Enrollment
528
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waxhaw, NC
Sandy Ridge Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sandy Ridge Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370462002801
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 63
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sandy Ridge Elementary earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 7
- schools in Waxhaw · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 7.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Sandy Ridge Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sandy Ridge Elementary ranks #2 of 7 schools in Waxhaw, NC.
School address
District: Union County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370462002801 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.3:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
7.0%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-89% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Sandy Ridge Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Sandy Ridge Elementary
Sandy Ridge Elementary is a lower-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Waxhaw, North Carolina, enrolling 528 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 14.3:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 7.0% free-meal eligibility runs 89% below the North Carolina average.
With 528 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 65 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #42.
Its student body is led by White (54%) and Asian (28%) (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 528 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
14.8% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Waxhaw's public schools, it stands alongside Kensington Elementary (901 students): Sandy Ridge Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.3:1 vs 15.3:1).
Union County Public Schools also operates Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students) and Weddington High (1,899 students) alongside Sandy Ridge 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 Sandy Ridge Elementary compares
Sandy Ridge 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 | 14.3:1 | ▼ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 7.0% | ▼ 89% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 528 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
528
Bigger than 65% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
7.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 89% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 39% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
14.8%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,010
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 528 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
4
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.8 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 1.7 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 53.6%
Asian 28.4%
African American 6.3%
Hispanic or Latino 6.3%
Two or More 5.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 53.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.2, Sandy Ridge 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 Union County Public Schools, which includes Sandy Ridge Elementary.
$11,010
Per student
-8%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.9%
State 55.8%
Federal 15.3%
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 Sandy Ridge Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Ridge High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weddington High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cuthbertson High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge High School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge Middle School | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sandy Ridge Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,961
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,857
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,809
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,447
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar other schools in Waxhaw
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Kensington Elementary
Standard public school
901 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
New Town Elementary
Standard public school
691 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Rea View Elementary
Standard public school
629 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Waxhaw Elementary
Standard public school
615 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Western Union Elementary
Standard public school
539 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
South Providence
Alternative education program
91 students 5.1:1 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 (~528 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Sandy Ridge Elementary's federal record.
- Compare Sandy Ridge Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Union County Public 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 Sandy Ridge Elementary
How many students attend Sandy Ridge Elementary?
Sandy Ridge Elementary has 528 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waxhaw, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sandy Ridge Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sandy Ridge Elementary is 14.3:1, which is 9% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 9% 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 Sandy Ridge Elementary?
7.0% of students at Sandy Ridge Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sandy Ridge Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sandy Ridge Elementary is White at 53.6% of enrollment, in Waxhaw, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sandy Ridge Elementary?
Sandy Ridge Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical 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 Sandy Ridge Elementary rank among schools in Waxhaw?
By Resource Investment Index, Sandy Ridge Elementary ranks #2 of 7 schools in Waxhaw, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waxhaw on the city page.
Is Sandy Ridge Elementary a good school?
Sandy Ridge Elementary earns 44/100 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 Union County Public Schools?
Besides Sandy Ridge Elementary, Union County Public Schools also operates Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students), Weddington High (1,899 students), and Cuthbertson High (1,857 students). See the Union County Public 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.