Enrollment
682
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hope Mills, NC
Rockfish Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Rockfish Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370001100430
👥 S:T ratio 41
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 5
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Rockfish Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Hope Mills · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14.8:1
- students per teacher
- 98.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Rockfish Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Rockfish Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Hope Mills, NC.
School address
District: Cumberland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370001100430 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.8:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-6% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
98.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+49% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Rockfish Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Rockfish Elementary
Rockfish Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Hope Mills, North Carolina, enrolling 682 students.
At 14.8:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 98.3% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 682 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 469 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #380, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (35%) and White (30%) (diversity index 74/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 682 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 38.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 25.7% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Hope Mills's public schools, it stands alongside Gallberry Farm Elementary (883 students): Rockfish Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (14.8:1 vs 14.7:1).
Cumberland County Schools also operates Jack Britt High (1,940 students) and Pine Forest High (1,551 students) alongside Rockfish Elementary.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Rockfish Elementary compares
Rockfish Elementary on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 14.8:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 98.3% | ▲ 49% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 682 | top 26% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.8:1
Leaner classes than 49% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
682
Bigger than 79% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
98.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 49% 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
14.8:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 46% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 54% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.1%
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
$12,412
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
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 682 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
African American 34.6%
White 29.9%
Hispanic or Latino 19.2%
Two or More 11.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 2.5%
Asian 1.3%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.6%
Largest group: African American at 34.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 73.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 73.9, Rockfish Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cumberland County Schools, which includes Rockfish Elementary.
$12,412
Per student
+3%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-25%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.5%
State 57.7%
Federal 25.7%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Rockfish Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jack Britt High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Pine Forest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cape Fear High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| South View High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Gray's Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Rockfish Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,940
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,551
- Students per teacher
- 18.9:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,515
- Students per teacher
- 18.3:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,461
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 38/100
- Enrollment
- 1,458
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
Similar other schools in Hope Mills
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Gallberry Farm Elementary
Standard public school
883 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Ed V Baldwin Elementary
Standard public school
634 students 17.1:1 students per teacher
C Wayne Collier Elementary
Standard public school
532 students 19:1 students per teacher
Gray's Creek Elementary
Standard public school
428 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Similar other schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~682 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~14.8:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Rockfish Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Rockfish Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Cumberland County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Rockfish Elementary
How many students attend Rockfish Elementary?
Rockfish Elementary has 682 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hope Mills, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Rockfish Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Rockfish Elementary is 14.8:1, which is 6% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 6% 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 Rockfish Elementary?
98.3% of students at Rockfish Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Rockfish Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Rockfish Elementary is African American at 34.6% of enrollment, in Hope Mills, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 73.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Rockfish Elementary?
Rockfish Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Rockfish Elementary rank among schools in Hope Mills?
By Resource Investment Index, Rockfish Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Hope Mills, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hope Mills on the city page.
Is Rockfish Elementary a good school?
Rockfish Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Cumberland County Schools?
Besides Rockfish Elementary, Cumberland County Schools also operates Jack Britt High (1,940 students), Pine Forest High (1,551 students), and Cape Fear High (1,515 students). See the Cumberland County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.