Enrollment
91
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waxhaw, NC
South Providence
Federal NCES profile for South Providence, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 80/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370462001284
👥 S:T ratio 80
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
South Providence earns 80/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina.
- #1 of 7
- schools in Waxhaw · Resource Index
- 80
- Resource Index · Higher
- 5.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 96.3%
- free-lunch eligible
South Providence has class sizes smaller than 99% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, South Providence ranks #1 of 7 schools in Waxhaw, NC.
School address
District: Union County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370462001284 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
18.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
5.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-68% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
96.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+46% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How South Providence compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at South Providence
South Providence is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Waxhaw, North Carolina, enrolling 91 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 5.1:1, South Providence is leaner than roughly 99% of North Carolina schools and 68% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 96.3% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 96% of North Carolina schools, with 91 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 99% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 57 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #1, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (48%) and White (25%) (diversity index 67/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 46 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Its district draws 15.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 88 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 91 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Waxhaw's public schools, it stands alongside Kensington Elementary (901 students): South Providence is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (5.1:1 vs 15.3:1).
Union County Public Schools also operates Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students) and Weddington High (1,899 students) alongside South Providence.
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 Providence compares
South Providence 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 | 5.1:1 | ▼ 68% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 96.3% | ▲ 46% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 91 | top 96% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
5.1:1
Leaner classes than 98% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
91
Bigger than 9% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
96.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% 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
5.1:1
students per teacher
- 68% below state mean
Top 1% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 99% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Funding equity
$11,010
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 46 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
31
in-school suspensions + 57 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 34.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 96.7 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
African American 48.4%
White 25.3%
Hispanic or Latino 16.5%
Two or More 9.9%
Largest group: African American at 48.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.5, South Providence is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Union County Public Schools, which includes South Providence.
$11,010
Per student
-8%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-34%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.9%
State 55.8%
Federal 15.3%
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 Providence Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weddington High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cuthbertson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge Middle School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to South Providence's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,961
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,857
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,809
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,447
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar other schools in Waxhaw
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Kensington Elementary
Standard public school
901 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
New Town Elementary
Standard public school
691 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Rea View Elementary
Standard public school
629 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Waxhaw Elementary
Standard public school
615 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Western Union Elementary
Standard public school
539 students 15.4:1 students per teacher
Sandy Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
528 students 14.3:1 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 (~91 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~5.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on South Providence's federal record.
- Compare South Providence against another school. Compare schools
- Union County Public 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 Providence
How many students attend South Providence?
South Providence has 91 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Waxhaw, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at South Providence?
The student-teacher ratio at South Providence is 5.1:1, which is 68% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 68% 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 Providence?
96.3% of students at South Providence are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of South Providence?
The largest demographic group at South Providence is African American at 48.4% of enrollment, in Waxhaw, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for South Providence?
South Providence has a Resource Investment Index of 80/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does South Providence rank among schools in Waxhaw?
By Resource Investment Index, South Providence ranks #1 of 7 schools in Waxhaw, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waxhaw on the city page.
Is South Providence a good school?
South Providence earns 80/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 99% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the smallest schools in North Carolina. 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 Union County Public Schools?
Besides South Providence, Union County Public Schools also operates Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students), Weddington High (1,899 students), and Cuthbertson High (1,857 students). See the Union County Public 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.