Enrollment
327
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Other / mixed grade configuration · Morganton, NC
W a Young Elementary
Federal NCES profile for W a Young Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 39/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370048002432
👥 S:T ratio 52
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 35
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
W a Young Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools.
- #7 of 12
- schools in Morganton · Resource Index
- 39
- Resource Index · Typical
- 12.1:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 70.9%
- free-lunch eligible
W a Young Elementary has class sizes smaller than 87% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, W a Young Elementary ranks #7 of 12 schools in Morganton, NC.
School address
District: Burke County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370048002432 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
27.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
12.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-23% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
70.9%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
+7% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How W a Young Elementary compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at W a Young Elementary
W a Young Elementary is a higher-need, mid-sized combined-grade school in Morganton, North Carolina, enrolling 327 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 12.1:1, W a Young Elementary is leaner than roughly 87% of North Carolina schools and 23% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 70.9% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
Enrollment of 327 puts it in the smaller third of North Carolina schools by headcount.
Its Resource Investment Index sits near the middle of the pack among 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 218 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #140.
Its student body is led by White (75%) and Asian (10%) (diversity index 42/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 327 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 54.4% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
The federal civil-rights collection also records 1 expulsion at this campus for 2021-22.
Among Morganton's public schools, it stands alongside Mountain View Elementary (762 students): W a Young Elementary is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (12.1:1 vs 17.7:1).
Burke County Schools also operates Freedom High (1,299 students) and East Burke High (874 students) alongside W a Young Elementary.
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 W a Young Elementary compares
W a Young Elementary 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 | 12.1:1 | ▼ 23% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 70.9% | ▲ 7% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 327 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
12.1:1
Leaner classes than 75% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
327
Bigger than 36% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
70.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 7% 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
12.1:1
students per teacher
- 23% below state mean
Top 13% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 87% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
54.4%
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
$11,845
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 327 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
8
in-school suspensions + 6 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 4.3 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 75.2%
Asian 9.8%
Two or More 7.0%
Hispanic or Latino 6.7%
African American 1.2%
Largest group: White at 75.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 41.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 41.5, W a Young Elementary is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Burke County Schools, which includes W a Young Elementary.
$11,845
Per student
-1%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 15.2%
State 61.7%
Federal 23.1%
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 W a Young Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freedom High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Burke High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Mountain View Elementary | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Robert L. Patton High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Jimmy C Draughn High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to W a Young Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,299
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 874
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- Enrollment
- 762
- Students per teacher
- 17.7:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 756
- Students per teacher
- 19.4:1
- Resource Index
- 44/100
- Enrollment
- 661
- Students per teacher
- 18.4:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar other schools in Morganton
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Mountain View Elementary
Standard public school
762 students 17.7:1 students per teacher
Drexel Elementary
Standard public school
477 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Salem Elementary
Standard public school
476 students 18.3:1 students per teacher
Oak Hill Elementary
Standard public school
310 students 14.8:1 students per teacher
Forest Hill Elementary
Standard public school
305 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Glen Alpine Elementary
Standard public school
295 students 12.8:1 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 (~327 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~12.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on W a Young Elementary's federal record.
- Compare W a Young Elementary against another school. Compare schools
- Burke 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 W a Young Elementary
How many students attend W a Young Elementary?
W a Young Elementary has 327 students enrolled. It is a public school in Morganton, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at W a Young Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at W a Young Elementary is 12.1:1, which is 23% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 23% 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 W a Young Elementary?
70.9% of students at W a Young Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of W a Young Elementary?
The largest demographic group at W a Young Elementary is White at 75.2% of enrollment, in Morganton, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for W a Young Elementary?
W a Young Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 39/100 (typical 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 W a Young Elementary rank among schools in Morganton?
By Resource Investment Index, W a Young Elementary ranks #7 of 12 schools in Morganton, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Morganton on the city page.
Is W a Young Elementary a good school?
W a Young Elementary earns 39/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 87% 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 Burke County Schools?
Besides W a Young Elementary, Burke County Schools also operates Freedom High (1,299 students), East Burke High (874 students), and Mountain View Elementary (762 students). See the Burke 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.