- Enrollment
- 1,299
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Morganton, NC
Salem Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Salem Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370048000191
👥 S:T ratio 27
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 5
📋 Attendance 24
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Salem Elementary earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools.
- #11 of 12
- schools in Morganton · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 18.3:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 62.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Salem Elementary has class sizes larger than 83% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Elementary ranks #11 of 12 schools in Morganton, NC.
School address
District: Burke County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370048000191 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+35 students YoY
Salem Elementary grew from 401 students in 2022-23 to 436 in 2023-24 (+8.7%).
Teacher FTE added 26.5 → 28.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+35 students YoY 370048000191 · Morganton, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
476 enr · 18.3:1 · 62.8% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Freedom High (1,299 students)
Salem Elementary grew from 401 students in 2022-23 to 436 in 2023-24 (+8.7%). Teacher FTE added 26.5 → 28.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Salem 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 476
Salem Elementary
476 students
What this shows Salem Elementary reports 476 students on the CCD universe file.
How Salem Elementary compares
Salem Elementary is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 18.3:1 | ▲ 16% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 62.8% | ▼ 5% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 476 | top 53% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.3:1
Leaner classes than 23% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
476
Bigger than 59% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
62.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 5% 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
18.3:1
students per teacher
- 16% above state mean
Top 83% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 17% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
30.5%
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 476 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 3 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 79.2%
Hispanic or Latino 13.7%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 1.7%
African American 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 79.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 35.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 35.2, Salem 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 Salem Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| East Burke High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Robert L. Patton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Jimmy C Draughn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Salem 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 Morganton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Mountain View Elementary
Standard public school
762 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Drexel Elementary
Standard public school
477 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
W a Young Elementary
Standard public school
327 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Oak Hill Elementary
Standard public school
310 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Forest Hill Elementary
Standard public school
305 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Glen Alpine Elementary
Standard public school
295 students 12.8:1 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 (~476 students)
Frequently asked questions about Salem Elementary
How many students attend Salem Elementary?
Salem Elementary has 476 students enrolled. It is a public school in Morganton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 401 (2022-23) → 436 (2023-24), up 35.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Salem Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Salem Elementary is 18.3:1, which is 16% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Salem Elementary?
62.8% of students at Salem Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Salem Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Salem Elementary is White at 79.2% of enrollment, in Morganton, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Salem Elementary?
Salem Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 Salem Elementary rank among schools in Morganton?
By Resource Investment Index, Salem Elementary ranks #11 of 12 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 schools in Morganton on the city page.
What other schools are in Burke County Schools?
Besides Salem 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.