- Enrollment
- 1,827
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Gaffney, SC
Northwest Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Northwest Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 450150000297
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 15
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Northwest Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the South Carolina median.
- #3 of 8
- schools in Gaffney · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 67.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Northwest Elementary has class sizes near the South Carolina median. Computed live against every South Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest Elementary ranks #3 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC.
School address
District: Cherokee 01 · South Carolina
NCES ID 450150000297 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Northwest Elementary held near 425 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 29.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 450150000297 · Gaffney, SC Other · SMALL · TRAD
423 enr · 15.1:1 · 67.3% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Gaffney High (1,827 students)
Northwest Elementary held near 425 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 28.5 → 29.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · South Carolina schools → · Find another →
Northwest Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Gaffney High
Gaffney High
1,827 students
- Gaffney Middle
Gaffney Middle
851 students
- B. D. Lee Elem 603
B. D. Lee Elementary
603 students
- Grassy Pond El 519
Grassy Pond Elementary
519 students
- Blacksburg Hig 482
Blacksburg High
482 students
- This school 423
Northwest Elementary
423 students
What this shows Northwest Elementary reports 423 students on the CCD universe file.
How Northwest Elementary compares
Northwest Elementary held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs South Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs South Carolina | South Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.1:1 | ▲ 6% | 14.3:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 67.3% | ▼ 9% | 74.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 423 | top 67% | - | - |
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.
423
Bigger than 51% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
67.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 9% below the South Carolina average of 74.0%
Above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 6% above state mean
Top 65% in South Carolina - lower ratio than 35% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.1%
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
$13,668
per pupil, district-wide
- below South Carolina avg of $15,911
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 423 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 80.1%
African American 9.9%
Hispanic or Latino 6.4%
Two or More 1.9%
Asian 1.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Largest group: White at 80.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 34.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 34.4, Northwest Elementary is less mixed than the South Carolina school average of 52.7.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cherokee 01 reports $13,668 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Northwest Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gaffney High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Gaffney Middle | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| B. D. Lee Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Grassy Pond Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Blacksburg High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Northwest Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 851
- Students per teacher
- 12.7:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 603
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 519
- Students per teacher
- 17.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 482
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Gaffney
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Cherokee Charter School
Standard public school
633 students 12.9:1 students per teacher
B. D. Lee Elementary
Standard public school
603 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Grassy Pond Elementary
Standard public school
519 students 17.3:1 students per teacher
Limestone-Central Elementary
Standard public school
436 students 11.8:1 students per teacher
Luther L. Vaughan Elementary
Standard public school
399 students 11.4:1 students per teacher
Corinth Elementary
Standard public school
292 students 10.8:1 students per teacher
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 (~423 students)
Frequently asked questions about Northwest Elementary
How many students attend Northwest Elementary?
Northwest Elementary has 423 students enrolled. It is a public school in Gaffney, SC. CCD year-over-year: 419 (2022-23) → 425 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Northwest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Northwest Elementary is 15.1:1, which is 6% higher than the South Carolina average of 14.3:1 and 4% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Northwest Elementary?
67.3% of students at Northwest Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the South Carolina average of 74.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Northwest Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Northwest Elementary is White at 80.1% of enrollment, in Gaffney, SC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Northwest Elementary?
Northwest Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical 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 Northwest Elementary rank among schools in Gaffney?
By Resource Investment Index, Northwest Elementary ranks #3 of 8 schools in Gaffney, SC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Gaffney on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherokee 01?
Besides Northwest Elementary, Cherokee 01 also operates Gaffney High (1,827 students), Gaffney Middle (851 students), and B. D. Lee Elementary (603 students). See the Cherokee 01 district page for the complete list.