- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Apex, NC
West Lake Elementary
Federal NCES profile for West Lake Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 50/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370472000205
👥 S:T ratio 46
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 42
📋 Attendance 44
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Lake Elementary earns 50/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes smaller than 72% of North Carolina schools.
- #2 of 11
- schools in Apex · Resource Index
- 50
- Resource Index · Higher
- 13.5:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 29.1%
- free-lunch eligible
West Lake Elementary 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 Lake Elementary ranks #2 of 11 schools in Apex, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472000205 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-39 students YoY
West Lake Elementary shrank from 611 students in 2022-23 to 572 in 2023-24 (-6.4%).
Teacher FTE lost 43.0 → 37.3 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-39 students YoY 370472000205 · Apex, NC Other · MID · TRAD
581 enr · 13.5:1 · 29.1% lunch · RII 50
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
West Lake Elementary shrank from 611 students in 2022-23 to 572 in 2023-24 (-6.4%). Teacher FTE lost 43.0 → 37.3 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Lake Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apex Friendshi
Apex Friendship High
2,748 students
- Enloe High
Enloe High
2,643 students
- Panther Creek
Panther Creek High
2,609 students
- Millbrook High
Millbrook High
2,498 students
- Apex High
Apex High
2,449 students
- This school 581
West Lake Elementary
581 students
What this shows West Lake Elementary reports 581 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Lake Elementary compares
West Lake 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 | 13.5:1 | ▼ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 29.1% | ▼ 56% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 581 | top 38% | - | - |
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.
581
Bigger than 71% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
29.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 56% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
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
22.5%
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
$11,691
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 291 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 12 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 2.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 63.5%
Hispanic or Latino 20.1%
African American 6.5%
Two or More 5.3%
Asian 4.5%
Largest group: White at 63.5% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 54.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 54.7, West Lake Elementary is about as mixed as the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wake County Schools reports $11,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Lake Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Lake Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,643
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,609
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar other schools in Apex
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Olive Chapel Elementary
Standard public school
1,066 students 15.9:1 students per teacher
Apex Friendship Elementary
Standard public school
896 students 16:1 students per teacher
Oakview Elementary
Standard public school
873 students 13.6:1 students per teacher
Scotts Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
869 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
White Oak Elementary
Standard public school
843 students 16.9:1 students per teacher
Salem Elementary
Standard public school
776 students 13.4:1 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 (~581 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Lake Elementary
How many students attend West Lake Elementary?
West Lake Elementary has 581 students enrolled. It is a public school in Apex, NC. CCD year-over-year: 611 (2022-23) → 572 (2023-24), down 39.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Lake Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Lake Elementary 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 Lake Elementary?
29.1% of students at West Lake Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Lake Elementary?
The largest demographic group at West Lake Elementary is White at 63.5% of enrollment, in Apex, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 54.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Lake Elementary?
West Lake Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 50/100 (higher 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 Lake Elementary rank among schools in Apex?
By Resource Investment Index, West Lake Elementary ranks #2 of 11 schools in Apex, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Apex on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides West Lake Elementary, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Panther Creek High (2,609 students). See the Wake County Schools district page for the complete list.