Enrollment
1,148
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Graham, NC
Southern Alamance High
Federal NCES profile for Southern Alamance High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 42/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370003000016
👥 S:T ratio 38
📚 AP courses 80
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 23
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southern Alamance High earns 42/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 3
- high schools in Graham · Resource Index
- 42
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.5:1
- students per teacher
- 40.3%
- free-lunch eligible
Southern Alamance High has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Alamance High ranks #3 of 3 high schools in Graham, NC.
School address
District: Alamance-Burlington Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370003000016 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
74.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.5:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
40.3%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-39% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Southern Alamance High compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Southern Alamance High
Southern Alamance High is a large high school in Graham, North Carolina, enrolling 1,148 students.
At 15.5:1, 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.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 40.3% of students eligible for free meals.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in North Carolina, bigger than 93% of state schools at 1,148 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 256 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #200, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by White (58%) and Hispanic or Latino (22%) (diversity index 60/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 16 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 383 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 82.7% 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.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 4 expulsions at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Graham's high schools, it stands alongside Graham High (828 students): Southern Alamance High is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.5:1 vs 14.8:1).
Alamance-Burlington Schools also operates Walter M Williams High (1,206 students) and Western Alamance High (1,138 students) alongside Southern Alamance High.
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 Southern Alamance High compares
Southern Alamance High 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 | 15.5:1 | ▼ 2% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.3% | ▼ 39% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,148 | top 7% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.5:1
Leaner classes than 42% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
1,148
Bigger than 93% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
40.3%
free-lunch eligible
- 39% 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
15.5:1
students per teacher
- 2% below state mean
Top 56% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 44% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
82.7%
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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 383 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
111
in-school suspensions + 113 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.7 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
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
White 58.2%
Hispanic or Latino 21.8%
African American 12.5%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 58.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 59.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 59.5, Southern Alamance High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 16
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alamance-Burlington Schools, which includes Southern Alamance High.
$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 Southern Alamance High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Walter M Williams High | Similar size | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Western Alamance High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Eastern Alamance High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hawfields Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Alamance Middle | Smaller | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southern Alamance High'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
- 1,138
- 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
- Enrollment
- 837
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Similar high schools in Graham
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Similar high 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 (~1,148 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.5:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Southern Alamance High's federal record.
- Compare Southern Alamance High 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 Southern Alamance High
How many students attend Southern Alamance High?
Southern Alamance High has 1,148 students enrolled. It is a high school in Graham, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Alamance High?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Alamance High is 15.5:1, which is 2% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 1% 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 Southern Alamance High?
40.3% of students at Southern Alamance High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southern Alamance High?
The largest demographic group at Southern Alamance High is White at 58.2% of enrollment, in Graham, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 59.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southern Alamance High?
Southern Alamance High has a Resource Investment Index of 42/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Southern Alamance High rank among high schools in Graham?
By Resource Investment Index, Southern Alamance High ranks #3 of 3 high 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 high schools in Graham on the city page.
Is Southern Alamance High a good school?
Southern Alamance High earns 42/100 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 Southern Alamance High, Alamance-Burlington Schools also operates Walter M Williams High (1,206 students), Western Alamance High (1,138 students), and Eastern Alamance High (952 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.