Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
Middle· 23 schools in district

Lincolnton Middle

2361 Startown Road, Lincolnton, NC 28092Lincoln County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 06–08Non-Charter
560
Students
Total enrolled
$11,236
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
↓ 22% vs nat'l
13.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↓ 13% vs nat'l
36/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
↓ 29% vs nat'l
⇄ Compare with another school
Mid-sized public school
Serves 560 students in grades 06–08 in Lincolnton, North Carolina.
22% below average funding
District spends $11,236 per pupil, 22% less than the national average of $14,347.
Below-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 36th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Lincolnton Middle is a large middle in Lincolnton, North Carolina, serving grades 06–08 with 560 students. The district invests $11,236 per student — 22% below the national average of $14,347, and maintains a 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller than the national norm of 15.4:1. About 73% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic challenges in the surrounding community. A neighborhood opportunity score of 36/100 — below the national median of 50 — is worth factoring into a fuller picture of long-term student outcomes.

Student Body & Demographics at Lincolnton Middle

560
Total Students
13.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
73%
Free Lunch
42
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (06–08) are served by this school
Gender Distribution293 male · 267 female
52%
48%
Male 52%Female 48%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility73%
National avg 52% · 406 students
Student Composition
48%
27%
15%
9%
Asian1%
White48%
Hispanic / Latino27%
Black15%
Multiracial9%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370268001115

Academic Outcomes at Lincolnton Middle

Neighborhood Opportunity Score
36
/ 100
Below-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 36th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 11th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 28092

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,236Below avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$11,236
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$4,944
Student Support$2,135
Administration$1,348
Operations$1,685
Other$1,124
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $11,236 spent per student, an estimated $4,977 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
59%
22%
State government
58.7%
Local (property tax)
22.4%
Federal programs
18.8%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio — smaller classes than the national norm of 15.4:1
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Worth Considering
  • Below-average funding — $11,236/student, 22% less than the national average
  • Below-median neighborhood opportunity score (36/100) — national median is 50
  • 73% of students on free or reduced lunch — a high share that can indicate resource pressure
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Elementary
Rock Springs ElementarySt James ElementaryCatawba Springs ElementaryChilders Elementary
+9 more
↓
Middle
North Lincoln MiddleEast Lincoln MiddleWest Lincoln Middle
↓
High School
North Lincoln HighEast Lincoln HighLincolnton HighWest Lincoln High
+1 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelMiddle
Grades06 – 08
Location—
CountyLincoln County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictLincoln County Schools →
Phone: (704)735-1120
NCES ID: 370268001115
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Lincolnton seeking a public middle school, especially those prioritizing smaller class sizes and more individualized teacher access. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Lincoln County Schools
High
North Lincoln High
1,079 students · 09–12
● 36 opp27% FRL
High
East Lincoln High
1,047 students · 09–12
● 37 opp29% FRL
High
Lincolnton High
813 students · 09–12
● 36 opp65% FRL
Mid
North Lincoln Middle
776 students · 06–08
● 37 opp29% FRL
High
West Lincoln High
756 students · 09–12
● 36 opp51% FRL
Mid
East Lincoln Middle
728 students · 06–08
● 36 opp34% FRL
Elem
Rock Springs Elementary
647 students · PK–05
● 37 opp22% FRL
Elem
St James Elementary
633 students · PK–05
● 37 opp27% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
2361 Startown Road, Lincolnton, NC 28092
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

Middle
1
How does the school support the transition from elementary?
Orientation programs, peer mentoring
2
What electives and clubs are available?
Arts, STEM, sports, extracurriculars
3
How are students grouped for core subjects?
Tracking policies can affect equity
4
What is the school's homework and study policy?
Look for balance and academic support
5
How is bullying and social pressure addressed?
Anti-bullying policies, counselor availability
6
What advanced or enrichment options exist?
Honors courses, gifted programs
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.