Enrollment
518
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Graham, NC
South Graham Elementary
Federal NCES profile for South Graham Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 33/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370003000014
👥 S:T ratio 42
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 20
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Graham Elementary earns 33/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 5
- schools in Graham · Resource Index
- 33
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.4:1
- students per teacher
- 68.1%
- free-lunch eligible
South Graham Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Graham Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Graham, NC.
School address
District: Alamance-Burlington Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370003000014 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
36.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
14.4:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-9% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
68.1%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+3% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Graham Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Graham Elementary
South Graham Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Graham, North Carolina, enrolling 518 students.
At 14.4:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 68.1% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 518 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 381 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #287, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (44%) and African American (30%) (diversity index 69/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 518 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 31.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.4% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Graham's public schools, it stands alongside River Mill Academy (780 students): South Graham Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (14.4:1 vs 16.6:1).
Alamance-Burlington Schools also operates Walter M Williams High (1,206 students) and Southern Alamance High (1,148 students) alongside South Graham 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 South Graham Elementary compares
South Graham 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 | 14.4:1 | ▼ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 68.1% | ▲ 3% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 518 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.4:1
Leaner classes than 53% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
518
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
68.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 3% 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
14.4:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 41% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 59% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
31.9%
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
$12,211
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 518 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 35 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 8.7 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
Hispanic or Latino 43.6%
African American 29.7%
White 16.6%
Two or More 7.7%
Asian 2.3%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 43.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.8/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.8, South Graham 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 Alamance-Burlington Schools, which includes South Graham Elementary.
$12,211
Per student
+2%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 18.4%
State 58.2%
Federal 23.4%
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 South Graham Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter M Williams High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southern Alamance High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Western Alamance High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastern Alamance High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hawfields Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Graham Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,206
- Students per teacher
- 16.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 1,148
- Students per teacher
- 15.5:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,138
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
- Enrollment
- 952
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 864
- Students per teacher
- 21.6:1
- Resource Index
- 28/100
Similar other schools in Graham
4 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
River Mill Academy
Standard public school
780 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Alexander Wilson Elementary
Standard public school
609 students 15.2:1 students per teacher
North Graham Elementary
Standard public school
362 students 12.1:1 students per teacher
Ray Street Academy
Alternative education program
36 students 2.1:1 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 (~518 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Graham Elementary's federal record.
- Compare South Graham Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Alamance-Burlington 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 South Graham Elementary
How many students attend South Graham Elementary?
South Graham Elementary has 518 students enrolled. It is a public school in Graham, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Graham Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Graham Elementary is 14.4:1, which is 9% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 8% 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 Graham Elementary?
68.1% of students at South Graham Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Graham Elementary?
The largest demographic group at South Graham Elementary is Hispanic or Latino at 43.6% of enrollment, in Graham, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.8/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Graham Elementary?
South Graham Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 33/100 (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 South Graham Elementary rank among schools in Graham?
By Resource Investment Index, South Graham Elementary ranks #4 of 5 schools in Graham, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Graham on the city page.
Is South Graham Elementary a good school?
South Graham Elementary earns 33/100 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 Alamance-Burlington Schools?
Besides South Graham Elementary, Alamance-Burlington Schools also operates Walter M Williams High (1,206 students), Southern Alamance High (1,148 students), and Western Alamance High (1,138 students). See the Alamance-Burlington 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.