- Enrollment
- 1,305
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Shelby, NC
Union Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Union Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370090002289
👥 S:T ratio 47
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 17
📋 Attendance 50
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Union Elementary earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 75% of North Carolina schools.
- #4 of 12
- schools in Shelby · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.3:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 77.5%
- free-lunch eligible
Union Elementary has class sizes smaller than 75% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Union Elementary ranks #4 of 12 schools in Shelby, NC.
School address
District: Cleveland County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370090002289 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+1 students YoY
Union Elementary held near 424 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 31.2 → 29.9 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+1 students YoY 370090002289 · Shelby, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
413 enr · 13.3:1 · 77.5% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Kings Mountain High (1,305 students)
Union Elementary held near 424 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+1 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 31.2 → 29.9 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Union Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Kings Mountain
Kings Mountain High
1,305 students
- Crest High
Crest High
1,098 students
- Burns High
Burns High
928 students
- Crest Middle
Crest Middle
810 students
- Shelby High
Shelby High
792 students
- This school 413
Union Elementary
413 students
What this shows Union Elementary reports 413 students on the CCD universe file.
How Union Elementary compares
Union 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 | 13.3:1 | ▼ 16% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 77.5% | ▲ 17% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 413 | top 61% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.3:1
Leaner classes than 64% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
413
Bigger than 49% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
77.5%
free-lunch eligible
- 17% 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
13.3:1
students per teacher
- 16% below state mean
Top 25% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 75% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
20.1%
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
$12,540
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 413 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
17
in-school suspensions + 13 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 7.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 60.0%
African American 23.0%
Two or More 9.7%
Hispanic or Latino 6.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.5%
Asian 0.2%
Largest group: White at 60.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.3, Union Elementary is about as mixed as the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Cleveland County Schools reports $12,540 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Union Elementary 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 Union Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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
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 (~413 students)
Frequently asked questions about Union Elementary
How many students attend Union Elementary?
Union Elementary has 413 students enrolled. It is a public school in Shelby, NC. CCD year-over-year: 423 (2022-23) → 424 (2023-24), nearly flat (+1).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Union Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Union Elementary is 13.3:1, which is 16% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 15% 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 Union Elementary?
77.5% of students at Union Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Union Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Union Elementary is White at 60.0% of enrollment, in Shelby, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Union Elementary?
Union 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 Union Elementary rank among schools in Shelby?
By Resource Investment Index, Union Elementary ranks #4 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.
What other schools are in Cleveland County Schools?
Besides Union Elementary, 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.