- Enrollment
- 996
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Topton, NC
Nantahala School
Federal NCES profile for Nantahala School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 63/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370276001142
👥 S:T ratio 68
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 81
📋 Attendance 36
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Nantahala School earns 63/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 97% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina.
- 63
- Resource Index · Higher
- 8.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 58.8%
- free-lunch eligible
- 97
- students enrolled
Nantahala School has class sizes smaller than 97% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
School address
District: Macon County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370276001142 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+2 students YoY
Nantahala School held near 87 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 12.6 → 12.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+2 students YoY 370276001142 · Topton, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
97 enr · 8.1:1 · 58.8% lunch · RII 63
Nearest enrollment peer: Franklin High (996 students)
Nantahala School held near 87 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+2 headcount). Teacher FTE held 12.6 → 12.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Nantahala School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Franklin High
Franklin High
996 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Intermediate
614 students
- Macon Middle S
Macon Middle School
576 students
- South Macon El
South Macon Elementary
465 students
- Iotla Valley E
Iotla Valley Elementary
408 students
- This school 97
Nantahala School
97 students
What this shows Nantahala School reports 97 students on the CCD universe file.
How Nantahala School compares
Nantahala School 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 | 8.1:1 | ▼ 49% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 58.8% | ▼ 11% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 97 | top 96% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
8.1:1
Leaner classes than 95% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
97
Bigger than 10% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
58.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 11% 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
8.1:1
students per teacher
- 49% below state mean
Top 3% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 97% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
25.8%
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
$13,238
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 97 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.2 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 83.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.2%
Two or More 5.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 3.1%
Largest group: White at 83.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 29.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 29.2, Nantahala School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Macon County Schools reports $13,238 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Nantahala School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Franklin High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Intermediate | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Macon Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South Macon Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Iotla Valley Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Nantahala School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 614
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 55/100
- Enrollment
- 576
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 465
- Students per teacher
- 10.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 408
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
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 (~97 students)
Frequently asked questions about Nantahala School
How many students attend Nantahala School?
Nantahala School has 97 students enrolled. It is a public school in Topton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 85 (2022-23) → 87 (2023-24), nearly flat (+2).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Nantahala School?
The student-teacher ratio at Nantahala School is 8.1:1, which is 49% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 48% 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 Nantahala School?
58.8% of students at Nantahala School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Nantahala School?
The largest demographic group at Nantahala School is White at 83.5% of enrollment, in Topton, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Nantahala School?
Nantahala School has a Resource Investment Index of 63/100 (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).
What other schools are in Macon County Schools?
Besides Nantahala School, Macon County Schools also operates Franklin High (996 students), Mountain View Intermediate (614 students), and Macon Middle School (576 students). See the Macon County Schools district page for the complete list.