- Enrollment
- 2,290
- Students per teacher
- 22.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Bennett, NC
Highfalls Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Highfalls Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370309001319
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 17
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Highfalls Elementary earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 41.0%
- free-lunch eligible
- 293
- students enrolled
Highfalls Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Moore County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370309001319 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+18 students YoY
Highfalls Elementary grew from 256 students in 2022-23 to 274 in 2023-24 (+7.0%).
Teacher FTE added 21.7 → 22.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+18 students YoY 370309001319 · Bennett, NC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
293 enr · 14:1 · 41.0% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: Pinecrest High (2,290 students)
Highfalls Elementary grew from 256 students in 2022-23 to 274 in 2023-24 (+7.0%). Teacher FTE added 21.7 → 22.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Highfalls Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Pinecrest High
Pinecrest High
2,290 students
- Union Pines Hi
Union Pines High
1,462 students
- West Pine Midd 717
West Pine Middle
717 students
- Mcdeeds Creek 707
Mcdeeds Creek Elementary
707 students
- Aberdeen Eleme 675
Aberdeen Elementary
675 students
- This school 293
Highfalls Elementary
293 students
What this shows Highfalls Elementary reports 293 students on the CCD universe file.
How Highfalls Elementary compares
Highfalls 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 | 14:1 | ▼ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 41.0% | ▼ 38% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 293 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
293
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
41.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% 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
14:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 35% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
33.4%
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
$11,374
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 293 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 9 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 86.7%
Hispanic or Latino 9.2%
Two or More 2.7%
Asian 0.7%
African American 0.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: White at 86.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 23.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 23.9, Highfalls Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Moore County Schools reports $11,374 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Highfalls Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pinecrest High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Union Pines High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Pine Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mcdeeds Creek Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Aberdeen Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Highfalls Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,462
- Students per teacher
- 20:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 717
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 707
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 675
- Students per teacher
- 15.3:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
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 (~293 students)
Frequently asked questions about Highfalls Elementary
How many students attend Highfalls Elementary?
Highfalls Elementary has 293 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Bennett, NC. CCD year-over-year: 256 (2022-23) → 274 (2023-24), up 18.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Highfalls Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Highfalls Elementary is 14:1, which is 11% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 11% 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 Highfalls Elementary?
41.0% of students at Highfalls Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Highfalls Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Highfalls Elementary is White at 86.7% of enrollment, in Bennett, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Highfalls Elementary?
Highfalls Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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).
What other schools are in Moore County Schools?
Besides Highfalls Elementary, Moore County Schools also operates Pinecrest High (2,290 students), Union Pines High (1,462 students), and West Pine Middle (717 students). See the Moore County Schools district page for the complete list.