- Enrollment
- 1,268
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Newton, NC
Startown Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Startown Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370069000291
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 37
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Startown Elementary earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #3 of 4
- schools in Newton · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15:1
- students per teacher
- 49.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Startown Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Startown Elementary ranks #3 of 4 schools in Newton, NC.
School address
District: Catawba County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370069000291 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+5 students YoY
Startown Elementary held near 534 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 36.6 → 35.1 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+5 students YoY 370069000291 · Newton, NC Other · MID · TRAD
540 enr · 15:1 · 49.0% lunch · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Saint Stephens High (1,268 students)
Startown Elementary held near 534 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+5 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 36.6 → 35.1 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Startown Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Saint Stephens
Saint Stephens High
1,268 students
- Bandys High
Bandys High
935 students
- Fred T Foard H
Fred T Foard High
930 students
- Maiden High
Maiden High
852 students
- Bunker Hill Hi
Bunker Hill High
845 students
- This school
Startown Elementary
540 students
What this shows Startown Elementary reports 540 students on the CCD universe file.
How Startown Elementary compares
Startown 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 | 15:1 | ▼ 5% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 49.0% | ▼ 26% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 540 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15:1
Leaner classes than 47% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
540
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
49.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 26% 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
15:1
students per teacher
- 5% below state mean
Top 49% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 51% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.4%
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
$11,487
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 540 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 11 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 53.5%
Hispanic or Latino 19.1%
Asian 11.1%
Two or More 10.4%
African American 5.9%
Largest group: White at 53.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Startown Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Catawba County Schools reports $11,487 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Startown Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Saint Stephens High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bandys High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Fred T Foard High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Maiden High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Bunker Hill High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Startown Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 935
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 930
- Students per teacher
- 17.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 852
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 845
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 40/100
Similar other schools in Newton
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 (~540 students)
Frequently asked questions about Startown Elementary
How many students attend Startown Elementary?
Startown Elementary has 540 students enrolled. It is a public school in Newton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 529 (2022-23) → 534 (2023-24), nearly flat (+5).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Startown Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Startown Elementary is 15:1, which is 5% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 4% 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 Startown Elementary?
49.0% of students at Startown Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Startown Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Startown Elementary is White at 53.5% of enrollment, in Newton, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Startown Elementary?
Startown Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (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 Startown Elementary rank among schools in Newton?
By Resource Investment Index, Startown Elementary ranks #3 of 4 schools in Newton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Newton on the city page.
What other schools are in Catawba County Schools?
Besides Startown Elementary, Catawba County Schools also operates Saint Stephens High (1,268 students), Bandys High (935 students), and Fred T Foard High (930 students). See the Catawba County Schools district page for the complete list.