Enrollment
449
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Rockingham, NC
L J Bell Elementary
Federal NCES profile for L J Bell Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370387001553
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 10
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
L J Bell Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Rockingham · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.4%
- free-lunch eligible
L J Bell Elementary has class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, L J Bell Elementary ranks #3 of 4 schools in Rockingham, NC.
School address
District: Richmond County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370387001553 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
33.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.4%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How L J Bell Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at L J Bell Elementary
L J Bell Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Rockingham, North Carolina, enrolling 449 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 99.4% of students qualify for free meals, 51% above the North Carolina average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
With 449 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.
Against 541 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #372.
Its student body is led by White (41%) and African American (36%) (diversity index 68/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 449 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 38.3% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 22.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Rockingham's public schools, it stands alongside Washington Street Elementary (417 students): L J Bell Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.6:1 vs 14.9:1).
Richmond County Schools also operates Richmond Senior High (1,365 students) and Rockingham Middle (606 students) alongside L J Bell 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 L J Bell Elementary compares
L J Bell 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 | 13.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.4% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 449 | top 57% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
449
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 30% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.3%
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
$12,389
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 449 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 40 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.9 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 41.0%
African American 35.9%
Hispanic or Latino 12.5%
Two or More 6.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.7%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: White at 41.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.2, L J Bell 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 Richmond County Schools, which includes L J Bell Elementary.
$12,389
Per student
+3%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 14.0%
State 63.2%
Federal 22.8%
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 L J Bell Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Richmond Senior High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Rockingham Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fairview Heights Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mineral Springs Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Rockingham Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to L J Bell Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,365
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 606
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 480
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 441
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 430
- Students per teacher
- 13.9:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar other schools in Rockingham
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~449 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on L J Bell Elementary's federal record.
- Compare L J Bell Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Richmond 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 L J Bell Elementary
How many students attend L J Bell Elementary?
L J Bell Elementary has 449 students enrolled. It is a public school in Rockingham, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at L J Bell Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at L J Bell Elementary is 13.6:1, which is 14% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 13% 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 L J Bell Elementary?
99.4% of students at L J Bell Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of L J Bell Elementary?
The largest demographic group at L J Bell Elementary is White at 41.0% of enrollment, in Rockingham, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for L J Bell Elementary?
L J Bell 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 L J Bell Elementary rank among schools in Rockingham?
By Resource Investment Index, L J Bell Elementary ranks #3 of 4 schools in Rockingham, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Rockingham on the city page.
Is L J Bell Elementary a good school?
L J Bell Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% 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 Richmond County Schools?
Besides L J Bell Elementary, Richmond County Schools also operates Richmond Senior High (1,365 students), Rockingham Middle (606 students), and Fairview Heights Elementary (480 students). See the Richmond 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.