Enrollment
522
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Sanford, NC
West Lee Middle
Federal NCES profile for West Lee Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 31/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370256001085
👥 S:T ratio 55
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Lee Middle earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools.
- #3 of 4
- middle schools in Sanford · Resource Index
- 31
- Resource Index · Lower
- 11.3:1
- small classes for North Carolina
- 65.6%
- free-lunch eligible
West Lee Middle has class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Lee Middle ranks #3 of 4 middle schools in Sanford, NC.
School address
District: Lee County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370256001085 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
46.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
11.3:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-28% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
65.6%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-1% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Lee Middle compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Lee Middle
West Lee Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Sanford, North Carolina, enrolling 522 students.
Classes run notably small here: at 11.3:1, West Lee Middle is leaner than roughly 90% of North Carolina schools and 28% under the state's 15.8:1 norm, more adult attention per pupil than most peers.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 65.6% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 522 students, its enrollment sits close to the North Carolina median campus size.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the lower third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Among 412 similarly sized, similarly resourced-need North Carolina schools statewide, it ranks #348, in the lower tier once campus size and economic need are matched.
Its student body is led by Hispanic or Latino (55%) and White (20%) (diversity index 62/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 522 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Chronic absenteeism is elevated: 61.9% of students missed 10% or more of school days (2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection).
Its district draws 23.3% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 422 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 522 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Sanford's middle schools, it stands alongside Sanlee Middle School (792 students): West Lee Middle is smaller than that campus by headcount and runs leaner classes (11.3:1 vs 14.9:1).
Lee County Schools also operates Lee County High (1,459 students) and Southern Lee High School (1,180 students) alongside West Lee 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 Lee Middle compares
West Lee 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 | 11.3:1 | ▼ 28% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 65.6% | ▼ 1% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 522 | top 46% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
11.3:1
Leaner classes than 81% of US schools, among the more generously staffed nationally.
522
Bigger than 64% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
65.6%
free-lunch eligible
- 1% 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
11.3:1
students per teacher
- 28% below state mean
Top 10% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 90% of state schools
Well under the widely cited 15:1 individualized-attention benchmark, among the leaner class loads nationally.
Engagement
61.9%
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
$12,250
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 522 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
188
in-school suspensions + 234 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 36.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 80.8 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
Hispanic or Latino 55.0%
White 19.5%
African American 18.6%
Two or More 5.7%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.4%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: Hispanic or Latino at 55.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 62.2/100
Simpson diversity index - at 62.2, West Lee Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Lee County Schools, which includes West Lee Middle.
$12,250
Per student
+2%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-26%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 16.8%
State 59.9%
Federal 23.3%
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 Lee Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Southern Lee High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Sanlee Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Wb Wicker Elementary | Similar size | Higher economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| J Glenn Edwards Elementary | Similar size | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Lee Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,459
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,180
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
- Enrollment
- 792
- Students per teacher
- 14.9:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
- Enrollment
- 588
- Students per teacher
- 14.7:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 587
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Similar middle schools in Sanford
3 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
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 (~522 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.3:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Lee Middle's federal record.
- Compare West Lee Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Lee 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 Lee Middle
How many students attend West Lee Middle?
West Lee Middle has 522 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Sanford, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Lee Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Lee Middle is 11.3:1, which is 28% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 28% 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 Lee Middle?
65.6% of students at West Lee Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Lee Middle?
The largest demographic group at West Lee Middle is Hispanic or Latino at 55.0% of enrollment, in Sanford, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 62.2/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Lee Middle?
West Lee Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 31/100 (lower 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 Lee Middle rank among middle schools in Sanford?
By Resource Investment Index, West Lee Middle ranks #3 of 4 middle schools in Sanford, 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 Sanford on the city page.
Is West Lee Middle a good school?
West Lee Middle earns 31/100 on the Resource Investment Index, even as it posts class sizes smaller than 90% of North Carolina schools. 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 Lee County Schools?
Besides West Lee Middle, Lee County Schools also operates Lee County High (1,459 students), Southern Lee High School (1,180 students), and Sanlee Middle School (792 students). See the Lee 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.