- Enrollment
- 1,459
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Sanford, NC
Lee Early College
Federal NCES profile for Lee Early College, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 54/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370256002868
👥 S:T ratio 9
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 46
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Lee Early College earns 54/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 94% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- high schools in Sanford · Resource Index
- 54
- Resource Index · Higher
- 22.7:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 40.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Lee Early College has class sizes larger than 94% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Lee Early College ranks #1 of 3 high schools in Sanford, NC.
School address
District: Lee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370256002868 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-9 students YoY
Lee Early College held near 263 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 12.0 → 12.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-9 students YoY 370256002868 · Sanford, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
272 enr · 22.7:1 · 40.4% lunch · RII 54
Nearest enrollment peer: Lee County High (1,459 students)
Lee Early College held near 263 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-9 headcount). Teacher FTE held 12.0 → 12.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Lee Early College in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lee County Hig
Lee County High
1,459 students
- Southern Lee H
Southern Lee High School
1,180 students
- Sanlee Middle
Sanlee Middle School
792 students
- Wb Wicker Elem
Wb Wicker Elementary
588 students
- J Glenn Edward
J Glenn Edwards Elementary
587 students
- This school 272
Lee Early College
272 students
What this shows Lee Early College reports 272 students on the CCD universe file.
How Lee Early College compares
Lee Early College 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 | 22.7:1 | ▲ 44% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.4% | ▼ 39% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 272 | top 80% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
22.7:1
Leaner classes than 9% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
272
Bigger than 28% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
40.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
22.7:1
students per teacher
- 44% above state mean
Top 94% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 6% of state schools
Above 20:1, running heavier than the typical U.S. public school; staffing is comparatively stretched.
Engagement
3.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
Funding equity
$13,241
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 272 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
12
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 53.3%
White 30.5%
African American 8.1%
Two or More 5.1%
Asian 2.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 53.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.3, Lee Early College is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP program Not offered
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Lee County Schools reports $13,241 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Lee Early College Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Southern Lee High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sanlee Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wb Wicker Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| J Glenn Edwards Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Lee Early College's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 high schools in Sanford
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~272 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~22.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Lee Early College
How many students attend Lee Early College?
Lee Early College has 272 students enrolled. It is a high school in Sanford, NC. CCD year-over-year: 272 (2022-23) → 263 (2023-24), nearly flat (-9).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Lee Early College?
The student-teacher ratio at Lee Early College is 22.7:1, which is 44% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 45% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Lee Early College?
40.4% of students at Lee Early College are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Lee Early College?
The largest demographic group at Lee Early College is Hispanic or Latino at 53.3% of enrollment, in Sanford, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Lee Early College?
Lee Early College has a Resource Investment Index of 54/100 (higher 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 Lee Early College rank among high schools in Sanford?
By Resource Investment Index, Lee Early College ranks #1 of 3 high 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 high schools in Sanford on the city page.
What other schools are in Lee County Schools?
Besides Lee Early College, 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.