- Enrollment
- 1,299
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hickory, NC
Ray Childers Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ray Childers Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370048002431
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 8
📋 Attendance 15
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ray Childers Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #5 of 7
- schools in Hickory · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.3:1
- students per teacher
- 70.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Ray Childers Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ray Childers Elementary ranks #5 of 7 schools in Hickory, NC.
School address
District: Burke County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370048002431 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-10 students YoY
Ray Childers Elementary held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 30.6 → 30.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-10 students YoY 370048002431 · Hickory, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
460 enr · 15.3:1 · 70.9% lunch · RII 33
Nearest enrollment peer: Freedom High (1,299 students)
Ray Childers Elementary held near 447 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-10 headcount). Teacher FTE held 30.6 → 30.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Ray Childers Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Freedom High
Freedom High
1,299 students
- East Burke Hig
East Burke High
874 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Elementary
762 students
- Robert L. Patt
Robert L. Patton High School
756 students
- Jimmy C Draugh
Jimmy C Draughn High School
661 students
- This school 460
Ray Childers Elementary
460 students
What this shows Ray Childers Elementary reports 460 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ray Childers Elementary compares
Ray Childers Elementary 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 | 15.3:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.9% | ▲ 7% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 460 | top 55% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.3:1
Leaner classes than 44% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
460
Bigger than 56% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
15.3:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 53% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 47% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
33.9%
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
$12,261
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 460 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
22
in-school suspensions + 24 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 10.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 66.1%
Asian 13.3%
Hispanic or Latino 12.6%
Two or More 6.5%
African American 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 66.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 52.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 52.5, Ray Childers Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Burke County Schools reports $12,261 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ray Childers Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Burke High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Robert L. Patton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jimmy C Draughn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ray Childers Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 874
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 762
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Hickory
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Snow Creek Elementary
Standard public school
551 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Viewmont Elementary
Standard public school
509 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Clyde Campbell Elementary
Standard public school
505 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Webb a Murray Elementary
Standard public school
380 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Oakwood Elementary
Standard public school
336 students 16:1 students per teacher
Southwest Primary
Standard public school
292 students 11.7:1 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 (~460 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.3:1)
Frequently asked questions about Ray Childers Elementary
How many students attend Ray Childers Elementary?
Ray Childers Elementary has 460 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hickory, NC. CCD year-over-year: 457 (2022-23) → 447 (2023-24), nearly flat (-10).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ray Childers Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ray Childers Elementary is 15.3:1, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 3% 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 Ray Childers Elementary?
70.9% of students at Ray Childers Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ray Childers Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ray Childers Elementary is White at 66.1% of enrollment, in Hickory, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 52.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ray Childers Elementary?
Ray Childers Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 Ray Childers Elementary rank among schools in Hickory?
By Resource Investment Index, Ray Childers Elementary ranks #5 of 7 schools in Hickory, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hickory on the city page.
What other schools are in Burke County Schools?
Besides Ray Childers Elementary, Burke County Schools also operates Freedom High (1,299 students), East Burke High (874 students), and Mountain View Elementary (762 students). See the Burke County Schools district page for the complete list.