Enrollment
419
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Sanford, NC
J R Ingram Jr Elementary
Federal NCES profile for J R Ingram Jr Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370256002210
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 16
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
J R Ingram Jr Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of North Carolina schools.
- #6 of 9
- elementary schools in Sanford · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 58.3%
- free-lunch eligible
J R Ingram Jr Elementary has class sizes smaller than 72% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, J R Ingram Jr Elementary ranks #6 of 9 elementary schools in Sanford, NC.
School address
District: Lee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370256002210 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
31.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.5:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-15% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
58.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-12% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How J R Ingram Jr Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at J R Ingram Jr Elementary
J R Ingram Jr Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized elementary school in Sanford, North Carolina, enrolling 419 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.5:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 58.3% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 419 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 431 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #352, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (39%) and Hispanic or Latino (30%) (diversity index 70/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 419 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 41.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Sanford's elementary schools, it stands alongside Highland Elementary (854 students): J R Ingram Jr Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.5:1 vs 14:1).
Lee County Schools also operates Lee County High (1,459 students) and Southern Lee High School (1,180 students) alongside J R Ingram Jr 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 R Ingram Jr Elementary compares
J R Ingram Jr 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.3% | ▼ 12% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 419 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
419
Bigger than 50% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
58.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 28% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
41.3%
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
$12,250
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 419 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
17
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 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 38.9%
Hispanic or Latino 30.1%
African American 22.7%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 0.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 38.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.1, J R Ingram Jr 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 Lee County Schools, which includes J R Ingram Jr Elementary.
$12,250
Per student
+2%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.8%
State 59.9%
Federal 23.3%
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 R Ingram Jr Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southern Lee High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sanlee Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Wb Wicker Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| J Glenn Edwards Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to J R Ingram Jr Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,459
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 587
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar elementary schools in Sanford
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Highland Elementary
Standard public school
854 students 14:1 students per teacher
Wb Wicker Elementary
Standard public school
588 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
J Glenn Edwards Elementary
Standard public school
587 students 15.1:1 students per teacher
Greenwood Elementary
Standard public school
571 students 13.9:1 students per teacher
Tramway Elementary
Standard public school
559 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Deep River Elementary
Standard public school
557 students 15.1:1 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 (~419 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on J R Ingram Jr Elementary's federal record.
- Compare J R Ingram Jr Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Lee 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 R Ingram Jr Elementary
How many students attend J R Ingram Jr Elementary?
J R Ingram Jr Elementary has 419 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Sanford, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at J R Ingram Jr Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at J R Ingram Jr Elementary is 13.5:1, which is 15% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 14% 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 R Ingram Jr Elementary?
58.3% of students at J R Ingram Jr Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of J R Ingram Jr Elementary?
The largest demographic group at J R Ingram Jr Elementary is White at 38.9% of enrollment, in Sanford, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for J R Ingram Jr Elementary?
J R Ingram Jr Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 R Ingram Jr Elementary rank among elementary schools in Sanford?
By Resource Investment Index, J R Ingram Jr Elementary ranks #6 of 9 elementary schools in Sanford, 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 Sanford on the city page.
Is J R Ingram Jr Elementary a good school?
J R Ingram Jr Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% 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 Lee County Schools?
Besides J R Ingram Jr Elementary, Lee County Schools also operates Lee County High (1,459 students), Southern Lee High School (1,180 students), and Sanlee Middle School (792 students). See the Lee 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.