- Enrollment
- 1,126
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-11 students YoY
S Ray Lowder Elementary held near 280 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 20.3 → 20.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-11 students YoY 370268001122 · Lincolnton, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
306 enr · 15.3:1 · 62.2% lunch · RII 49
Nearest enrollment peer: North Lincoln High (1,126 students)
S Ray Lowder Elementary held near 280 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-11 headcount). Teacher FTE added 20.3 → 20.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
S Ray Lowder Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- North Lincoln
North Lincoln High
1,126 students
- East Lincoln H
East Lincoln High
1,047 students
- Lincolnton Hig
Lincolnton High
797 students
- North Lincoln
North Lincoln Middle
774 students
- East Lincoln M
East Lincoln Middle
738 students
- This school 306
S Ray Lowder Elementary
306 students
What this shows S Ray Lowder Elementary reports 306 students on the CCD universe file.
How S Ray Lowder Elementary compares
S Ray Lowder 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 | 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 methodology
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
$10,722
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 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.
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
District finance for Lincoln County Schools reports $10,722 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,047
- 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
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 (~306 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.3:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 291 (2022-23) → 280 (2023-24), nearly flat (-11).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.