- Enrollment
- 467
- Students per teacher
- 11.1:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Murphy, NC
Ranger Elementary/Middle
Federal NCES profile for Ranger Elementary/Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370078000325
👥 S:T ratio 50
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ranger Elementary/Middle earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 83% of North Carolina schools. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Murphy · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 98.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Ranger Elementary/Middle has class sizes smaller than 83% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ranger Elementary/Middle ranks #4 of 5 schools in Murphy, NC.
School address
District: Cherokee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370078000325 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
Ranger Elementary/Middle grew from 258 students in 2022-23 to 277 in 2023-24 (+7.4%).
Teacher FTE added 21.8 → 23.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+19 students YoY 370078000325 · Murphy, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
264 enr · 12.6:1 · 98.8% lunch · RII 42
Nearest enrollment peer: Murphy Elementary (467 students)
Ranger Elementary/Middle grew from 258 students in 2022-23 to 277 in 2023-24 (+7.4%). Teacher FTE added 21.8 → 23.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Ranger Elementary/Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Murphy Element
Murphy Elementary
467 students
- Murphy High
Murphy High
424 students
- Murphy Middle
Murphy Middle
353 students
- Andrews Elemen
Andrews Elementary
330 students
- This school
Ranger Elementary/Middle
264 students
- Andrews High
Andrews High
229 students
What this shows Ranger Elementary/Middle reports 264 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ranger Elementary/Middle compares
Ranger Elementary/Middle 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 | 98.8% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 264 | top 82% | - | - |
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.
264
Bigger than 27% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
98.8%
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
41.7%
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
$14,303
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 264 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 91.3%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
Two or More 3.0%
African American 0.8%
Largest group: White at 91.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 16.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 16.3, Ranger Elementary/Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cherokee County Schools reports $14,303 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ranger Elementary/Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murphy Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Murphy High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Murphy Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Andrews Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Andrews High | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ranger Elementary/Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 424
- Students per teacher
- 12.5:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 353
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 330
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
- Enrollment
- 229
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Murphy
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Murphy Elementary
Standard public school
467 students 11.1:1 students per teacher
Peachtree Elementary
Standard public school
166 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Martins Creek Elementary/Mid
Standard public school
137 students 9.8:1 students per teacher
Hiwassee Dam Elementary/Middle
Standard public school
122 students 12.2:1 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 (~264 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ranger Elementary/Middle
How many students attend Ranger Elementary/Middle?
Ranger Elementary/Middle has 264 students enrolled. It is a public school in Murphy, NC. CCD year-over-year: 258 (2022-23) → 277 (2023-24), up 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ranger Elementary/Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Ranger Elementary/Middle 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 Ranger Elementary/Middle?
98.8% of students at Ranger Elementary/Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ranger Elementary/Middle?
The largest demographic group at Ranger Elementary/Middle is White at 91.3% of enrollment, in Murphy, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ranger Elementary/Middle?
Ranger Elementary/Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (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 Ranger Elementary/Middle rank among schools in Murphy?
By Resource Investment Index, Ranger Elementary/Middle ranks #4 of 5 schools in Murphy, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Murphy on the city page.
What other schools are in Cherokee County Schools?
Besides Ranger Elementary/Middle, Cherokee County Schools also operates Murphy Elementary (467 students), Murphy High (424 students), and Murphy Middle (353 students). See the Cherokee County Schools district page for the complete list.