Enrollment
647
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Granite Falls, NC
Granite Falls Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Granite Falls Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370058000228
👥 S:T ratio 32
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 29
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Granite Falls Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of North Carolina schools.
- #5 of 5
- schools in Granite Falls · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 52.6%
- free-lunch eligible
Granite Falls Elementary has class sizes larger than 73% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Granite Falls Elementary ranks #5 of 5 schools in Granite Falls, NC.
School address
District: Caldwell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370058000228 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
38.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
17:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
52.6%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-20% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Granite Falls Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Granite Falls Elementary
Granite Falls Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Granite Falls, North Carolina, enrolling 647 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 17:1 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 52.6% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 647 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 501 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #375, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (78%) and Hispanic or Latino (13%) (diversity index 37/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 647 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 28.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 26.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Granite Falls's public schools, it stands alongside Dudley Shoals Elementary (433 students): Granite Falls Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (17:1 vs 14.4:1).
Caldwell County Schools also operates South Caldwell High (1,272 students) and Hibriten High (818 students) alongside Granite Falls 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 Granite Falls Elementary compares
Granite Falls 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 | 17:1 | ▲ 8% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 52.6% | ▼ 20% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 647 | top 30% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17:1
Leaner classes than 30% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
647
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
52.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 20% 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
17:1
students per teacher
- 8% above state mean
Top 73% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 27% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
28.3%
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
$11,644
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
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 647 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.5 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
White 78.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.0%
Two or More 4.3%
African American 3.4%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: White at 78.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.8, Granite Falls Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Caldwell County Schools, which includes Granite Falls Elementary.
$11,644
Per student
-3%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-30%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.5%
State 57.4%
Federal 26.1%
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 Granite Falls Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Caldwell High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hibriten High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hudson Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| West Caldwell High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hudson Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Granite Falls Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 665
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 551
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar other schools in Granite Falls
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Dudley Shoals Elementary
Standard public school
433 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Baton Elementary
Standard public school
357 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Sawmills Elementary
Standard public school
351 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Gateway School
Alternative education program
53 students 4.4:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~647 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Granite Falls Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Granite Falls Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Caldwell 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 Granite Falls Elementary
How many students attend Granite Falls Elementary?
Granite Falls Elementary has 647 students enrolled. It is a public school in Granite Falls, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Granite Falls Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Granite Falls Elementary is 17:1, which is 8% 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 Granite Falls Elementary?
52.6% of students at Granite Falls Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Granite Falls Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Granite Falls Elementary is White at 78.2% of enrollment, in Granite Falls, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Granite Falls Elementary?
Granite Falls Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (typical 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 Granite Falls Elementary rank among schools in Granite Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Granite Falls Elementary ranks #5 of 5 schools in Granite Falls, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Granite Falls on the city page.
Is Granite Falls Elementary a good school?
Granite Falls Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 73% of North Carolina schools. 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 Caldwell County Schools?
Besides Granite Falls Elementary, Caldwell County Schools also operates South Caldwell High (1,272 students), Hibriten High (818 students), and Hudson Elementary (665 students). See the Caldwell 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.