- Enrollment
- 1,981
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Lillington, NC
Western Harnett High
Federal NCES profile for Western Harnett High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370201000894
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 47
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Harnett High earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 82% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Lillington · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18.1:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 53.8%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Harnett High has class sizes larger than 82% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Harnett High ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Lillington, NC.
School address
District: Harnett County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370201000894 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-43 students YoY
Western Harnett High held near 1,343 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-43 headcount).
Teacher FTE held 73.4 → 73.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
-43 students YoY 370201000894 · Lillington, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,324 enr · 18.1:1 · 53.8% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Overhills High (1,981 students)
Western Harnett High held near 1,343 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (-43 headcount). Teacher FTE held 73.4 → 73.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Western Harnett High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Overhills High
Overhills High
1,981 students
- Harnett Centra
Harnett Central High
1,522 students
- This school
Western Harnett High
1,324 students
- Triton High
Triton High
1,274 students
- Benhaven Eleme
Benhaven Elementary
1,065 students
- Harnett Centra
Harnett Central Middle
1,059 students
What this shows Western Harnett High reports 1,324 students on the CCD universe file.
How Western Harnett High compares
Western Harnett High 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 | 18.1:1 | ▲ 15% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 53.8% | ▼ 18% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,324 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.1:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,324
Bigger than 95% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
53.8%
free-lunch eligible
- 18% 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
18.1:1
students per teacher
- 15% above state mean
Top 82% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 18% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
47.6%
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
$10,877
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
Counselors5.0 FTE
Per 265 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 195 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 14.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 13 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 47.0%
Hispanic or Latino 29.6%
African American 15.7%
Two or More 5.8%
Asian 1.0%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 47.0% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 66.3/100
Simpson diversity index - at 66.3, Western Harnett High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 14
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Harnett County Schools reports $10,877 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Western Harnett High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overhills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Harnett Central High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Triton High | Similar size | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Benhaven Elementary | Similar size | Lower economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
| Harnett Central Middle | Similar size | Similar economic need | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Harnett High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,522
- Students per teacher
- 18.6:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,274
- Students per teacher
- 17.9:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 1,065
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,059
- Students per teacher
- 16:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
Nationwide high 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 (~1,324 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.1:1)
Frequently asked questions about Western Harnett High
How many students attend Western Harnett High?
Western Harnett High has 1,324 students enrolled. It is a high school in Lillington, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,386 (2022-23) → 1,343 (2023-24), nearly flat (-43).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Harnett High?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Harnett High is 18.1:1, which is 15% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Western Harnett High?
53.8% of students at Western Harnett High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Harnett High?
The largest demographic group at Western Harnett High is White at 47.0% of enrollment, in Lillington, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 66.3/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Harnett High?
Western Harnett High has a Resource Investment Index of 36/100 (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 Western Harnett High rank among public schools in Lillington?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Harnett High ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Lillington, 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 Lillington on the city page.
What other schools are in Harnett County Schools?
Besides Western Harnett High, Harnett County Schools also operates Overhills High (1,981 students), Harnett Central High (1,522 students), and Triton High (1,274 students). See the Harnett County Schools district page for the complete list.