Enrollment
306
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lincolnton, NC
S Ray Lowder Elementary
Federal NCES profile for S Ray Lowder Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370268001122
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 39
📋 Attendance 49
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
S Ray Lowder Elementary earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 7
- schools in Lincolnton · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.3:1
- students per teacher
- 62.2%
- free-lunch eligible
S Ray Lowder Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, S Ray Lowder Elementary ranks #4 of 7 schools in Lincolnton, NC.
School address
District: Lincoln County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370268001122 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
20.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.3:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-3% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
62.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-6% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How S Ray Lowder Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at S Ray Lowder Elementary
S Ray Lowder Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Lincolnton, North Carolina, enrolling 306 students.
At 15.3:1, 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.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 62.2% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 306 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 271 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #61.
Its student body is led by White (50%) and Hispanic or Latino (23%) (diversity index 66/100).
Counselor coverage runs a bit thin, about 306 students per counselor, somewhat past the ASCA-recommended 250:1 benchmark.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 20.6% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 18.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Lincolnton's public schools, it stands alongside Battleground Elementary (420 students): S Ray Lowder Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.3:1 vs 12.7:1).
Lincoln County Schools also operates North Lincoln High (1,126 students) and East Lincoln High (1,047 students) alongside S Ray Lowder 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 S Ray Lowder Elementary compares
S Ray Lowder 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 | 15.3:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.2% | ▼ 6% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 306 | top 76% | - | - |
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.
306
Bigger than 33% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
62.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% 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
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
20.6%
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
$10,582
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 306 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 10 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.9 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
White 49.7%
Hispanic or Latino 23.2%
African American 16.3%
Two or More 8.8%
Asian 2.0%
Largest group: White at 49.7% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.4, S Ray Lowder 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 Lincoln County Schools, which includes S Ray Lowder Elementary.
$10,582
Per student
-12%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.4%
State 58.7%
Federal 18.8%
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 S Ray Lowder Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lincoln High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lincoln High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincolnton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Lincoln Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lincoln Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to S Ray Lowder Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,126
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,047
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 774
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 738
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar other schools in Lincolnton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Battleground Elementary
Standard public school
420 students 12.7:1 students per teacher
Childers Elementary
Standard public school
418 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Ge Massey Elementary
Standard public school
370 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Pumpkin Center Primary
Standard public school
325 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Love Memorial Elementary
Standard public school
315 students 13.1:1 students per teacher
Asbury Academy
Alternative education program
34 students 4.3:1 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 (~306 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on S Ray Lowder Elementary's federal record.
- Compare S Ray Lowder Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Lincoln 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 S Ray Lowder Elementary
How many students attend S Ray Lowder Elementary?
S Ray Lowder Elementary has 306 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lincolnton, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at S Ray Lowder Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at S Ray Lowder 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 S Ray Lowder Elementary?
62.2% of students at S Ray Lowder Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of S Ray Lowder Elementary?
The largest demographic group at S Ray Lowder Elementary is White at 49.7% of enrollment, in Lincolnton, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for S Ray Lowder Elementary?
S Ray Lowder Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher 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 S Ray Lowder Elementary rank among schools in Lincolnton?
By Resource Investment Index, S Ray Lowder Elementary ranks #4 of 7 schools in Lincolnton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lincolnton on the city page.
Is S Ray Lowder Elementary a good school?
S Ray Lowder Elementary earns 49/100 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 Lincoln County Schools?
Besides S Ray Lowder Elementary, Lincoln County Schools also operates North Lincoln High (1,126 students), East Lincoln High (1,047 students), and Lincolnton High (797 students). See the Lincoln 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.