- Enrollment
- 467
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Murphy, NC
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle
Federal NCES profile for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 48/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370078000319
👥 S:T ratio 51
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 51
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle earns 48/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 86% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 5
- schools in Murphy · Resource Index
- 48
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.2:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 97.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle has class sizes smaller than 86% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle ranks #3 of 5 schools in Murphy, NC.
School address
District: Cherokee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370078000319 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle held near 121 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 10.9 → 11.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 370078000319 · Murphy, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
122 enr · 12.2:1 · 97.5% lunch · RII 48
Nearest enrollment peer: Murphy Elementary (467 students)
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle held near 121 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE held 10.9 → 11.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Murphy Element
Murphy Elementary
467 students
- Murphy High
Murphy High
424 students
- Murphy Middle
Murphy Middle
353 students
- Andrews Elemen
Andrews Elementary
330 students
- Ranger Element
Ranger Elementary/Middle
264 students
- This school 122
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle
122 students
What this shows Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle reports 122 students on the CCD universe file.
How Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle compares
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 12.2:1 | ▼ 23% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 97.5% | ▲ 48% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 122 | top 94% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.2:1
Leaner classes than 74% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
122
Bigger than 12% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
97.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 48% 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
12.2:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 14% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 86% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
32.0%
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
$14,303
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors0.5 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 87.7%
Hispanic or Latino 6.6%
Two or More 4.1%
African American 0.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.8%
Largest group: White at 87.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 22.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 22.5, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cherokee County Schools reports $14,303 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murphy High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murphy Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Andrews Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Ranger Elementary/Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 353
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 330
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 264
- Students per teacher
- 12.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Murphy
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Murphy Elementary
Standard public school
467 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Ranger Elementary/Middle
Standard public school
264 students 12.6:1 students per teacher
Peachtree Elementary
Standard public school
166 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Martins Creek Elementary/Mid
Standard public school
137 students 9.8:1 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 (~122 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle
How many students attend Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle?
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle has 122 students enrolled. It is a public school in Murphy, NC. CCD year-over-year: 120 (2022-23) → 121 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle is 12.2:1, which is 23% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 22% 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 Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle?
97.5% of students at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle?
The largest demographic group at Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle is White at 87.7% of enrollment, in Murphy, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle?
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 48/100 (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).
How does Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle rank among schools in Murphy?
By Resource Investment Index, Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle ranks #3 of 5 schools in Murphy, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Murphy on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherokee County Schools?
Besides Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle, Cherokee County Schools also operates Murphy Elementary (467 students), Murphy High (424 students), and Murphy Middle (353 students). See the Cherokee County Schools district page for the complete list.