Enrollment
332
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Winston Salem, NC
J F Kennedy High
Federal NCES profile for J F Kennedy High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 53/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370150002194
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 84
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J F Kennedy High earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 22
- schools in Winston Salem · Resource Index
- 53
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.2%
- free-lunch eligible
J F Kennedy High has class sizes smaller than 94% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J F Kennedy High ranks #1 of 22 schools in Winston Salem, NC.
School address
District: Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370150002194 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-36% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+50% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J F Kennedy High compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at J F Kennedy High
J F Kennedy High is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Winston Salem, North Carolina, enrolling 332 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 10.1:1, J F Kennedy High is leaner than roughly 94% of North Carolina schools and 36% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 99.2% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 332 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 397 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #19, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (50%) and African American (29%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 79 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 85.5% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 22.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 149 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 332 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 2 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Winston Salem's public schools, it stands alongside Speas Elementary (793 students): J F Kennedy High is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (10.1:1 vs 15.9:1).
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools also operates West Forsyth High (2,145 students) and Ronald W Reagan High School (2,122 students) alongside J F Kennedy High.
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 F Kennedy High compares
J F Kennedy High 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 | 10.1:1 | ▼ 36% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.2% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 332 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.1:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
332
Bigger than 37% 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
10.1:1
students per teacher
- 36% below state mean
Top 6% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
85.5%
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
$13,036
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
Counselors4.2 FTE
Per 79 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
85
in-school suspensions + 64 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 25.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 44.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
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
Hispanic or Latino 50.3%
African American 28.6%
White 15.1%
Two or More 5.4%
Asian 0.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 50.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.9, J F Kennedy High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools, which includes J F Kennedy High.
$13,036
Per student
+8%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-21%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 25.3%
State 52.1%
Federal 22.5%
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 F Kennedy High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Forsyth High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ronald W Reagan High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| R J Reynolds High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Forsyth High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parkland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J F Kennedy High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,122
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,759
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,647
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,569
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Winston Salem
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Speas Elementary
Standard public school
793 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Sherwood Forest Elementary
Standard public school
670 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Griffith Elementary
Standard public school
621 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Old Town Elementary
Standard public school
617 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Konnoak Elementary
Standard public school
600 students 14:1 students per teacher
Paisley Ib Magnet School
Standard public school
553 students 12:1 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 (~332 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J F Kennedy High's federal record.
- Compare J F Kennedy High against another school. Compare schools
- Winston Salem / Forsyth 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 J F Kennedy High
How many students attend J F Kennedy High?
J F Kennedy High has 332 students enrolled. It is a public school in Winston Salem, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J F Kennedy High?
The student-teacher ratio at J F Kennedy High is 10.1:1, which is 36% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 36% 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 F Kennedy High?
99.2% of students at J F Kennedy High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J F Kennedy High?
The largest demographic group at J F Kennedy High is Hispanic or Latino at 50.3% of enrollment, in Winston Salem, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J F Kennedy High?
J F Kennedy High has a Resource Investment Index of 53/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does J F Kennedy High rank among schools in Winston Salem?
By Resource Investment Index, J F Kennedy High ranks #1 of 22 schools in Winston Salem, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Winston Salem on the city page.
Is J F Kennedy High a good school?
J F Kennedy High earns 53/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% 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 Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools?
Besides J F Kennedy High, Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools also operates West Forsyth High (2,145 students), Ronald W Reagan High School (2,122 students), and R J Reynolds High (1,759 students). See the Winston Salem / Forsyth County 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.