- Enrollment
- 1,981
- Students per teacher
- 19.2:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Lillington, NC
Western Harnett Middle
Federal NCES profile for Western Harnett Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370201002296
👥 S:T ratio 43
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 30
📋 Attendance 0
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Harnett Middle earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #4 of 6
- public schools in Lillington · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 14.3:1
- students per teacher
- 50.7%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Harnett Middle has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Harnett Middle ranks #4 of 6 public schools in Lillington, NC.
School address
District: Harnett County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370201002296 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-54 students YoY
Western Harnett Middle shrank from 820 students in 2022-23 to 766 in 2023-24 (-6.6%).
Teacher FTE lost 49.2 → 47.7 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-54 students YoY 370201002296 · Lillington, NC Middle · MID · TRAD
700 enr · 14.3:1 · 50.7% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Overhills High (1,981 students)
Western Harnett Middle shrank from 820 students in 2022-23 to 766 in 2023-24 (-6.6%). Teacher FTE lost 49.2 → 47.7 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Western Harnett Middle 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
- Western Harnet
Western Harnett High
1,324 students
- Triton High
Triton High
1,274 students
- Benhaven Eleme
Benhaven Elementary
1,065 students
- This school 700
Western Harnett Middle
700 students
What this shows Western Harnett Middle reports 700 students on the CCD universe file.
How Western Harnett Middle compares
Western Harnett Middle is a shrinking 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 | 14.3:1 | ▼ 9% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 50.7% | ▼ 23% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 700 | top 25% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
14.3:1
Leaner classes than 54% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
700
Bigger than 80% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
50.7%
free-lunch eligible
- 23% 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
14.3:1
students per teacher
- 9% below state mean
Top 39% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 61% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
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
Counselors2.0 FTE
Per 350 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
99
in-school suspensions + 80 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 14.1 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 25.6 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 4 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 47.1%
Hispanic or Latino 25.1%
African American 18.3%
Two or More 8.4%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.7%
Asian 0.3%
Largest group: White at 47.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 67.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 67.5, Western Harnett Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
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 Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overhills High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Harnett Central High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Western Harnett High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Triton High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Benhaven Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Harnett Middle'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
- 1,324
- Students per teacher
- 18.1:1
- Resource Index
- 36/100
- 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
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 (~700 students)
Frequently asked questions about Western Harnett Middle
How many students attend Western Harnett Middle?
Western Harnett Middle has 700 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Lillington, NC. CCD year-over-year: 820 (2022-23) → 766 (2023-24), down 54.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Harnett Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Harnett Middle is 14.3:1, which is 9% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 9% 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 Western Harnett Middle?
50.7% of students at Western Harnett Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Harnett Middle?
The largest demographic group at Western Harnett Middle is White at 47.1% of enrollment, in Lillington, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 67.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Harnett Middle?
Western Harnett Middle 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 Middle rank among public schools in Lillington?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Harnett Middle 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 Middle, Harnett County Schools also operates Overhills High (1,981 students), Harnett Central High (1,522 students), and Western Harnett High (1,324 students). See the Harnett County Schools district page for the complete list.