- Enrollment
- 596
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Mill Spring, NC
Polk Central Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Polk Central Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370372000780
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 24
📋 Attendance 53
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Polk Central Elementary School earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 3
- public schools in Mill Spring · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Polk Central Elementary School has class sizes smaller than 83% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Polk Central Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Mill Spring, NC.
School address
District: Polk County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370372000780 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+41 students YoY
Polk Central Elementary School grew from 341 students in 2022-23 to 382 in 2023-24 (+12.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 30.1 → 27.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+41 students YoY 370372000780 · Mill Spring, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
379 enr · 12.6:1 · 99.1% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: Polk County High School (596 students)
Polk Central Elementary School grew from 341 students in 2022-23 to 382 in 2023-24 (+12.0%). Teacher FTE lost 30.1 → 27.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Polk Central Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Polk County Hi
Polk County High School
596 students
- Polk County Mi
Polk County Middle School
454 students
- This school
Polk Central Elementary School
379 students
- Tryon Elementa
Tryon Elementary School
367 students
- Saluda Element 142
Saluda Elementary School
142 students
- Sunny View Ele 120
Sunny View Elementary School
120 students
What this shows Polk Central Elementary School reports 379 students on the CCD universe file.
How Polk Central Elementary School compares
Polk Central Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 12.6:1 | ▼ 20% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.1% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 379 | top 67% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.6:1
Leaner classes than 70% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
379
Bigger than 44% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
12.6:1
students per teacher
- 20% below state mean
Top 17% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 83% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
18.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$15,041
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 379 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 78.9%
Hispanic or Latino 10.3%
African American 5.3%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 78.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 36.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 36.1, Polk Central Elementary School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Polk County Schools reports $15,041 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Polk Central Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Polk County High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Polk County Middle School | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Tryon Elementary School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Saluda Elementary School | Smaller | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Sunny View Elementary School | Smaller | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Polk Central Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 454
- Students per teacher
- 11.9:1
- Resource Index
- 58/100
- Enrollment
- 367
- Students per teacher
- 12.2:1
- Resource Index
- 53/100
- Enrollment
- 142
- Students per teacher
- 9.5:1
- Resource Index
- 59/100
- Enrollment
- 120
- Students per teacher
- 10.9:1
- Resource Index
- 63/100
Similar other schools in Mill Spring
1 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~379 students)
Frequently asked questions about Polk Central Elementary School
How many students attend Polk Central Elementary School?
Polk Central Elementary School has 379 students enrolled. It is a public school in Mill Spring, NC. CCD year-over-year: 341 (2022-23) → 382 (2023-24), up 41.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Polk Central Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Polk Central Elementary School is 12.6:1, which is 20% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 20% 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 Polk Central Elementary School?
99.1% of students at Polk Central Elementary School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Polk Central Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Polk Central Elementary School is White at 78.9% of enrollment, in Mill Spring, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Polk Central Elementary School?
Polk Central Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (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).
How does Polk Central Elementary School rank among public schools in Mill Spring?
By Resource Investment Index, Polk Central Elementary School ranks #3 of 3 public schools in Mill Spring, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking.
What other schools are in Polk County Schools?
Besides Polk Central Elementary School, Polk County Schools also operates Polk County High School (596 students), Polk County Middle School (454 students), and Tryon Elementary School (367 students). See the Polk County Schools district page for the complete list.