Enrollment
588
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Chapel Hill, NC
North Chatham Elementary
Federal NCES profile for North Chatham Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370075002288
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 22
📋 Attendance 46
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Chatham Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #9 of 12
- schools in Chapel Hill · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 30.0%
- free-lunch eligible
North Chatham Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Chatham Elementary ranks #9 of 12 schools in Chapel Hill, NC.
School address
District: Chatham County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370075002288 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
39.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
30.0%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-55% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Chatham Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Chatham Elementary
North Chatham Elementary is a mid-sized combined-grade school in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, enrolling 588 students.
At 15.1:1, 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.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 30.0% free-meal eligibility runs 55% below the North Carolina average.
With 588 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 304 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #139.
Its student body is led by White (53%) and Hispanic or Latino (30%) (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 392 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 21.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Among Chapel Hill's public schools, it stands alongside Fpg Elementary (536 students): North Chatham Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.1:1 vs 13.7:1).
Chatham County Schools also operates Seaforth High (1,088 students) and Jordan Matthews High (848 students) alongside North Chatham 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 North Chatham Elementary compares
North Chatham 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 | 15.1:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 30.0% | ▼ 55% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 588 | top 37% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
588
Bigger than 72% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
30.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 55% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 50% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
21.6%
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
$13,461
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.5 FTE
Per 392 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 8 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.7 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 53.2%
Hispanic or Latino 29.8%
Two or More 7.3%
African American 6.0%
Asian 3.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 53.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.8, North Chatham 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 Chatham County Schools, which includes North Chatham Elementary.
$13,461
Per student
+12%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-19%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 38.4%
State 46.9%
Federal 14.8%
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 North Chatham Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seaforth High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jordan Matthews High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Margaret B. Pollard Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Chatham Grove Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Northwood High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Chatham Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,088
- Students per teacher
- 27.2:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 848
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 736
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 683
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Chapel Hill
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Fpg Elementary
Standard public school
536 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
New Hope Elementary
Standard public school
528 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Woods Charter
Standard public school
515 students 9.5:1 students per teacher
Mcdougle Elementary
Standard public school
497 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Rashkis Elementary
Standard public school
455 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Seawell Elementary
Standard public school
416 students 10.9:1 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 (~588 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Chatham Elementary's federal record.
- Compare North Chatham Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Chatham 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 North Chatham Elementary
How many students attend North Chatham Elementary?
North Chatham Elementary has 588 students enrolled. It is a public school in Chapel Hill, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Chatham Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at North Chatham Elementary is 15.1:1, which is 4% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 4% 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 North Chatham Elementary?
30.0% of students at North Chatham Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Chatham Elementary?
The largest demographic group at North Chatham Elementary is White at 53.2% of enrollment, in Chapel Hill, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Chatham Elementary?
North Chatham 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 North Chatham Elementary rank among schools in Chapel Hill?
By Resource Investment Index, North Chatham Elementary ranks #9 of 12 schools in Chapel Hill, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Chapel Hill on the city page.
Is North Chatham Elementary a good school?
North Chatham 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 Chatham County Schools?
Besides North Chatham Elementary, Chatham County Schools also operates Seaforth High (1,088 students), Jordan Matthews High (848 students), and Margaret B. Pollard Middle (736 students). See the Chatham 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.