Enrollment
142
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Shelby, NC
Turning Point Academy
Federal NCES profile for Turning Point Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370090002708
👥 S:T ratio 60
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 72
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Turning Point Academy earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 12
- schools in Shelby · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 10.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 97.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Turning Point Academy has class sizes smaller than 94% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Turning Point Academy ranks #2 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC.
School address
District: Cleveland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370090002708 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
14.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
10.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-36% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
97.2%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+47% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Turning Point Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Turning Point Academy
Turning Point Academy is a high-poverty, small combined-grade school in Shelby, North Carolina, enrolling 142 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 10.1:1, Turning Point Academy is leaner than roughly 94% of North Carolina schools and 36% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Economic need runs somewhat above the state's typical profile, with 97.2% of students eligible for free meals.
This is a small campus: fewer students than 93% of North Carolina schools, with 142 enrolled.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 98 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #34.
Its student body is led by White (46%) and African American (42%) (diversity index 61/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 142 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 90.1% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 19.5% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 153 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 142 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Shelby's public schools, it stands alongside Pinnacle Classical Academy (1,178 students): Turning Point Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (10.1:1 vs 31:1).
Cleveland County Schools also operates Kings Mountain High (1,305 students) and Crest High (1,098 students) alongside Turning Point Academy.
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 Turning Point Academy compares
Turning Point Academy 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 | 10.1:1 | ▼ 36% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 97.2% | ▲ 47% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 142 | top 93% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
10.1:1
Leaner classes than 88% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
142
Bigger than 14% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
97.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 47% 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
10.1:1
students per teacher
- 36% below state mean
Top 6% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 94% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
90.1%
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
$11,957
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 142 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
41
in-school suspensions + 112 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 28.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 107.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
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 45.8%
African American 41.5%
Two or More 7.7%
Hispanic or Latino 4.9%
Largest group: White at 45.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 61.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 61.0, Turning Point Academy is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Cleveland County Schools, which includes Turning Point Academy.
$11,957
Per student
0%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-28%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 21.4%
State 59.1%
Federal 19.5%
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 Turning Point Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kings Mountain High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crest High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Burns High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Crest Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Shelby High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Turning Point Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,305
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 1,098
- Students per teacher
- 16.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 928
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 810
- Students per teacher
- 15.6:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 15.2:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar other schools in Shelby
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Standard public school
1,178 students 31:1 students per teacher
Elizabeth Elementary
Standard public school
649 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Springmore Elementary
Standard public school
618 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Boiling Springs Elementary
Standard public school
558 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Township Three Elementary
Standard public school
540 students 13.2:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Elementary
Standard public school
439 students 14.6:1 students per teacher
Similar other 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 (~142 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~10.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Turning Point Academy's federal record.
- Compare Turning Point Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Cleveland County 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 Turning Point Academy
How many students attend Turning Point Academy?
Turning Point Academy has 142 students enrolled. It is an alternative school in Shelby, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Turning Point Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Turning Point Academy is 10.1:1, which is 36% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 36% 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 Turning Point Academy?
97.2% of students at Turning Point Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Turning Point Academy?
The largest demographic group at Turning Point Academy is White at 45.8% of enrollment, in Shelby, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 61.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Turning Point Academy?
Turning Point Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Turning Point Academy rank among schools in Shelby?
By Resource Investment Index, Turning Point Academy ranks #2 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Shelby on the city page.
Is Turning Point Academy a good school?
Turning Point Academy earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 94% of North Carolina schools. 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 Cleveland County Schools?
Besides Turning Point Academy, Cleveland County Schools also operates Kings Mountain High (1,305 students), Crest High (1,098 students), and Burns High (928 students). See the Cleveland County 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.