- Enrollment
- 1,945
- Students per teacher
- 23.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Burgaw, NC
West Pender Middle
Federal NCES profile for West Pender Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 46/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370357001471
👥 S:T ratio 40
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 58
📋 Attendance 14
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
West Pender Middle earns 46/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 6
- public schools in Burgaw · Resource Index
- 46
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.9:1
- students per teacher
- 78.8%
- free-lunch eligible
West Pender Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, West Pender Middle ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Burgaw, NC.
School address
District: Pender County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370357001471 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+9 students YoY
West Pender Middle grew from 179 students in 2022-23 to 188 in 2023-24 (+5.0%).
Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 16.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+9 students YoY 370357001471 · Burgaw, NC Middle · SMALL · TRAD
209 enr · 14.9:1 · 78.8% lunch · RII 46
Nearest enrollment peer: Topsail High (1,945 students)
West Pender Middle grew from 179 students in 2022-23 to 188 in 2023-24 (+5.0%). Teacher FTE added 14.0 → 16.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
West Pender Middle in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Topsail High
Topsail High
1,945 students
- Surf City Elem
Surf City Elementary
857 students
- Topsail Middle
Topsail Middle
837 students
- Surf City Midd 752
Surf City Middle
752 students
- Heide Trask Hi 732
Heide Trask High
732 students
- This school 209
West Pender Middle
209 students
What this shows West Pender Middle reports 209 students on the CCD universe file.
How West Pender Middle compares
West Pender Middle is a growing 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 | 14.9:1 | ▼ 6% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 78.8% | ▲ 19% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 209 | top 88% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.9:1
Leaner classes than 48% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
209
Bigger than 20% of US schools by enrollment, a small campus.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
78.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 19% above 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
14.9:1
students per teacher
- 6% below state mean
Top 48% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 52% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
34.4%
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
$11,425
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 209 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
17
in-school suspensions + 34 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 8.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 24.4 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 34.4%
African American 32.1%
Hispanic or Latino 29.7%
Two or More 3.8%
Largest group: White at 34.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 68.9/100
Simpson diversity index - at 68.9, West Pender Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Pender County Schools reports $11,425 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How West Pender Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Topsail High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Surf City Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Topsail Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Surf City Middle | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Heide Trask High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to West Pender Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 857
- Students per teacher
- 19.5:1
- Resource Index
- 31/100
- Enrollment
- 837
- Students per teacher
- 20.4:1
- Resource Index
- 22/100
- Enrollment
- 752
- Students per teacher
- 23.5:1
- Resource Index
- 21/100
- Enrollment
- 732
- Students per teacher
- 16.6:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
Similar middle schools in Burgaw
1 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 (~209 students)
Frequently asked questions about West Pender Middle
How many students attend West Pender Middle?
West Pender Middle has 209 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Burgaw, NC. CCD year-over-year: 179 (2022-23) → 188 (2023-24), up 9.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Pender Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at West Pender Middle is 14.9:1, which is 6% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 5% 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 Pender Middle?
78.8% of students at West Pender Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of West Pender Middle?
The largest demographic group at West Pender Middle is White at 34.4% of enrollment, in Burgaw, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 68.9/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for West Pender Middle?
West Pender Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 46/100 (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 Pender Middle rank among public schools in Burgaw?
By Resource Investment Index, West Pender Middle ranks #2 of 6 public schools in Burgaw, 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 Burgaw on the city page.
What other schools are in Pender County Schools?
Besides West Pender Middle, Pender County Schools also operates Topsail High (1,945 students), Surf City Elementary (857 students), and Topsail Middle (837 students). See the Pender County Schools district page for the complete list.