- Enrollment
- 1,379
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Marion, NC
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Pleasant Gardens Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370294001183
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 7
- schools in Marion · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 57.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Pleasant Gardens Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 schools in Marion, NC.
School address
District: Mcdowell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370294001183 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School held near 309 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 22.3 → 22.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 370294001183 · Marion, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
289 enr · 13.1:1 · 57.9% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: Mcdowell High School (1,379 students)
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School held near 309 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE held 22.3 → 22.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Mcdowell High
Mcdowell High School
1,379 students
- West Mcdowell 550
West Mcdowell Middle School
550 students
- Glenwood Eleme 435
Glenwood Elementary School
435 students
- East Mcdowell 392
East Mcdowell Middle School
392 students
- West Marion El 390
West Marion Elementary School
390 students
- This school 289
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
289 students
What this shows Pleasant Gardens Elementary School reports 289 students on the CCD universe file.
How Pleasant Gardens Elementary School compares
Pleasant Gardens Elementary 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 | 13.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 57.9% | ▼ 12% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 289 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
289
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
57.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 12% 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
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 23% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
40.5%
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
$13,112
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 289 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
3
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 74.0%
Hispanic or Latino 16.6%
Two or More 5.9%
Asian 1.7%
African American 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Largest group: White at 74.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 42.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 42.1, Pleasant Gardens Elementary School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Mcdowell County Schools reports $13,112 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Pleasant Gardens Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mcdowell High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Mcdowell Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Glenwood Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Mcdowell Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| West Marion Elementary School | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Pleasant Gardens Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 550
- Students per teacher
- 13.8:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 392
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 390
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
Similar other schools in Marion
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Glenwood Elementary School
Standard public school
435 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
West Marion Elementary School
Standard public school
390 students 13:1 students per teacher
Marion Elementary School
Standard public school
333 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
Eastfield Global Magnet School
Standard public school
279 students 13.3:1 students per teacher
North Cove Elementary School
Standard public school
230 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Mcdowell Virtual Academy
Standard public school
140 students 20:1 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 (~289 students)
Frequently asked questions about Pleasant Gardens Elementary School
How many students attend Pleasant Gardens Elementary School?
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School has 289 students enrolled. It is a public school in Marion, NC. CCD year-over-year: 304 (2022-23) → 309 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pleasant Gardens Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Pleasant Gardens Elementary School is 13.1:1, which is 17% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% 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 Pleasant Gardens Elementary School?
57.9% of students at Pleasant Gardens Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Pleasant Gardens Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Pleasant Gardens Elementary School is White at 74.0% of enrollment, in Marion, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Pleasant Gardens Elementary School?
Pleasant Gardens Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Pleasant Gardens Elementary School rank among schools in Marion?
By Resource Investment Index, Pleasant Gardens Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 schools in Marion, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Marion on the city page.
What other schools are in Mcdowell County Schools?
Besides Pleasant Gardens Elementary School, Mcdowell County Schools also operates Mcdowell High School (1,379 students), West Mcdowell Middle School (550 students), and Glenwood Elementary School (435 students). See the Mcdowell County Schools district page for the complete list.