- Enrollment
- 1,299
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Morganton, NC
Robert L. Patton High School
Federal NCES profile for Robert L. Patton High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370048002832
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 50
📋 Attendance 35
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Robert L. Patton High School earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 88% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Morganton · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 19.4:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 49.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Robert L. Patton High School has class sizes larger than 88% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Robert L. Patton High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Morganton, NC.
School address
District: Burke County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370048002832 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Robert L. Patton High School held near 753 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 39.9 → 42.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 370048002832 · Morganton, NC High · MID · TRAD
756 enr · 19.4:1 · 49.1% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Freedom High (1,299 students)
Robert L. Patton High School held near 753 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE added 39.9 → 42.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Robert L. Patton High School 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
- This school
Robert L. Patton High School
756 students
- Jimmy C Draugh
Jimmy C Draughn High School
661 students
- East Burke Mid
East Burke Middle
630 students
What this shows Robert L. Patton High School reports 756 students on the CCD universe file.
How Robert L. Patton High School compares
Robert L. Patton High 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 | 19.4:1 | ▲ 23% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.1% | ▼ 26% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 756 | top 21% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.4:1
Leaner classes than 18% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
756
Bigger than 83% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
19.4:1
students per teacher
- 23% above state mean
Top 88% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 12% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
26.1%
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
$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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 252 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
43
in-school suspensions + 43 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 11.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 70.1%
Hispanic or Latino 21.8%
Two or More 3.6%
Asian 2.9%
African American 1.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 70.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 45.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 45.9, Robert L. Patton High School is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 18
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 Robert L. Patton High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | Larger | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Burke High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Jimmy C Draughn High School | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Burke Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Robert L. Patton High School'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
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 630
- Students per teacher
- 19.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar high schools in Morganton
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~756 students)
Frequently asked questions about Robert L. Patton High School
How many students attend Robert L. Patton High School?
Robert L. Patton High School has 756 students enrolled. It is a high school in Morganton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 752 (2022-23) → 753 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Robert L. Patton High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Robert L. Patton High School is 19.4:1, which is 23% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 24% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Robert L. Patton High School?
49.1% of students at Robert L. Patton High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Robert L. Patton High School?
The largest demographic group at Robert L. Patton High School is White at 70.1% of enrollment, in Morganton, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Robert L. Patton High School?
Robert L. Patton High School 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 Robert L. Patton High School rank among high schools in Morganton?
By Resource Investment Index, Robert L. Patton High School ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Morganton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Morganton on the city page.
What other schools are in Burke County Schools?
Besides Robert L. Patton High School, 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.