Enrollment
654
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Laurinburg, NC
South Johnson Elementary
Federal NCES profile for South Johnson Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370420003525
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Johnson Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 3
- schools in Laurinburg · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 13.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.6%
- free-lunch eligible
South Johnson Elementary has class sizes smaller than 77% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Johnson Elementary ranks #2 of 3 schools in Laurinburg, NC.
School address
District: Scotland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370420003525 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
50.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
13.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-17% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
99.6%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+51% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Johnson Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Johnson Elementary
South Johnson Elementary is a high-poverty, mid-sized combined-grade school in Laurinburg, North Carolina, enrolling 654 students.
Class sizes run a bit leaner than typical: 13.1:1 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need is high: 99.6% of students qualify for free meals, 51% above the North Carolina average, a Title I-weighted population that federal funding formulas prioritise.
Enrollment of 654 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index trails 92% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, one of the lower results on this measure.
Among 493 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #404, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (52%) and American Indian / Alaska Native (19%) (diversity index 65/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 654 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 40.1% 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.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Laurinburg's public schools, it stands alongside Sycamore Lane Primary (435 students): South Johnson Elementary is larger than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (13.1:1 vs 15:1).
Scotland County Schools also operates Scotland High School (1,294 students) and Laurel Hill Elementary (662 students) alongside South Johnson 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 Johnson Elementary compares
South Johnson 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 | 13.1:1 | ▼ 17% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.6% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 654 | top 29% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.1:1
Leaner classes than 66% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
654
Bigger than 77% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
99.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
13.1:1
students per teacher
- 17% below state mean
Top 23% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 77% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
40.1%
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 654 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
44
in-school suspensions + 72 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 6.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 52.3%
American Indian / Alaska Native 19.1%
White 17.4%
Two or More 6.4%
Hispanic or Latino 3.7%
Asian 1.1%
Largest group: African American at 52.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.4, South Johnson 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 Scotland County Schools, which includes South Johnson Elementary.
$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 South Johnson Elementary 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 | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Spring Hill Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Carver Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wagram Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Johnson Elementary'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
- 593
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 563
- Students per teacher
- 14.8:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
- Enrollment
- 508
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 30/100
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 (~654 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Johnson Elementary's federal record.
- Compare South Johnson Elementary 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 South Johnson Elementary
How many students attend South Johnson Elementary?
South Johnson Elementary has 654 students enrolled. It is a public school in Laurinburg, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Johnson Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Johnson Elementary is 13.1:1, which is 17% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 17% 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 Johnson Elementary?
99.6% of students at South Johnson Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Johnson Elementary?
The largest demographic group at South Johnson Elementary is African American at 52.3% of enrollment, in Laurinburg, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Johnson Elementary?
South Johnson Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Johnson Elementary rank among schools in Laurinburg?
By Resource Investment Index, South Johnson Elementary ranks #2 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 South Johnson Elementary a good school?
South Johnson Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 77% 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 South Johnson Elementary, Scotland County Schools also operates Scotland High School (1,294 students), Laurel Hill Elementary (662 students), and Spring Hill Middle (593 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.