Enrollment
76
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Shelby, NC
North Shelby
Federal NCES profile for North Shelby, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370090002719
👥 S:T ratio 80
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 85
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
North Shelby earns 49/100 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.
- #3 of 12
- schools in Shelby · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 5.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 96.4%
- free-lunch eligible
North Shelby has class sizes smaller than 99% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, North Shelby ranks #3 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC.
School address
District: Cleveland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370090002719 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
15.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
5.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-68% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
96.4%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How North Shelby compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at North Shelby
North Shelby is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Shelby, North Carolina, enrolling 76 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 5.1:1, North Shelby is leaner than roughly 99% of North Carolina schools and 68% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 96.4% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 97% of North Carolina schools, with 76 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 40 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #27.
Its student body is led by White (57%) and African American (24%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 76 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 50.0% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Shelby's public schools, it stands alongside Pinnacle Classical Academy (1,178 students): North Shelby is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (5.1:1 vs 31:1).
Cleveland County Schools also operates Kings Mountain High (1,305 students) and Crest High (1,098 students) alongside North Shelby.
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 Shelby compares
North Shelby 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 | 5.1:1 | ▼ 68% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.4% | ▲ 46% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 76 | top 97% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
5.1:1
Leaner classes than 98% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
76
Bigger than 8% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
96.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
5.1:1
students per teacher
- 68% 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
50.0%
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
$11,957
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 76 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.3 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 56.6%
African American 23.7%
Hispanic or Latino 10.5%
Two or More 6.6%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 1.3%
Largest group: White at 56.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.8, North Shelby is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cleveland County Schools, which includes North Shelby.
$11,957
Per student
0%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.4%
State 59.1%
Federal 19.5%
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 Shelby Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Mountain High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Burns High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crest Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelby High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to North Shelby's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,305
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,098
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 928
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Shelby
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Standard public school
1,178 students 31:1 students per teacher
Elizabeth Elementary
Standard public school
649 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Springmore Elementary
Standard public school
618 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Boiling Springs Elementary
Standard public school
558 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Township Three Elementary
Standard public school
540 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Elementary
Standard public school
439 students 14.6:1 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 (~76 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~5.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on North Shelby's federal record.
- Compare North Shelby against another school. Compare schools
- Cleveland 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 Shelby
How many students attend North Shelby?
North Shelby has 76 students enrolled. It is a special-education school in Shelby, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at North Shelby?
The student-teacher ratio at North Shelby is 5.1:1, which is 68% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 68% 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 Shelby?
96.4% of students at North Shelby are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of North Shelby?
The largest demographic group at North Shelby is White at 56.6% of enrollment, in Shelby, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for North Shelby?
North Shelby has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 Shelby rank among schools in Shelby?
By Resource Investment Index, North Shelby ranks #3 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Shelby on the city page.
Is North Shelby a good school?
North Shelby earns 49/100 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. 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 Cleveland County Schools?
Besides North Shelby, Cleveland County Schools also operates Kings Mountain High (1,305 students), Crest High (1,098 students), and Burns High (928 students). See the Cleveland 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.