- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Winston Salem, NC
The Downtown School
Federal NCES profile for The Downtown School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370150002293
👥 S:T ratio 48
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 9
📋 Attendance 74
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
The Downtown School earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 79% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 22
- schools in Winston Salem · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 12.9:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 23.2%
- free-lunch eligible
The Downtown School has class sizes smaller than 79% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, The Downtown School ranks #2 of 22 schools in Winston Salem, NC.
School address
District: Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370150002293 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+22 students YoY
The Downtown School grew from 409 students in 2022-23 to 431 in 2023-24 (+5.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.1 → 34.2 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+22 students YoY 370150002293 · Winston Salem, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
453 enr · 12.9:1 · 23.2% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: West Forsyth High (2,145 students)
The Downtown School grew from 409 students in 2022-23 to 431 in 2023-24 (+5.4%). Teacher FTE lost 35.1 → 34.2 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
The Downtown School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Forsyth H
West Forsyth High
2,145 students
- Ronald W Reaga
Ronald W Reagan High School
2,122 students
- R J Reynolds H
R J Reynolds High
1,759 students
- East Forsyth H
East Forsyth High
1,647 students
- Parkland High
Parkland High
1,569 students
- This school 453
The Downtown School
453 students
What this shows The Downtown School reports 453 students on the CCD universe file.
How The Downtown School compares
The Downtown School is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 12.9:1 | ▼ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 23.2% | ▼ 65% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 453 | top 56% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.9:1
Leaner classes than 68% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
453
Bigger than 55% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
23.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 65% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
12.9:1
students per teacher
- 18% below state mean
Top 21% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 79% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
10.6%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$13,811
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 453 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
10
in-school suspensions + 5 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.2 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 3.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 46.6%
African American 34.0%
Hispanic or Latino 9.1%
Two or More 7.9%
Asian 1.8%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 46.6% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.2, The Downtown School is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools reports $13,811 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How The Downtown School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Forsyth High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ronald W Reagan High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| R J Reynolds High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Forsyth High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parkland High | Larger | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to The Downtown School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,122
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,759
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,647
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,569
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Winston Salem
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Speas Elementary
Standard public school
793 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Sherwood Forest Elementary
Standard public school
670 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Griffith Elementary
Standard public school
621 students 16.3:1 students per teacher
Old Town Elementary
Standard public school
617 students 12.3:1 students per teacher
Konnoak Elementary
Standard public school
600 students 14:1 students per teacher
Paisley Ib Magnet School
Standard public school
553 students 12:1 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 (~453 students)
Frequently asked questions about The Downtown School
How many students attend The Downtown School?
The Downtown School has 453 students enrolled. It is a public school in Winston Salem, NC. CCD year-over-year: 409 (2022-23) → 431 (2023-24), up 22.
What is the student-teacher ratio at The Downtown School?
The student-teacher ratio at The Downtown School is 12.9:1, which is 18% 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 The Downtown School?
23.2% of students at The Downtown School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of The Downtown School?
The largest demographic group at The Downtown School is White at 46.6% of enrollment, in Winston Salem, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for The Downtown School?
The Downtown School has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 The Downtown School rank among schools in Winston Salem?
By Resource Investment Index, The Downtown School ranks #2 of 22 schools in Winston Salem, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Winston Salem on the city page.
What other schools are in Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools?
Besides The Downtown School, Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools also operates West Forsyth High (2,145 students), Ronald W Reagan High School (2,122 students), and R J Reynolds High (1,759 students). See the Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district page for the complete list.