Enrollment
122
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Laurinburg, NC
Shaw Academy
Federal NCES profile for Shaw Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 38/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370420001687
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 76
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Shaw Academy earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 3
- schools in Laurinburg · Resource Index
- 38
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.6:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 91.9%
- free-lunch eligible
Shaw Academy has class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Shaw Academy ranks #1 of 3 schools in Laurinburg, NC.
School address
District: Scotland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370420001687 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
9.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.6:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-14% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
91.9%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Shaw Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Shaw Academy
Shaw Academy is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Laurinburg, North Carolina, enrolling 122 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.6:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 91.9% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 94% of North Carolina schools, with 122 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 85 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #67, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (75%) and White (12%) (diversity index 41/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 122 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 43.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
The surrounding Scotland County Schools spends $14,867 per pupil, 24% above the North Carolina average, a better-resourced district than most.
Its district draws 19.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 41 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 122 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Laurinburg's public schools, it stands alongside South Johnson Elementary (654 students): Shaw Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (13.6:1 vs 13.1:1).
Scotland County Schools also operates Scotland High School (1,294 students) and Laurel Hill Elementary (662 students) alongside Shaw Academy.
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 Shaw Academy compares
Shaw Academy 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 | 13.6:1 | ▼ 14% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 91.9% | ▲ 39% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 122 | top 94% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.6:1
Leaner classes than 61% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
122
Bigger than 12% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
91.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
13.6:1
students per teacher
- 14% below state mean
Top 30% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 70% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
43.4%
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
$14,867
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,017
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 122 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 27 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 11.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 33.6 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
African American 75.4%
White 12.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 8.2%
Two or More 2.5%
Hispanic or Latino 1.6%
Largest group: African American at 75.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 40.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 40.9, Shaw Academy is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Scotland County Schools, which includes Shaw Academy.
$14,867
Per student
+24%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-10%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 17.3%
State 62.8%
Federal 19.8%
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 Shaw Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Scotland High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Laurel Hill Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| South Johnson Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Spring Hill Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carver Middle | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Shaw Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,294
- Students per teacher
- 16.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 662
- Students per teacher
- 13.2:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 654
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 593
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Laurinburg
2 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~122 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Shaw Academy's federal record.
- Compare Shaw Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Scotland County 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 Shaw Academy
How many students attend Shaw Academy?
Shaw Academy has 122 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Laurinburg, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Shaw Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Shaw Academy is 13.6:1, which is 14% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 13% 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 Shaw Academy?
91.9% of students at Shaw Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Shaw Academy?
The largest demographic group at Shaw Academy is African American at 75.4% of enrollment, in Laurinburg, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Shaw Academy?
Shaw Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 38/100 (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 Shaw Academy rank among schools in Laurinburg?
By Resource Investment Index, Shaw Academy ranks #1 of 3 schools in Laurinburg, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Laurinburg on the city page.
Is Shaw Academy a good school?
Shaw Academy earns 38/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 70% of North Carolina schools. 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 Scotland County Schools?
Besides Shaw Academy, Scotland County Schools also operates Scotland High School (1,294 students), Laurel Hill Elementary (662 students), and South Johnson Elementary (654 students). See the Scotland County 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.