- Enrollment
- 2,145
- Students per teacher
- 18.2:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Winston-Salem, NC
Ward Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Ward Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 29/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370150002519
👥 S:T ratio 44
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 2
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Ward Elementary earns 29/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #15 of 20
- schools in Winston-Salem · Resource Index
- 29
- Resource Index · Lower
- 14:1
- students per teacher
- 99.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Ward Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Ward Elementary ranks #15 of 20 schools in Winston-Salem, NC.
School address
District: Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370150002519 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-50 students YoY
Ward Elementary shrank from 532 students in 2022-23 to 482 in 2023-24 (-9.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 34.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-50 students YoY 370150002519 · Winston-Salem, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
489 enr · 14:1 · 99.4% lunch · RII 29
Nearest enrollment peer: West Forsyth High (2,145 students)
Ward Elementary shrank from 532 students in 2022-23 to 482 in 2023-24 (-9.4%). Teacher FTE lost 35.0 → 34.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Ward Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- West Forsyth H
West Forsyth High
2,145 students
- Ronald W Reaga
Ronald W Reagan High School
2,122 students
- R J Reynolds H
R J Reynolds High
1,759 students
- East Forsyth H
East Forsyth High
1,647 students
- Parkland High
Parkland High
1,569 students
- This school 489
Ward Elementary
489 students
What this shows Ward Elementary reports 489 students on the CCD universe file.
How Ward Elementary compares
Ward Elementary 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 | 14:1 | ▼ 11% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.4% | ▲ 51% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 489 | top 51% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14:1
Leaner classes than 57% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
489
Bigger than 60% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 51% above the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Well above the 40% Title I schoolwide threshold, among the highest-need profiles in the state; federal funds support the whole school, not individual students.
Staffing depth
14:1
students per teacher
- 11% below state mean
Top 35% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 65% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
41.3%
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
$13,811
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 489 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
2
in-school suspensions + 23 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 36.2%
Hispanic or Latino 32.9%
White 19.6%
Two or More 7.4%
Asian 3.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: African American at 36.2% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 71.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 71.5, Ward Elementary is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools reports $13,811 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Ward Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Forsyth High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Ronald W Reagan High School | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| R J Reynolds High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Forsyth High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Parkland High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Ward Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,122
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 35/100
- Enrollment
- 1,759
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,647
- Students per teacher
- 15.8:1
- Resource Index
- 51/100
- Enrollment
- 1,569
- Students per teacher
- 17.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
Similar other schools in Winston-Salem
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Meadowlark Elementary
Standard public school
827 students 15:1 students per teacher
Quality Education Academy
Standard public school
776 students 14.4:1 students per teacher
Kimmel Farm Elementary
Standard public school
760 students 15.5:1 students per teacher
Wallburg Elementary
Standard public school
717 students 16.7:1 students per teacher
Gibson Elementary
Standard public school
589 students 12.8:1 students per teacher
Jefferson Elementary
Standard public school
560 students 14:1 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 (~489 students)
Frequently asked questions about Ward Elementary
How many students attend Ward Elementary?
Ward Elementary has 489 students enrolled. It is a public school in Winston-Salem, NC. CCD year-over-year: 532 (2022-23) → 482 (2023-24), down 50.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Ward Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Ward Elementary is 14:1, which is 11% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 11% 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 Ward Elementary?
99.4% of students at Ward Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Ward Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Ward Elementary is African American at 36.2% of enrollment, in Winston-Salem, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 71.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Ward Elementary?
Ward Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 29/100 (lower 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 Ward Elementary rank among schools in Winston-Salem?
By Resource Investment Index, Ward Elementary ranks #15 of 20 schools in Winston-Salem, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Winston-Salem on the city page.
What other schools are in Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools?
Besides Ward Elementary, Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools also operates West Forsyth High (2,145 students), Ronald W Reagan High School (2,122 students), and R J Reynolds High (1,759 students). See the Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district page for the complete list.