- Enrollment
- 1,961
- Students per teacher
- 21.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Waxhaw, NC
Western Union Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Western Union Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 36/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370462001810
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 0
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Western Union Elementary earns 36/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #6 of 7
- schools in Waxhaw · Resource Index
- 36
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- students per teacher
- 35.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Western Union Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Western Union Elementary ranks #6 of 7 schools in Waxhaw, NC.
School address
District: Union County Public Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370462001810 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+23 students YoY
Western Union Elementary held near 576 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount).
Teacher FTE added 35.0 → 36.8 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+23 students YoY 370462001810 · Waxhaw, NC Other · MID · TRAD
539 enr · 15.4:1 · 35.4% lunch · RII 36
Nearest enrollment peer: Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students)
Western Union Elementary held near 576 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+23 headcount). Teacher FTE added 35.0 → 36.8 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Western Union Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Marvin Ridge H
Marvin Ridge High
1,961 students
- Weddington Hig
Weddington High
1,899 students
- Cuthbertson Hi
Cuthbertson High
1,857 students
- Porter Ridge H
Porter Ridge High School
1,809 students
- Porter Ridge M
Porter Ridge Middle School
1,447 students
- This school 539
Western Union Elementary
539 students
What this shows Western Union Elementary reports 539 students on the CCD universe file.
How Western Union Elementary compares
Western Union Elementary 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 | 15.4:1 | ▼ 3% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 35.4% | ▼ 46% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 539 | top 43% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
539
Bigger than 66% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
35.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 46% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 3% below state mean
Top 55% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 45% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
25.0%
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
$11,340
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 539 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
14
in-school suspensions + 17 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 2.6 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 5.8 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 63.1%
Hispanic or Latino 18.4%
African American 12.1%
Two or More 5.2%
Asian 0.6%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.6%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.2%
Largest group: White at 63.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 55.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 55.1, Western Union Elementary is about as mixed as the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Union County Public Schools reports $11,340 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Western Union Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Marvin Ridge High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Weddington High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Cuthbertson High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge High School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Porter Ridge Middle School | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Western Union Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 1,899
- Students per teacher
- 22.6:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 1,857
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
- Enrollment
- 1,809
- Students per teacher
- 21.3:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 1,447
- Students per teacher
- 23.3:1
- Resource Index
- 24/100
Similar other schools in Waxhaw
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Kensington Elementary
Standard public school
901 students 15.3:1 students per teacher
New Town Elementary
Standard public school
691 students 14.7:1 students per teacher
Rea View Elementary
Standard public school
629 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
Waxhaw Elementary
Standard public school
615 students 16.6:1 students per teacher
Sandy Ridge Elementary
Standard public school
528 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
South Providence
Alternative education program
91 students 5.1:1 students per teacher
Nationwide other 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 (~539 students)
Frequently asked questions about Western Union Elementary
How many students attend Western Union Elementary?
Western Union Elementary has 539 students enrolled. It is a public school in Waxhaw, NC. CCD year-over-year: 553 (2022-23) → 576 (2023-24), nearly flat (+23).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Western Union Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Western Union Elementary is 15.4:1, which is 3% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 2% 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 Union Elementary?
35.4% of students at Western Union Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Western Union Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Western Union Elementary is White at 63.1% of enrollment, in Waxhaw, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 55.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Western Union Elementary?
Western Union Elementary 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 Union Elementary rank among schools in Waxhaw?
By Resource Investment Index, Western Union Elementary ranks #6 of 7 schools in Waxhaw, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Waxhaw on the city page.
What other schools are in Union County Public Schools?
Besides Western Union Elementary, Union County Public Schools also operates Marvin Ridge High (1,961 students), Weddington High (1,899 students), and Cuthbertson High (1,857 students). See the Union County Public Schools district page for the complete list.