- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Raleigh, NC
Sanderson High
Federal NCES profile for Sanderson High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370472001892
👥 S:T ratio 29
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 12
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sanderson High earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 78% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #10 of 14
- high schools in Raleigh · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 17.7:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 35.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Sanderson High has class sizes larger than 78% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sanderson High ranks #10 of 14 high schools in Raleigh, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472001892 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-16 students YoY
Sanderson High held near 1,661 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 93.1 → 95.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-16 students YoY 370472001892 · Raleigh, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,648 enr · 17.7:1 · 35.8% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Sanderson High held near 1,661 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-16 headcount). Teacher FTE added 93.1 → 95.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Sanderson High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apex Friendshi
Apex Friendship High
2,748 students
- Enloe High
Enloe High
2,643 students
- Panther Creek
Panther Creek High
2,609 students
- Millbrook High
Millbrook High
2,498 students
- Apex High
Apex High
2,449 students
- This school
Sanderson High
1,648 students
What this shows Sanderson High reports 1,648 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sanderson High compares
Sanderson High 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 | 17.7:1 | ▲ 12% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.8% | ▼ 46% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,648 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
17.7:1
Leaner classes than 26% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,648
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
17.7:1
students per teacher
- 12% above state mean
Top 78% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 22% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
35.4%
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
$11,691
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 330 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
173
in-school suspensions + 98 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 10.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 16.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 12 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 47.3%
African American 23.3%
Hispanic or Latino 21.2%
Two or More 4.6%
Asian 3.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 47.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.4, Sanderson High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 17
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wake County Schools reports $11,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sanderson High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sanderson High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,643
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,609
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar high schools in Raleigh
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Enloe High
Standard public school
2,643 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Millbrook High
Standard public school
2,498 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Leesville Road High
Standard public school
2,411 students 19:1 students per teacher
Athens Drive High
Standard public school
2,156 students 17:1 students per teacher
Needham Broughton High
Standard public school
2,153 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Wakefield High
Standard public school
2,065 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
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 (~1,648 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sanderson High
How many students attend Sanderson High?
Sanderson High has 1,648 students enrolled. It is a high school in Raleigh, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,677 (2022-23) → 1,661 (2023-24), nearly flat (-16).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sanderson High?
The student-teacher ratio at Sanderson High is 17.7:1, which is 12% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 13% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Sanderson High?
35.8% of students at Sanderson High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sanderson High?
The largest demographic group at Sanderson High is White at 47.3% of enrollment, in Raleigh, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sanderson High?
Sanderson High has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Sanderson High rank among high schools in Raleigh?
By Resource Investment Index, Sanderson High ranks #10 of 14 high schools in Raleigh, 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 Raleigh on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Sanderson High, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Panther Creek High (2,609 students). See the Wake County Schools district page for the complete list.