- Enrollment
- 1,459
- Students per teacher
- 15.4:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
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 →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-24 students YoY
West Lee Middle held near 583 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 46.8 → 36.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-24 students YoY 370256001085 · Sanford, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
522 enr · 11.3:1 · 65.6% lunch · RII 31
Nearest enrollment peer: Lee County High (1,459 students)
West Lee Middle held near 583 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-24 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 46.8 → 36.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Lee Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Lee County Hig
Lee County High
1,459 students
- Southern Lee H
Southern Lee High School
1,180 students
- Sanlee Middle
Sanlee Middle School
792 students
- Wb Wicker Elem
Wb Wicker Elementary
588 students
- J Glenn Edward
J Glenn Edwards Elementary
587 students
- This school 522
West Lee Middle
522 students
What this shows West Lee Middle reports 522 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Lee Middle compares
West Lee Middle held steady on CCD headcount: 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 | 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 methodology
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
$13,241
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 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.
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
District finance for Lee County Schools reports $13,241 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
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
- 1,180
- 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.
Nationwide middle 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 (~522 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~11.3:1)
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. CCD year-over-year: 607 (2022-23) → 583 (2023-24), nearly flat (-24).
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, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. 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.
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.