary
601 students
- This school 280
Gardners Elementary
280 students
What this shows Gardners Elementary reports 280 students on the CCD universe file.
How Gardners Elementary compares
Gardners 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 | 17.5:1 | ▲ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.3% | ▲ 46% | 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
17.5:1
Leaner classes than 27% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
280
Bigger than 29% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
96.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
17.5:1
students per teacher
- 11% above state mean
Top 77% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 23% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
16.4%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$12,450
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 280 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 19 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 36.4%
White 35.4%
African American 22.1%
Two or More 6.1%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 36.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 69.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 69.0, Gardners Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wilson County Schools reports $12,450 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Gardners Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| James Hunt High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Fike High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Forest Hills Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Beddingfield High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| John W Jones Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Gardners Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,028
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 654
- Students per teacher
- 18.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 653
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 601
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar elementary schools in Elm City
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary 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 (~280 students)
Frequently asked questions about Gardners Elementary
How many students attend Gardners Elementary?
Gardners Elementary has 280 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Elm City, NC. CCD year-over-year: 219 (2022-23) → 242 (2023-24), up 23.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Gardners Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Gardners Elementary is 17.5:1, which is 11% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 11% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Gardners Elementary?
96.3% of students at Gardners Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Gardners Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Gardners Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 36.4% of enrollment, in Elm City, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 69.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Gardners Elementary?
Gardners Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 51/100 (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 Gardners Elementary rank among public schools in Elm City?
By Resource Investment Index, Gardners Elementary ranks #1 of 4 public schools in Elm City, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Wilson County Schools?
Besides Gardners Elementary, Wilson County Schools also operates James Hunt High (1,115 students), Fike High (1,028 students), and Forest Hills Middle (654 students). See the Wilson County Schools district page for the complete list.