- Enrollment
- 2,189
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Durham, NC
Southwest Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370126002218
👥 S:T ratio 49
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 36
📋 Attendance 30
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 80% of North Carolina schools.
- #15 of 33
- schools in Durham · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.8:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 50.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Elementary has class sizes smaller than 80% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Elementary ranks #15 of 33 schools in Durham, NC.
School address
District: Durham Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370126002218 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Southwest Elementary held near 669 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 50.8 → 52.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 370126002218 · Durham, NC Other · MID · TRAD
639 enr · 12.8:1 · 50.4% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: C E Jordan High (2,189 students)
Southwest Elementary held near 669 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE added 50.8 → 52.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Southwest Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- C E Jordan Hig
C E Jordan High
2,189 students
- Riverside High
Riverside High
1,900 students
- Durham School
Durham School of the Arts
1,764 students
- Hillside High
Hillside High
1,433 students
- Southern Schoo
Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi
1,384 students
- This school 639
Southwest Elementary
639 students
What this shows Southwest Elementary reports 639 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Elementary compares
Southwest 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 | 12.8:1 | ▼ 19% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.4% | ▼ 24% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 639 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.8:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
639
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
50.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 24% 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
12.8:1
students per teacher
- 19% below state mean
Top 20% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 80% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
27.9%
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
$15,239
per pupil, district-wide
- above North Carolina avg of $12,294
Somewhat below the U.S. average per-pupil spend; funding constraints may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 320 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 31.9%
White 31.8%
Hispanic or Latino 26.0%
Two or More 8.3%
Asian 1.9%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 31.9% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 72.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 72.2, Southwest Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Durham Public Schools reports $15,239 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| C E Jordan High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Riverside High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Durham School of the Arts | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hillside High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southern School of Energy and Sustainabi | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,900
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 1,764
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 1,433
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,384
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
Similar other schools in Durham
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Nc Virtual Academy
Standard public school
3,482 students 24.7:1 students per teacher
North Carolina Cyber Academy
Standard public school
2,461 students 18.1:1 students per teacher
Durham School of the Arts
Standard public school
1,764 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Voyager Academy
Standard public school
1,360 students 13.5:1 students per teacher
Excelsior Classical Academy
Standard public school
1,032 students 25.8:1 students per teacher
Durham Charter School
Standard public school
1,010 students 20.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~639 students)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Elementary
How many students attend Southwest Elementary?
Southwest Elementary has 639 students enrolled. It is a public school in Durham, NC. CCD year-over-year: 663 (2022-23) → 669 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Elementary is 12.8:1, which is 19% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 18% 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 Southwest Elementary?
50.4% of students at Southwest Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Elementary is African American at 31.9% of enrollment, in Durham, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 72.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Elementary?
Southwest Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Southwest Elementary rank among schools in Durham?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Elementary ranks #15 of 33 schools in Durham, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Durham on the city page.
What other schools are in Durham Public Schools?
Besides Southwest Elementary, Durham Public Schools also operates C E Jordan High (2,189 students), Riverside High (1,900 students), and Durham School of the Arts (1,764 students). See the Durham Public Schools district page for the complete list.