Enrollment
563
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lincolnton, NC
West Lincoln Middle
Federal NCES profile for West Lincoln Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370268001125
👥 S:T ratio 39
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 41
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Lincoln Middle earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most North Carolina schools.
- #13 of 13
- public schools in Lincolnton · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.2:1
- students per teacher
- 56.9%
- free-lunch eligible
West Lincoln Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Lincoln Middle ranks #13 of 13 public schools in Lincolnton, NC.
School address
District: Lincoln County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370268001125 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
37.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
15.2:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
-4% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
56.9%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-14% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How West Lincoln Middle compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at West Lincoln Middle
West Lincoln Middle is a higher-need, mid-sized middle school in Lincolnton, North Carolina, enrolling 563 students.
At 15.2:1, its student-teacher ratio sits close to the North Carolina median, within a few percentage points of the 15.8:1 state norm, neither notably crowded nor notably small.
Its free-meal eligibility rate of 56.9% lands close to the North Carolina typical range, neither a high- nor low-need campus by this measure.
With 563 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.
Against 509 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks mid-pack at #314.
Its student body is predominantly White (84% of enrollment), among the less diverse in the state (diversity index 28/100).
Counselor access is stretched at roughly 563 students per counselor, well above the ASCA-recommended 250:1 ceiling.
Attendance runs somewhat below the norm, with 23.8% of students chronically absent per the 2021-22 civil-rights collection.
Its district draws 18.8% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Discipline events run high: 243 in- and out-of-school suspensions were reported for 563 students in the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection.
Among Lincolnton's middle schools, it stands alongside Lincolnton Middle (563 students): West Lincoln Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (15.2:1 vs 13.7:1).
Lincoln County Schools also operates North Lincoln High (1,126 students) and East Lincoln High (1,047 students) alongside West Lincoln 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 Lincoln Middle compares
West Lincoln 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 | 15.2:1 | ▼ 4% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 56.9% | ▼ 14% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 563 | top 40% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.2:1
Leaner classes than 45% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
563
Bigger than 69% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
56.9%
free-lunch eligible
- 14% 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
15.2:1
students per teacher
- 4% below state mean
Top 52% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 48% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
23.8%
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
$10,582
per pupil, district-wide
- below 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 563 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
119
in-school suspensions + 124 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 21.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 43.2 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 84.0%
Hispanic or Latino 8.5%
Two or More 5.9%
African American 1.1%
Asian 0.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Largest group: White at 84.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 28.4/100
Simpson diversity index - at 28.4, West Lincoln 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 Lincoln County Schools, which includes West Lincoln Middle.
$10,582
Per student
-12%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-36%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 22.4%
State 58.7%
Federal 18.8%
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 Lincoln Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| North Lincoln High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lincoln High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Lincolnton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| North Lincoln Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| East Lincoln Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Lincoln Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,126
- Students per teacher
- 24:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 1,047
- Students per teacher
- 22.3:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 797
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 774
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 47/100
- Enrollment
- 738
- Students per teacher
- 18:1
- Resource Index
- 46/100
Similar middle schools in Lincolnton
1 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 (~563 students)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on West Lincoln Middle's federal record.
- Compare West Lincoln Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Lincoln 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 Lincoln Middle
How many students attend West Lincoln Middle?
West Lincoln Middle has 563 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lincolnton, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Lincoln Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Lincoln Middle is 15.2:1, which is 4% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 3% 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 Lincoln Middle?
56.9% of students at West Lincoln Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Lincoln Middle?
The largest demographic group at West Lincoln Middle is White at 84.0% of enrollment, in Lincolnton, NC.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Lincoln Middle?
West Lincoln Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical 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 Lincoln Middle rank among public schools in Lincolnton?
By Resource Investment Index, West Lincoln Middle ranks #13 of 13 public schools in Lincolnton, 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 Lincolnton on the city page.
Is West Lincoln Middle a good school?
West Lincoln Middle earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median. It is also less racially and ethnically mixed than most 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 Lincoln County Schools?
Besides West Lincoln Middle, Lincoln County Schools also operates North Lincoln High (1,126 students), East Lincoln High (1,047 students), and Lincolnton High (797 students). See the Lincoln 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.