- Enrollment
- 1,272
- Students per teacher
- 15:1
- Resource Index
- 37/100
Other / mixed grade configuration · Lenoir, NC
Whitnel Elementary
Federal NCES profile for Whitnel Elementary, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 40/100.
2024-25 NCES dataOther / mixed grade configurationNCES 370058000243
👥 S:T ratio 45
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 34
📋 Attendance 11
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Whitnel Elementary earns 40/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes near the North Carolina median.
- #2 of 7
- schools in Lenoir · Resource Index
- 40
- Resource Index · Typical
- 13.8:1
- students per teacher
- 99.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Whitnel Elementary has class sizes near the North Carolina median. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Whitnel Elementary ranks #2 of 7 schools in Lenoir, NC.
School address
District: Caldwell County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370058000243 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
-33 students YoY
Whitnel Elementary shrank from 300 students in 2022-23 to 267 in 2023-24 (-11.0%).
Teacher FTE lost 24.6 → 22.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Shrinking CCD campus
-33 students YoY 370058000243 · Lenoir, NC Other · SMALL · TRAD
330 enr · 13.8:1 · 99.0% lunch · RII 40
Nearest enrollment peer: South Caldwell High (1,272 students)
Whitnel Elementary shrank from 300 students in 2022-23 to 267 in 2023-24 (-11.0%). Teacher FTE lost 24.6 → 22.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Whitnel Elementary in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- South Caldwell
South Caldwell High
1,272 students
- Hibriten High
Hibriten High
818 students
- Hudson Element
Hudson Elementary
665 students
- Granite Falls
Granite Falls Elementary
647 students
- West Caldwell
West Caldwell High
634 students
- This school 330
Whitnel Elementary
330 students
What this shows Whitnel Elementary reports 330 students on the CCD universe file.
How Whitnel Elementary compares
Whitnel Elementary 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 | 13.8:1 | ▼ 13% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 99.0% | ▲ 50% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 330 | top 74% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
13.8:1
Leaner classes than 59% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
330
Bigger than 37% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
99.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 50% 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
13.8:1
students per teacher
- 13% below state mean
Top 32% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 68% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
35.8%
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
$12,066
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 330 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
31
in-school suspensions + 25 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 9.4 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 17.0 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 59.4%
Hispanic or Latino 23.9%
African American 8.2%
Two or More 7.6%
Asian 0.9%
Largest group: White at 59.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 57.7/100
Simpson diversity index - at 57.7, Whitnel Elementary is about as mixed as the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Caldwell County Schools reports $12,066 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Whitnel Elementary Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Caldwell High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Hibriten High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Hudson Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Granite Falls Elementary | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| West Caldwell High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Whitnel Elementary's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 818
- Students per teacher
- 15.7:1
- Resource Index
- 27/100
- Enrollment
- 665
- Students per teacher
- 15.1:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 647
- Students per teacher
- 17:1
- Resource Index
- 33/100
- Enrollment
- 634
- Students per teacher
- 13.5:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
Similar other schools in Lenoir
6 comparable other schools (grades Mixed) serving the same city.
Gamewell Elementary
Standard public school
459 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Davenport a+ School
Standard public school
429 students 13.4:1 students per teacher
Lower Creek Elementary
Standard public school
396 students 15.8:1 students per teacher
Valmead Elementary
Standard public school
305 students 14.5:1 students per teacher
Happy Valley Elementary
Standard public school
234 students 15.6:1 students per teacher
Kings Creek Elementary
Standard public school
153 students 11.8:1 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 (~330 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~13.8:1)
Frequently asked questions about Whitnel Elementary
How many students attend Whitnel Elementary?
Whitnel Elementary has 330 students enrolled. It is a public school in Lenoir, NC. CCD year-over-year: 300 (2022-23) → 267 (2023-24), down 33.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Whitnel Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Whitnel Elementary is 13.8:1, which is 13% lower than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 12% 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 Whitnel Elementary?
99.0% of students at Whitnel Elementary are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Whitnel Elementary?
The largest demographic group at Whitnel Elementary is White at 59.4% of enrollment, in Lenoir, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 57.7/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Whitnel Elementary?
Whitnel Elementary has a Resource Investment Index of 40/100 (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 Whitnel Elementary rank among schools in Lenoir?
By Resource Investment Index, Whitnel Elementary ranks #2 of 7 schools in Lenoir, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all schools in Lenoir on the city page.
What other schools are in Caldwell County Schools?
Besides Whitnel Elementary, Caldwell County Schools also operates South Caldwell High (1,272 students), Hibriten High (818 students), and Hudson Elementary (665 students). See the Caldwell County Schools district page for the complete list.