- Enrollment
- 2,243
- Students per teacher
- 19:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Wilmington, NC
Lake Forest Academy
Federal NCES profile for Lake Forest Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 370333002865
👥 S:T ratio 87
🌟 Gifted program 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lake Forest Academy earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina.
- #19 of 24
- elementary schools in Wilmington · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 3.2:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 92.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Lake Forest Academy has class sizes smaller than 99% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lake Forest Academy ranks #19 of 24 elementary schools in Wilmington, NC.
School address
District: New Hanover County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370333002865 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Lake Forest Academy grew from 38 students in 2022-23 to 43 in 2023-24 (+13.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 14.0 → 13.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+5 students YoY 370333002865 · Wilmington, NC Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
45 enr · 3.2:1 · 92.1% lunch · RII 39
Nearest enrollment peer: Emsley a Laney High (2,243 students)
Lake Forest Academy grew from 38 students in 2022-23 to 43 in 2023-24 (+13.2%). Teacher FTE lost 14.0 → 13.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Lake Forest Academy in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Emsley a Laney
Emsley a Laney High
2,243 students
- John T Hoggard
John T Hoggard High
2,082 students
- Eugene Ashley
Eugene Ashley High
1,893 students
- New Hanover Hi
New Hanover High
1,437 students
- Charles P Murr
Charles P Murray Middle
907 students
- This school 45
Lake Forest Academy
45 students
What this shows Lake Forest Academy reports 45 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lake Forest Academy compares
Lake Forest Academy is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 3.2:1 | ▼ 80% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 92.1% | ▲ 40% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 45 | top 98% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
3.2:1
Leaner classes than 99% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
45
Bigger than 5% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
92.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 40% 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
3.2:1
students per teacher
- 80% below state mean
Top 1% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 99% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
64.4%
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
$13,808
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
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 22.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 46.7%
White 31.1%
Two or More 13.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.2%
Largest group: African American at 46.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.3, Lake Forest Academy is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
District finance for New Hanover County Schools reports $13,808 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lake Forest Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Emsley a Laney High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| John T Hoggard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eugene Ashley High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| New Hanover High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Charles P Murray Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lake Forest Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,082
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 1,893
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,437
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 907
- Students per teacher
- 17.1:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Similar elementary schools in Wilmington
6 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Porters Neck Elementary
Standard public school
666 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Ogden Elementary
Standard public school
619 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Masonboro Elementary
Standard public school
564 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Heyward C Bellamy Elem
Standard public school
533 students 14:1 students per teacher
The International School at Gregory
Standard public school
514 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Edwin a Anderson Elementary
Standard public school
514 students 12.5:1 students per teacher
Nationwide elementary 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 (~45 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~3.2:1)
Frequently asked questions about Lake Forest Academy
How many students attend Lake Forest Academy?
Lake Forest Academy has 45 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Wilmington, NC. CCD year-over-year: 38 (2022-23) → 43 (2023-24), up 5.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Lake Forest Academy is 3.2:1, which is 80% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 80% 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 Lake Forest Academy?
92.1% of students at Lake Forest Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lake Forest Academy?
The largest demographic group at Lake Forest Academy is African American at 46.7% of enrollment, in Wilmington, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lake Forest Academy?
Lake Forest Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Lake Forest Academy rank among elementary schools in Wilmington?
By Resource Investment Index, Lake Forest Academy ranks #19 of 24 elementary schools in Wilmington, 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 Wilmington on the city page.
What other schools are in New Hanover County Schools?
Besides Lake Forest Academy, New Hanover County Schools also operates Emsley a Laney High (2,243 students), John T Hoggard High (2,082 students), and Eugene Ashley High (1,893 students). See the New Hanover County Schools district page for the complete list.