- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Hudson, NC
South Caldwell High
Federal NCES profile for South Caldwell High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370058000239
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Caldwell High earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in Hudson · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- students per teacher
- 46.8%
- free-lunch eligible
South Caldwell High has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Caldwell High ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Hudson, NC.
School address
District: Caldwell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370058000239 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-18 students YoY
South Caldwell High held near 1,299 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 85.4 → 85.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-18 students YoY 370058000239 · Hudson, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,272 enr · 15:1 · 46.8% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Hibriten High (818 students)
South Caldwell High held near 1,299 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-18 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 85.4 → 85.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
South Caldwell High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- This school
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
- Hudson Middle
Hudson Middle
551 students
What this shows South Caldwell High reports 1,272 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Caldwell High compares
South Caldwell 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 | 15:1 | ▼ 5% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 46.8% | ▼ 29% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,272 | top 6% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,272
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
46.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 29% 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
15:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 49% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
61.9%
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
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 318 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
162
in-school suspensions + 191 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 27.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 81.0%
Hispanic or Latino 11.9%
Two or More 4.6%
African American 2.0%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Largest group: White at 81.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.7, South Caldwell High is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 9
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 South Caldwell High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hibriten High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hudson Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Granite Falls Elementary | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Caldwell High | Smaller | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Hudson Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Caldwell High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
- Enrollment
- 551
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar high schools in Hudson
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
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 (~1,272 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15:1)
Frequently asked questions about South Caldwell High
How many students attend South Caldwell High?
South Caldwell High has 1,272 students enrolled. It is a high school in Hudson, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,317 (2022-23) → 1,299 (2023-24), nearly flat (-18).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Caldwell High?
The student-teacher ratio at South Caldwell High is 15:1, which is 5% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 4% 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 South Caldwell High?
46.8% of students at South Caldwell High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Caldwell High?
The largest demographic group at South Caldwell High is White at 81.0% of enrollment, in Hudson, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Caldwell High?
South Caldwell High has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 South Caldwell High rank among high schools in Hudson?
By Resource Investment Index, South Caldwell High ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Hudson, 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 Hudson on the city page.
What other schools are in Caldwell County Schools?
Besides South Caldwell High, Caldwell County Schools also operates Hibriten High (818 students), Hudson Elementary (665 students), and Granite Falls Elementary (647 students). See the Caldwell County Schools district page for the complete list.