- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Granite Falls, NC
Sawmills Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Sawmills Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 45/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370058000238
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 40
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Sawmills Elementary earns 45/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 5
- schools in Granite Falls · Resource Index
- 45
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.6:1
- students per teacher
- 70.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Sawmills Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Sawmills Elementary ranks #2 of 5 schools in Granite Falls, NC.
School address
District: Caldwell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370058000238 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Sawmills Elementary held near 336 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 24.7 → 23.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 370058000238 · Granite Falls, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
351 enr · 14.6:1 · 70.1% lunch · RII 45
Nearest enrollment peer: South Caldwell High (1,272 students)
Sawmills Elementary held near 336 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 24.7 → 23.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Sawmills Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- South Caldwell
South Caldwell High
1,272 students
- Hibriten High
Hibriten High
818 students
- Hudson Element
Hudson Elementary
665 students
- Granite Falls
Granite Falls Elementary
647 students
- West Caldwell
West Caldwell High
634 students
- This school 351
Sawmills Elementary
351 students
What this shows Sawmills Elementary reports 351 students on the CCD universe file.
How Sawmills Elementary compares
Sawmills 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 | 14.6:1 | ▼ 8% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.1% | ▲ 6% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 351 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.6:1
Leaner classes than 51% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
351
Bigger than 40% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
70.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 6% above 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
14.6:1
students per teacher
- 8% below state mean
Top 43% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 57% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
24.2%
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
$12,066
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 351 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 1 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.9 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 77.5%
Hispanic or Latino 13.1%
Two or More 5.7%
African American 2.0%
Asian 1.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 77.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 37.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 37.8, Sawmills Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Caldwell County Schools reports $12,066 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Sawmills Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Caldwell High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hibriten High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hudson Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Granite Falls Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Caldwell High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Sawmills Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 665
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Granite Falls
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Granite Falls Elementary
Standard public school
647 students 17:1 students per teacher
Dudley Shoals Elementary
Standard public school
433 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Baton Elementary
Standard public school
357 students 13.7:1 students per teacher
Gateway School
Alternative education program
53 students 4.4:1 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 (~351 students)
Frequently asked questions about Sawmills Elementary
How many students attend Sawmills Elementary?
Sawmills Elementary has 351 students enrolled. It is a public school in Granite Falls, NC. CCD year-over-year: 331 (2022-23) → 336 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Sawmills Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Sawmills Elementary is 14.6:1, which is 8% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 7% 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 Sawmills Elementary?
70.1% of students at Sawmills Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Sawmills Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Sawmills Elementary is White at 77.5% of enrollment, in Granite Falls, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Sawmills Elementary?
Sawmills Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 45/100 (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 Sawmills Elementary rank among schools in Granite Falls?
By Resource Investment Index, Sawmills Elementary ranks #2 of 5 schools in Granite Falls, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Granite Falls on the city page.
What other schools are in Caldwell County Schools?
Besides Sawmills Elementary, Caldwell County Schools also operates South Caldwell High (1,272 students), Hibriten High (818 students), and Hudson Elementary (665 students). See the Caldwell County Schools district page for the complete list.