Enrollment
400
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Elizabeth City, NC
J C Sawyer Elementary
Federal NCES profile for J C Sawyer Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 32/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370354001455
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 20
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J C Sawyer Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #5 of 6
- elementary schools in Elizabeth City · Resource Index
- 32
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 99.2%
- free-lunch eligible
J C Sawyer Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J C Sawyer Elementary ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Elizabeth City, NC.
School address
NCES ID 370354001455 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
26.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.4:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J C Sawyer Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at J C Sawyer Elementary
J C Sawyer Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized elementary school in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, enrolling 400 students.
At 15.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 99.2% of students eligible for free meals.
With 400 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 506 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #376, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (48%) and White (26%) (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 400 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 45.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Elizabeth City's elementary schools, it stands alongside Central Elementary (484 students): J C Sawyer Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.4:1 vs 22:1).
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools also operates Northeastern High (658 students) and Pasquotank County High (653 students) alongside J C Sawyer 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 J C Sawyer Elementary compares
J C Sawyer 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 | 15.4:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.2% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 400 | top 64% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
400
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 55% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
45.3%
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
$13,245
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 400 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
15
in-school suspensions + 64 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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
African American 48.0%
White 26.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.8%
Two or More 7.0%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.8%
Largest group: African American at 48.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.7, J C Sawyer Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools, which includes J C Sawyer Elementary.
$13,245
Per student
+10%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-20%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 18.8%
State 61.8%
Federal 19.4%
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 J C Sawyer Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Northeastern High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Pasquotank County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Central Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Elizabeth City Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sheep-Harney Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J C Sawyer Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 658
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 653
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 22:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 484
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 441
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
Similar elementary schools in Elizabeth City
5 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Central Elementary
Standard public school
484 students 22:1 students per teacher
Northside Elementary
Standard public school
419 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
P W Moore Elementary
Standard public school
353 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Weeksville Elementary
Standard public school
304 students 19:1 students per teacher
Pasquotank Elementary
Standard public school
270 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
Similar elementary 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 (~400 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.4:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J C Sawyer Elementary's federal record.
- Compare J C Sawyer Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public 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 J C Sawyer Elementary
How many students attend J C Sawyer Elementary?
J C Sawyer Elementary has 400 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Elizabeth City, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J C Sawyer Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J C Sawyer Elementary is 15.4:1, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 2% 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 J C Sawyer Elementary?
99.2% of students at J C Sawyer Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J C Sawyer Elementary?
The largest demographic group at J C Sawyer Elementary is African American at 48.0% of enrollment, in Elizabeth City, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J C Sawyer Elementary?
J C Sawyer Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 32/100 (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 J C Sawyer Elementary rank among elementary schools in Elizabeth City?
By Resource Investment Index, J C Sawyer Elementary ranks #5 of 6 elementary schools in Elizabeth City, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all elementary schools in Elizabeth City on the city page.
Is J C Sawyer Elementary a good school?
J C Sawyer Elementary earns 32/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. 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 Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools?
Besides J C Sawyer Elementary, Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools also operates Northeastern High (658 students), Pasquotank County High (653 students), and Central Elementary (484 students). See the Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools district page for the complete list.
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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.