Enrollment
114
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Flat Rock, NC
Henderson County Career Academy
Federal NCES profile for Henderson County Career Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 55/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370210001568
👥 S:T ratio 73
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 77
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Henderson County Career Academy earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina.
- #1 of 3
- public schools in Flat Rock · Resource Index
- 55
- Resource Index · Higher
- 6.7:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 64.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Henderson County Career Academy has class sizes smaller than 98% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Henderson County Career Academy ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Flat Rock, NC.
School address
District: Henderson County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370210001568 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
17.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
6.7:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-58% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
64.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Henderson County Career Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Henderson County Career Academy
Henderson County Career Academy is a higher-need, small combined-grade school in Flat Rock, North Carolina, enrolling 114 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 6.7:1, Henderson County Career Academy is leaner than roughly 98% of North Carolina schools and 58% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 64.2% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 95% of North Carolina schools, with 114 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 91% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Against 27 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #9.
Its student body is led by White (62%) and Hispanic or Latino (29%) (diversity index 53/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 114 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 76.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.9% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 34 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 114 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Flat Rock's public schools, it stands alongside Upward Elementary (389 students): Henderson County Career Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (6.7:1 vs 12.2:1).
Henderson County Schools also operates West Henderson High (1,053 students) and North Henderson High (1,052 students) alongside Henderson County Career Academy.
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 Henderson County Career Academy compares
Henderson County Career Academy 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 | 6.7:1 | ▼ 58% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 64.2% | ▼ 3% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 114 | top 95% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
6.7:1
Leaner classes than 97% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
114
Bigger than 11% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
64.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
6.7:1
students per teacher
- 58% below state mean
Top 2% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 98% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
76.3%
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
$11,469
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 114 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 29.8 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 62.3%
Hispanic or Latino 28.9%
Two or More 5.3%
African American 2.6%
Asian 0.9%
Largest group: White at 62.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.5, Henderson County Career Academy is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Henderson County Schools, which includes Henderson County Career Academy.
$11,469
Per student
-5%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-31%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.8%
State 58.3%
Federal 19.9%
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 Henderson County Career Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Henderson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| North Henderson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Henderson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rugby Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apple Valley Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Henderson County Career Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,053
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 1,052
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 932
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 849
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 820
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Flat Rock
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~114 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~6.7:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Henderson County Career Academy's federal record.
- Compare Henderson County Career Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Henderson 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 Henderson County Career Academy
How many students attend Henderson County Career Academy?
Henderson County Career Academy has 114 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Flat Rock, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Henderson County Career Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Henderson County Career Academy is 6.7:1, which is 58% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 57% 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 Henderson County Career Academy?
64.2% of students at Henderson County Career Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Henderson County Career Academy?
The largest demographic group at Henderson County Career Academy is White at 62.3% of enrollment, in Flat Rock, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Henderson County Career Academy?
Henderson County Career Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 55/100 (higher 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 Henderson County Career Academy rank among public schools in Flat Rock?
By Resource Investment Index, Henderson County Career Academy ranks #1 of 3 public schools in Flat Rock, 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 Flat Rock on the city page.
Is Henderson County Career Academy a good school?
Henderson County Career Academy earns 55/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 98% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina. 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 Henderson County Schools?
Besides Henderson County Career Academy, Henderson County Schools also operates West Henderson High (1,053 students), North Henderson High (1,052 students), and East Henderson High (932 students). See the Henderson 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.