Enrollment
439
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Shelby, NC
Jefferson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Jefferson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370090002713
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 12
📋 Attendance 54
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Jefferson Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #6 of 12
- schools in Shelby · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 98.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Jefferson Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Elementary ranks #6 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC.
School address
District: Cleveland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370090002713 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
30.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.6:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-8% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
98.1%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Jefferson Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Jefferson Elementary
Jefferson Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Shelby, North Carolina, enrolling 439 students.
At 14.6:1, 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 98.1% of students eligible for free meals.
With 439 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 537 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #96.
Its student body is led by African American (45%) and White (38%) (diversity index 64/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 439 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 18.5% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 19.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Shelby's public schools, it stands alongside Pinnacle Classical Academy (1,178 students): Jefferson Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.6:1 vs 31:1).
Cleveland County Schools also operates Kings Mountain High (1,305 students) and Crest High (1,098 students) alongside Jefferson 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 Jefferson Elementary compares
Jefferson 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 | 14.6:1 | ▼ 8% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.1% | ▲ 49% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 439 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
439
Bigger than 53% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
98.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 43% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
18.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,957
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 439 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 7 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.3 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
African American 44.6%
White 37.8%
Two or More 9.6%
Hispanic or Latino 7.3%
Asian 0.7%
Largest group: African American at 44.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 64.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 64.4, Jefferson 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 Cleveland County Schools, which includes Jefferson Elementary.
$11,957
Per student
0%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.4%
State 59.1%
Federal 19.5%
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 Jefferson 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 | Similar S:T ratio |
| Crest Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Shelby High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Jefferson Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,305
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- 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
Union Elementary
Standard public school
413 students 13.3:1 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 (~439 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Jefferson Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Jefferson Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Cleveland 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 Jefferson Elementary
How many students attend Jefferson Elementary?
Jefferson Elementary has 439 students enrolled. It is a public school in Shelby, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Jefferson Elementary is 14.6:1, which is 8% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 7% 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 Jefferson Elementary?
98.1% of students at Jefferson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Jefferson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Jefferson Elementary is African American at 44.6% of enrollment, in Shelby, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 64.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Jefferson Elementary?
Jefferson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (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 Jefferson Elementary rank among schools in Shelby?
By Resource Investment Index, Jefferson Elementary ranks #6 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.
Is Jefferson Elementary a good school?
Jefferson Elementary earns 44/100 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 Cleveland County Schools?
Besides Jefferson 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.
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.