Enrollment
348
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
High school (grades 9-12) · Raleigh, NC
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy
Federal NCES profile for Vernon Malone College and Career Academy, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370472003345
👥 S:T ratio 40
📚 AP courses 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 65
📋 Attendance 66
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #1 of 14
- high schools in Raleigh · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 15.1:1
- students per teacher
- 40.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy ranks #1 of 14 high schools in Raleigh, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003345 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
23.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
40.8%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-38% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Vernon Malone College and Career Academy compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is a mid-sized high school in Raleigh, North Carolina, enrolling 348 students.
At 15.1:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 40.8% of students eligible for free meals.
Enrollment of 348 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 96% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 247 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #3, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by African American (39%) and White (26%) (diversity index 71/100).
On the academic-pipeline side it reports 8 Advanced Placement courses.
Counselor coverage is strong, about 174 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
13.5% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Raleigh's high schools, it stands alongside Enloe High (2,643 students): Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (15.1:1 vs 18.5:1).
Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students) and Enloe High (2,643 students) alongside Vernon Malone College and Career 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 Vernon Malone College and Career Academy compares
Vernon Malone College and Career 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 | 15.1:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 40.8% | ▼ 38% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 348 | top 71% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.1:1
Leaner classes than 46% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
348
Bigger than 39% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
40.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 38% 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
15.1:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 50% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 50% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
13.5%
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
$11,859
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 174 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
16
in-school suspensions + 4 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 4.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
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
African American 39.1%
White 25.9%
Hispanic or Latino 25.9%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 3.2%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.9%
Largest group: African American at 39.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 70.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 70.9, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 8
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Wake County Schools, which includes Vernon Malone College and Career Academy.
$11,859
Per student
-1%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.9%
State 54.5%
Federal 16.6%
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 Vernon Malone College and Career Academy Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Vernon Malone College and Career Academy's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,643
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,609
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar high schools in Raleigh
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Enloe High
Standard public school
2,643 students 18.5:1 students per teacher
Millbrook High
Standard public school
2,498 students 19.7:1 students per teacher
Leesville Road High
Standard public school
2,411 students 19:1 students per teacher
Athens Drive High
Standard public school
2,156 students 17:1 students per teacher
Needham Broughton High
Standard public school
2,153 students 17.8:1 students per teacher
Wakefield High
Standard public school
2,065 students 19.1:1 students per teacher
Similar high 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 (~348 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~15.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Vernon Malone College and Career Academy's federal record.
- Compare Vernon Malone College and Career Academy against another school. Compare schools
- Wake 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 Vernon Malone College and Career Academy
How many students attend Vernon Malone College and Career Academy?
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy has 348 students enrolled. It is a high school in Raleigh, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is 15.1:1, which is 4% 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 Vernon Malone College and Career Academy?
40.8% of students at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Vernon Malone College and Career Academy?
The largest demographic group at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is African American at 39.1% of enrollment, in Raleigh, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 70.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Vernon Malone College and Career Academy?
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 5 factors: student-teacher ratio, AP course offerings, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Vernon Malone College and Career Academy rank among high schools in Raleigh?
By Resource Investment Index, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy ranks #1 of 14 high schools in Raleigh, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Raleigh on the city page.
Is Vernon Malone College and Career Academy a good school?
Vernon Malone College and Career Academy earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. 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 Wake County Schools?
Besides Vernon Malone College and Career Academy, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Panther Creek High (2,609 students). See the Wake 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.