Enrollment
467
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Taylorsville, NC
West Alexander Middle
Federal NCES profile for West Alexander Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370009000035
👥 S:T ratio 36
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 53
📋 Attendance 65
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Alexander Middle earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 9
- public schools in Taylorsville · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 16.1:1
- students per teacher
- 45.0%
- free-lunch eligible
West Alexander Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Alexander Middle ranks #4 of 9 public schools in Taylorsville, NC.
School address
District: Alexander County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370009000035 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
29.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
16.1:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+2% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
45.0%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-32% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Alexander Middle compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Alexander Middle
West Alexander Middle is a mid-sized middle school in Taylorsville, North Carolina, enrolling 467 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 16.1:1 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Economic need runs somewhat below the state's typical profile, with 45.0% of students eligible for free meals.
With 467 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index outscores 92% of the 2,698 North Carolina schools with a score on record, a top-tier result on this measure.
Among 399 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #12, a top-tier result once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is predominantly White (82% of enrollment) (diversity index 32/100).
Counselor coverage is strong, about 234 students per counselor, inside the American School Counselor Association's recommended 250:1.
13.9% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 20.1% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Alexander County Schools also operates Alexander Central High (1,254 students) and East Alexander Middle (510 students) alongside West Alexander Middle.
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 West Alexander Middle compares
West Alexander Middle 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 | 16.1:1 | ▲ 2% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 45.0% | ▼ 32% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 467 | top 54% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
16.1:1
Leaner classes than 37% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
467
Bigger than 57% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
45.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 32% 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
16.1:1
students per teacher
- 2% above state mean
Top 64% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 36% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
13.9%
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
$12,879
per pupil, district-wide
- above 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 234 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
63
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.5 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.1 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
White 81.8%
Hispanic or Latino 8.4%
Two or More 4.7%
Asian 2.6%
African American 2.1%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 81.8% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 32.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 32.0, West Alexander Middle is less mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Alexander County Schools, which includes West Alexander Middle.
$12,879
Per student
+7%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-22%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.3%
State 63.6%
Federal 20.1%
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 West Alexander Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander Central High | Larger | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| East Alexander Middle | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Bethlehem Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hiddenite Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Wittenburg Elementary | Smaller | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Alexander Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,254
- Students per teacher
- 14.4:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 510
- Students per teacher
- 14.6:1
- Resource Index
- 50/100
- Enrollment
- 435
- Students per teacher
- 16.1:1
- Resource Index
- 49/100
- Enrollment
- 370
- Students per teacher
- 14.2:1
- Resource Index
- 48/100
- Enrollment
- 294
- Students per teacher
- 16.3:1
- Resource Index
- 52/100
Similar middle 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 (~467 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~16.1:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Alexander Middle's federal record.
- Compare West Alexander Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Alexander 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 West Alexander Middle
How many students attend West Alexander Middle?
West Alexander Middle has 467 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Taylorsville, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Alexander Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Alexander Middle is 16.1:1, which is 2% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 3% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at West Alexander Middle?
45.0% of students at West Alexander Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Alexander Middle?
The largest demographic group at West Alexander Middle is White at 81.8% of enrollment, in Taylorsville, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Alexander Middle?
West Alexander Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 West Alexander Middle rank among public schools in Taylorsville?
By Resource Investment Index, West Alexander Middle ranks #4 of 9 public schools in Taylorsville, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Taylorsville on the city page.
Is West Alexander Middle a good school?
West Alexander Middle 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 Alexander County Schools?
Besides West Alexander Middle, Alexander County Schools also operates Alexander Central High (1,254 students), East Alexander Middle (510 students), and Bethlehem Elementary (435 students). See the Alexander 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.