- Enrollment
- 1,299
- Students per teacher
- 17.8:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Morganton, NC
Walter R Johnson Middle
Federal NCES profile for Walter R Johnson Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370048002662
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 71
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Walter R Johnson Middle earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #1 of 3
- middle schools in Morganton · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 82.2%
- free-lunch eligible
Walter R Johnson Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Walter R Johnson Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle schools in Morganton, NC.
School address
District: Burke County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370048002662 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-26 students YoY
Walter R Johnson Middle shrank from 465 students in 2022-23 to 439 in 2023-24 (-5.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 30.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-26 students YoY 370048002662 · Morganton, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
441 enr · 13.8:1 · 82.2% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Freedom High (1,299 students)
Walter R Johnson Middle shrank from 465 students in 2022-23 to 439 in 2023-24 (-5.6%). Teacher FTE lost 32.5 → 30.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Walter R Johnson Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Freedom High
Freedom High
1,299 students
- East Burke Hig
East Burke High
874 students
- Mountain View
Mountain View Elementary
762 students
- Robert L. Patt
Robert L. Patton High School
756 students
- Jimmy C Draugh
Jimmy C Draughn High School
661 students
- This school 441
Walter R Johnson Middle
441 students
What this shows Walter R Johnson Middle reports 441 students on the CCD universe file.
How Walter R Johnson Middle compares
Walter R Johnson Middle is a shrinking 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 82.2% | ▲ 25% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 441 | top 58% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
441
Bigger than 54% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
82.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 25% 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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 32% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
40.1%
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
$12,261
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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
Counselors3.0 FTE
Per 147 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
77
in-school suspensions + 89 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 37.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 1 expulsion.
Student demographics
Hispanic or Latino 64.4%
White 21.3%
Two or More 5.9%
African American 5.4%
Asian 2.9%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 64.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 53.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 53.3, Walter R Johnson Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Burke County Schools reports $12,261 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Walter R Johnson Middle 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 Walter R Johnson Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 middle schools in Morganton
2 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Nationwide middle 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 (~441 students)
Frequently asked questions about Walter R Johnson Middle
How many students attend Walter R Johnson Middle?
Walter R Johnson Middle has 441 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Morganton, NC. CCD year-over-year: 465 (2022-23) → 439 (2023-24), down 26.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Walter R Johnson Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Walter R Johnson Middle is 13.8:1, which is 13% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 12% 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 Walter R Johnson Middle?
82.2% of students at Walter R Johnson Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Walter R Johnson Middle?
The largest demographic group at Walter R Johnson Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 64.4% of enrollment, in Morganton, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 53.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Walter R Johnson Middle?
Walter R Johnson Middle 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 Walter R Johnson Middle rank among middle schools in Morganton?
By Resource Investment Index, Walter R Johnson Middle ranks #1 of 3 middle 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 middle schools in Morganton on the city page.
What other schools are in Burke County Schools?
Besides Walter R Johnson Middle, 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.