- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Fuquay-Varina, NC
South Lakes Elementary
Federal NCES profile for South Lakes Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 41/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370472003519
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 51
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Lakes Elementary earns 41/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 4
- schools in Fuquay-Varina · Resource Index
- 41
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 19.4%
- free-lunch eligible
South Lakes Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Lakes Elementary ranks #2 of 4 schools in Fuquay-Varina, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003519 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
South Lakes Elementary held near 782 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-33 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 54.8 → 55.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-33 students YoY 370472003519 · Fuquay-Varina, NC Other · MID · TRAD
774 enr · 14.3:1 · 19.4% lunch · RII 41
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
South Lakes Elementary held near 782 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-33 headcount). Teacher FTE held 54.8 → 55.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
South Lakes Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apex Friendshi
Apex Friendship High
2,748 students
- Enloe High
Enloe High
2,643 students
- Panther Creek
Panther Creek High
2,609 students
- Millbrook High
Millbrook High
2,498 students
- Apex High
Apex High
2,449 students
- This school 774
South Lakes Elementary
774 students
What this shows South Lakes Elementary reports 774 students on the CCD universe file.
How South Lakes Elementary compares
South Lakes 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 | 14.3:1 | ▼ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 19.4% | ▼ 71% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 774 | top 19% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
774
Bigger than 84% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
19.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 71% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 39% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
19.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 15-20% range, nearing the "high" absenteeism threshold.
Funding equity
$11,691
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 774 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
27
in-school suspensions + 14 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 3.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 49.0%
Asian 19.8%
African American 14.1%
Hispanic or Latino 12.4%
Two or More 3.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 49.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.4, South Lakes Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wake County Schools reports $11,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How South Lakes Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Lakes Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,643
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,609
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Fuquay-Varina
3 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
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 (~774 students)
Frequently asked questions about South Lakes Elementary
How many students attend South Lakes Elementary?
South Lakes Elementary has 774 students enrolled. It is a public school in Fuquay-Varina, NC. CCD year-over-year: 815 (2022-23) → 782 (2023-24), nearly flat (-33).
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Lakes Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at South Lakes Elementary is 14.3:1, which is 9% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 9% 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 Lakes Elementary?
19.4% of students at South Lakes Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Lakes Elementary?
The largest demographic group at South Lakes Elementary is White at 49.0% of enrollment, in Fuquay-Varina, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.4/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Lakes Elementary?
South Lakes Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 41/100 (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 Lakes Elementary rank among schools in Fuquay-Varina?
By Resource Investment Index, South Lakes Elementary ranks #2 of 4 schools in Fuquay-Varina, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Fuquay-Varina on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides South Lakes Elementary, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Panther Creek High (2,609 students). See the Wake County Schools district page for the complete list.