- Enrollment
- 1,024
- Students per teacher
- 17.4:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Hickory, NC
Southwest Primary
Federal NCES profile for Southwest Primary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370219000949
👥 S:T ratio 53
🌟 Gifted program 30
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Southwest Primary earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 89% of North Carolina schools.
- #6 of 7
- schools in Hickory · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.7:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 99.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Southwest Primary has class sizes smaller than 89% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Primary ranks #6 of 7 schools in Hickory, NC.
School address
District: Hickory City Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370219000949 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+7 students YoY
Southwest Primary held near 311 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 25.2 → 23.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+7 students YoY 370219000949 · Hickory, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
292 enr · 11.7:1 · 99.0% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Hickory High (1,024 students)
Southwest Primary held near 311 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+7 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 25.2 → 23.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Southwest Primary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Hickory High
Hickory High
1,024 students
- Viewmont Eleme
Viewmont Elementary
509 students
- Northview Midd
Northview Middle
481 students
- Grandview Midd 347
Grandview Middle
347 students
- Oakwood Elemen 336
Oakwood Elementary
336 students
- This school 292
Southwest Primary
292 students
What this shows Southwest Primary reports 292 students on the CCD universe file.
How Southwest Primary compares
Southwest Primary 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 | 11.7:1 | ▼ 26% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.0% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 292 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.7:1
Leaner classes than 78% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
292
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
11.7:1
students per teacher
- 26% below state mean
Top 11% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 89% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
49.3%
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
$11,662
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 292 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
1
in-school suspensions + 44 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 31.2%
African American 25.7%
Hispanic or Latino 25.0%
Two or More 9.2%
Asian 7.9%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.7%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.3%
Largest group: White at 31.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 75.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 75.9, Southwest Primary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
District finance for Hickory City Schools reports $11,662 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Southwest Primary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hickory High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Viewmont Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Northview Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Grandview Middle | Similar size | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Oakwood Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Southwest Primary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 509
- Students per teacher
- 14.5:1
- Resource Index
- 29/100
- Enrollment
- 481
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 347
- Students per teacher
- 12.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 336
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Hickory
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Snow Creek Elementary
Standard public school
551 students 13.8:1 students per teacher
Viewmont Elementary
Standard public school
509 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Clyde Campbell Elementary
Standard public school
505 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Ray Childers Elementary
Standard public school
460 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
Webb a Murray Elementary
Standard public school
380 students 14.1:1 students per teacher
Oakwood Elementary
Standard public school
336 students 16:1 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 (~292 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.7:1)
Frequently asked questions about Southwest Primary
How many students attend Southwest Primary?
Southwest Primary has 292 students enrolled. It is a public school in Hickory, NC. CCD year-over-year: 304 (2022-23) → 311 (2023-24), nearly flat (+7).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southwest Primary?
The student-teacher ratio at Southwest Primary is 11.7:1, which is 26% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 25% 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 Primary?
99.0% of students at Southwest Primary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Southwest Primary?
The largest demographic group at Southwest Primary is White at 31.2% of enrollment, in Hickory, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 75.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Southwest Primary?
Southwest Primary has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 Primary rank among schools in Hickory?
By Resource Investment Index, Southwest Primary ranks #6 of 7 schools in Hickory, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Hickory on the city page.
What other schools are in Hickory City Schools?
Besides Southwest Primary, Hickory City Schools also operates Hickory High (1,024 students), Viewmont Elementary (509 students), and Northview Middle (481 students). See the Hickory City Schools district page for the complete list.