- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Lenoir, NC
West Caldwell High
Federal NCES profile for West Caldwell High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 43/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370058000241
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Caldwell High earns 43/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 13
- public schools in Lenoir · Resource Index
- 43
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.5:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 63.2%
- free-lunch eligible
West Caldwell High has class sizes smaller than 72% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Caldwell High ranks #3 of 13 public schools in Lenoir, NC.
School address
District: Caldwell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370058000241 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-66 students YoY
West Caldwell High shrank from 753 students in 2022-23 to 687 in 2023-24 (-8.8%).
Teacher FTE held 47.4 → 47.4 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-66 students YoY 370058000241 · Lenoir, NC High · MID · TRAD
634 enr · 13.5:1 · 63.2% lunch · RII 43
Nearest enrollment peer: South Caldwell High (1,272 students)
West Caldwell High shrank from 753 students in 2022-23 to 687 in 2023-24 (-8.8%). Teacher FTE held 47.4 → 47.4 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Caldwell High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- South Caldwell
South Caldwell High
1,272 students
- Hibriten High
Hibriten High
818 students
- Hudson Element
Hudson Elementary
665 students
- Granite Falls
Granite Falls Elementary
647 students
- This school
West Caldwell High
634 students
- Hudson Middle
Hudson Middle
551 students
What this shows West Caldwell High reports 634 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Caldwell High compares
West Caldwell High 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 63.2% | ▼ 4% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 634 | top 31% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.5:1
Leaner classes than 62% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
634
Bigger than 76% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
63.2%
free-lunch eligible
- 4% 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
13.5:1
students per teacher
- 15% below state mean
Top 28% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 72% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
69.6%
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
$12,066
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 211 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
110
in-school suspensions + 120 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 17.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 36.3 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 57.4%
Hispanic or Latino 23.2%
African American 9.9%
Two or More 8.5%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 57.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 60.0/100
Simpson diversity index - at 60.0, West Caldwell High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 2
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Caldwell County Schools reports $12,066 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Caldwell High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Caldwell High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hibriten High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hudson Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Granite Falls Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hudson Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Caldwell High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 665
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 551
- Students per teacher
- 16.7:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Similar high schools in Lenoir
1 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high 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 (~634 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.5:1)
Frequently asked questions about West Caldwell High
How many students attend West Caldwell High?
West Caldwell High has 634 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lenoir, NC. CCD year-over-year: 753 (2022-23) → 687 (2023-24), down 66.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Caldwell High?
The student-teacher ratio at West Caldwell High is 13.5:1, which is 15% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 14% 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 West Caldwell High?
63.2% of students at West Caldwell High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Caldwell High?
The largest demographic group at West Caldwell High is White at 57.4% of enrollment, in Lenoir, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 60.0/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Caldwell High?
West Caldwell High has a Resource Investment Index of 43/100 (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 West Caldwell High rank among public schools in Lenoir?
By Resource Investment Index, West Caldwell High ranks #3 of 13 public schools in Lenoir, 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 Lenoir on the city page.
What other schools are in Caldwell County Schools?
Besides West Caldwell High, Caldwell County Schools also operates South Caldwell High (1,272 students), Hibriten High (818 students), and Hudson Elementary (665 students). See the Caldwell County Schools district page for the complete list.