- Enrollment
- 1,305
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Shelby, NC
James Love Elementary
Federal NCES profile for James Love Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370090002712
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 25
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
James Love Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 84% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 12
- schools in Shelby · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.5:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.1%
- free-lunch eligible
James Love Elementary has class sizes smaller than 84% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, James Love Elementary ranks #4 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC.
School address
District: Cleveland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370090002712 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
James Love Elementary held near 356 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 30.3 → 29.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 370090002712 · Shelby, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
376 enr · 12.5:1 · 99.1% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Kings Mountain High (1,305 students)
James Love Elementary held near 356 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 30.3 → 29.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
James Love Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain High
1,305 students
- Crest High
Crest High
1,098 students
- Burns High
Burns High
928 students
- Crest Middle
Crest Middle
810 students
- Shelby High
Shelby High
792 students
- This school 376
James Love Elementary
376 students
What this shows James Love Elementary reports 376 students on the CCD universe file.
How James Love Elementary compares
James Love Elementary 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 | 12.5:1 | ▼ 21% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.1% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 376 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.5:1
Leaner classes than 71% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
376
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.1%
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
12.5:1
students per teacher
- 21% below state mean
Top 16% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 84% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
24.7%
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
$12,540
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 376 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
57
in-school suspensions + 18 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 15.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 52.7%
White 24.5%
Hispanic or Latino 14.9%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 0.5%
Largest group: African American at 52.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.5, James Love Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cleveland County Schools reports $12,540 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How James Love Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Mountain High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Burns High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crest Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelby High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to James Love Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,098
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 928
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Shelby
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Standard public school
1,178 students 31:1 students per teacher
Elizabeth Elementary
Standard public school
649 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Springmore Elementary
Standard public school
618 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Boiling Springs Elementary
Standard public school
558 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Township Three Elementary
Standard public school
540 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Elementary
Standard public school
439 students 14.6:1 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 (~376 students)
Frequently asked questions about James Love Elementary
How many students attend James Love Elementary?
James Love Elementary has 376 students enrolled. It is a public school in Shelby, NC. CCD year-over-year: 350 (2022-23) → 356 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at James Love Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at James Love Elementary is 12.5:1, which is 21% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 20% 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 James Love Elementary?
99.1% of students at James Love Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of James Love Elementary?
The largest demographic group at James Love Elementary is African American at 52.7% of enrollment, in Shelby, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for James Love Elementary?
James Love Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 James Love Elementary rank among schools in Shelby?
By Resource Investment Index, James Love Elementary ranks #4 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Shelby on the city page.
What other schools are in Cleveland County Schools?
Besides James Love Elementary, Cleveland County Schools also operates Kings Mountain High (1,305 students), Crest High (1,098 students), and Burns High (928 students). See the Cleveland County Schools district page for the complete list.