What are the largest school districts in North Carolina?

Wake County Schools (163,176 students), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (145,014 students), Guilford County Schools (67,620 students) have the most students in the latest NCES count.

How much does North Carolina spend per student?

Districts in North Carolina that report finance data spent an average of $13,045 per student on current operations, weighted by enrollment.

What does per-pupil spending include?

It is current spending for elementary and secondary education divided by fall enrollment, as published by the Census Bureau. It includes instruction, support services such as transportation and administration, and other day-to-day costs. It leaves out capital outlay for buildings and interest on debt.

Why do some districts have no spending or poverty figures?

Charter districts, education service agencies and other special agencies often do not report finance data separately, and Census SAIPE estimates child poverty only for geographic school districts. Values are also hidden for districts with fewer than 50 students, where a per-pupil figure can swing widely.

Checked Oct 22, 2026

North Carolina School Districts

Public school districts and education agencies

Districts and agencies: 358
Students: 1,548,672; Fall enrollment
Spending per student: $13,045; Average of reporting districts
Largest district: Wake County Schools; 163,176 students

Enrollment and school counts come from the NCES Common Core of Data. Spending comes from the Census Bureau's Annual Survey of School System Finances, and child poverty from Census SAIPE model estimates. Per-pupil spending is current spending (salaries, benefits, supplies and services), not construction or debt, and is shown only for districts with at least 50 students.

Largest 200 districts

Swipe the table sideways to see more columns.

District	Students	Schools	Per student	Child poverty
Wake County Schools	163,176	198	$12,279	9.5%
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	145,014	186	$13,065	13.9%
Guilford County Schools	67,620	120	$14,307	17.7%
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	51,745	81	$13,477	15.4%
Cumberland County Schools	49,002	86	$12,145	21.5%
Union County Public Schools	41,272	52	$11,338	8.6%
Johnston County Public Schools	37,320	48	$12,420	12.5%
Cabarrus County Schools	35,264	43	$11,026	8.4%
Durham Public Schools	31,797	57	$15,851	14.7%
Gaston County Schools	30,995	56	$11,848	14.1%
Onslow County Schools	27,397	39	$12,029	15.0%
New Hanover County Schools	24,791	42	$14,042	12.9%
Pitt County Schools	24,470	40	$12,826	18.4%
Alamance-Burlington Schools	22,661	38	$11,818	18.4%
Buncombe County Schools	22,452	45	$13,828	14.1%
Iredell-Statesville Schools	21,017	38	$12,070	11.3%
Public Schools of Robeson County	20,856	37	$13,043	29.0%
Harnett County Schools	20,095	29	$10,916	13.4%
Davidson County Schools	17,936	35	$11,050	11.2%
Rowan-Salisbury Schools	17,683	32	$13,427	18.6%
Wayne County Public Schools	17,150	33	$11,933	28.3%
Catawba County Schools	16,003	28	$11,777	15.6%
Randolph County School System	14,994	32	$11,767	14.1%
Cleveland County Schools	14,504	28	$12,565	18.7%
Brunswick County Schools	13,561	20	$13,563	15.1%
Nash County Public Schools	13,178	23	$12,339	18.3%
Moore County Schools	13,085	23	$11,763	12.6%
Henderson County Schools	12,619	23	$12,051	13.6%
Craven County Board of Education	12,152	26	$12,672	16.1%
Lincoln County Schools	11,710	23	$11,392	11.7%
Burke County Schools	11,667	27	$12,539	23.0%
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools	11,353	20	$17,880	6.9%
Rockingham County Schools	11,114	23	$12,854	21.1%
Pender County Schools	11,073	19	$12,360	11.7%
Caldwell County Schools	10,667	25	$12,425	16.6%
Wilson County Schools	10,451	25	$14,288	27.2%
Duplin County Schools	9,822	13	$11,807	27.9%
Lee County Schools	9,168	16	$13,003	18.2%
Chatham County Schools	8,987	21	$14,187	9.9%
Stanly County Schools	8,743	23	$11,481	15.4%
Hoke County Schools	8,732	14	$11,685	22.4%
Wilkes County Schools	8,547	22	$12,811	20.3%
Lenoir County Public Schools	8,331	17	$13,055	26.1%
Sampson County Schools	7,986	18	$12,792	24.9%
Franklin County Schools	7,978	16	$12,785	14.9%
Carteret County Public Schools	7,847	17	$13,751	10.8%
Rutherford County Schools	7,394	18	$13,859	19.0%
Surry County Schools	7,318	20	$12,463	24.2%
Orange County Schools	6,982	13	$14,829	8.9%
Richmond County Schools	6,504	15	$13,221	27.2%
Haywood County Schools	6,476	15	$13,053	17.9%
Granville County Schools	6,402	16	$14,025	16.7%
Edgecombe County Public Schools	6,310	19	$15,145	28.3%
Davie County Schools	6,116	13	$12,276	10.4%
Mooresville Graded School District	5,917	9	$13,522	10.3%
McDowell County Schools	5,613	15	$13,412	18.6%
Beaufort County Schools	5,601	13	$13,416	24.4%
Stokes County Schools	5,553	17	$13,752	14.1%
Columbus County Schools	5,440	12	$13,516	24.1%
Scotland County Schools	5,416	10	$14,928	33.1%
Kannapolis City Schools	5,377	9	$12,565	17.7%
Vance County Schools	5,205	16	$14,623	26.1%
Yadkin County Schools	5,174	14	$12,530	19.0%
Dare County Schools	4,968	11	$15,072	10.7%
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	4,760	12	$15,878	20.6%
Watauga County Schools	4,658	11	$13,322	11.1%
Currituck County Schools	4,601	10	$12,610	9.7%
Macon County Schools	4,469	12	$13,324	17.8%
Asheboro City Schools	4,405	8	$13,676	19.3%
Person County Schools	4,361	11	$14,563	18.2%
Alexander County Schools	4,344	11	$13,661	14.8%
Asheville City Schools	3,960	8	$17,958	13.8%
Bladen County Schools	3,928	12	$16,460	27.5%
Pine Springs Preparatory Academy	3,810	2	Not reported	Not reported
Hickory City Schools	3,735	9	$12,093	19.8%
Montgomery County Schools	3,587	11	$14,286	22.1%
NC Virtual Academy	3,482	1	Not reported	Not reported
Jackson County Public Schools	3,444	9	$14,411	16.9%
Transylvania County Schools	3,205	9	$15,291	15.5%
Clinton City Schools	3,015	5	$12,682	25.5%
Cherokee County Schools	2,992	13	$14,347	24.1%
Lexington City Schools	2,953	7	$13,428	23.8%
Anson County Schools	2,924	9	$16,838	27.5%
Roanoke Rapids City Schools	2,744	5	$12,967	22.0%
Greene County Schools	2,699	6	$16,988	23.4%
Ashe County Schools	2,676	6	$15,471	24.9%
Newton Conover City Schools	2,654	7	$13,217	19.4%
Martin County Schools	2,647	8	$16,335	27.6%
Wake Preparatory Academy	2,617	1	Not reported	Not reported
North Carolina Cyber Academy	2,461	1	Not reported	Not reported
Hertford County Schools	2,367	7	$16,122	27.4%
Lincoln Charter School	2,316	1	Not reported	Not reported
Uwharrie Charter Academy	2,257	2	Not reported	Not reported
Lake Norman Charter	2,222	1	Not reported	Not reported
Union Academy Charter School	2,186	1	Not reported	Not reported
Halifax County Schools	2,150	11	$18,303	24.9%
Thomasville City Schools	2,149	4	$14,296	25.4%
Polk County Schools	2,110	7	$16,033	17.3%
Caswell County Schools	2,098	6	$14,040	23.6%
American Leadership Academy - Johnston	2,082	1	Not reported	Not reported
Madison County Schools	2,063	7	$14,815	17.8%
Whiteville City Schools	2,042	5	$14,702	26.8%
Piedmont Community Charter	1,963	1	Not reported	Not reported
Yancey County Schools	1,950	6	$14,138	19.0%
Camden County Schools	1,918	5	$12,935	6.7%
Triangle Math and Science Academy	1,904	1	Not reported	Not reported
Pine Lake Preparatory	1,888	1	Not reported	Not reported
Swain County Schools	1,872	6	$14,840	14.5%
Mount Airy City Schools	1,786	4	$14,010	28.0%
Perquimans County Schools	1,786	4	$14,410	21.6%
Avery County Schools	1,782	8	$15,855	18.2%
Mountain Island Charter	1,782	1	Not reported	Not reported
Edenton-Chowan Schools	1,767	4	$14,385	23.4%
Mitchell County Schools	1,738	6	$15,355	18.1%
Bertie County Schools	1,708	6	$18,257	22.2%
Franklin Academy	1,660	1	Not reported	Not reported
Community School of Davidson	1,631	1	Not reported	Not reported
Sugar Creek Charter	1,591	1	Not reported	Not reported
Phoenix Academy Inc	1,583	1	Not reported	Not reported
Bradford Preparatory School	1,566	1	Not reported	Not reported
Warren County Schools	1,547	6	$19,497	28.1%
Gates County Schools	1,410	5	$15,768	16.1%
Corvian Community School	1,376	1	Not reported	Not reported
Langtree Charter Academy	1,376	1	Not reported	Not reported
Triad Math and Science Academy	1,374	1	Not reported	Not reported
Voyager Academy	1,360	1	Not reported	Not reported
Alleghany County Schools	1,352	4	$15,554	22.9%
Cornerstone Charter Academy	1,343	1	Not reported	Not reported
Queen's Grant Community School	1,335	1	Not reported	Not reported
Henderson Collegiate	1,334	1	Not reported	Not reported
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy	1,330	1	Not reported	Not reported
Clay County Schools	1,322	4	$14,907	17.4%
Bonnie Cone Leadership Academy	1,269	1	Not reported	Not reported
Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai	1,268	1	Not reported	Not reported
Elkin City Schools	1,267	3	$13,492	21.5%
East Wake Academy	1,265	1	Not reported	Not reported
Northampton County Schools	1,251	6	$20,230	33.1%
Invest Collegiate - Imagine	1,239	1	Not reported	Not reported
Sallie B Howard School	1,228	1	Not reported	Not reported
NC Leadership Charter Academy	1,209	1	Not reported	Not reported
Pinnacle Classical Academy	1,178	1	Not reported	Not reported
KIPP Pride College Preparatory	1,143	1	Not reported	Not reported
Pamlico County Schools	1,130	4	$18,235	23.5%
North East Carolina Preparatory School	1,107	2	Not reported	Not reported
Falls Lake Academy	1,105	1	Not reported	Not reported
Graham County Schools	1,096	3	$17,278	22.6%
The Math and Science Academy of Apex	1,080	1	Not reported	Not reported
Socrates Academy	1,039	1	Not reported	Not reported
Excelsior Classical Academy	1,032	1	Not reported	Not reported
Washington County Schools	1,024	3	$18,423	31.6%
Jones County Schools	1,016	5	$17,548	26.8%
Durham Charter School	1,010	1	Not reported	Not reported
American Leadership Academy-Coastal	1,002	1	Not reported	Not reported
Clover Garden	963	1	Not reported	Not reported
Mallard Creek STEM Academy	961	1	Not reported	Not reported
Alpha Academy	960	1	Not reported	Not reported
Vance Charter School	956	1	Not reported	Not reported
Faith Academy	938	1	Not reported	Not reported
Classical Charter Schools of Leland	935	1	Not reported	Not reported
Unity Classical Charter School	928	1	Not reported	Not reported
Neuse Charter School	925	1	Not reported	Not reported
The College Preparatory and Leadership A	890	1	Not reported	Not reported
Revolution Academy	886	1	Not reported	Not reported
Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss	885	1	Not reported	Not reported
Southwest Charlotte STEM Academy	884	1	Not reported	Not reported
Jackson Day School	882	1	Not reported	Not reported
Oxford Preparatory School	869	1	Not reported	Not reported
Community Charter School	858	1	Not reported	Not reported
Concord Lake STEAM Academy	856	1	Not reported	Not reported
Rocky Mount Preparatory	854	1	Not reported	Not reported
The Capitol Encore Academy	853	1	Not reported	Not reported
Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville	842	1	Not reported	Not reported
Eno River Academy	828	1	Not reported	Not reported
American Renaissance School	823	1	Not reported	Not reported
KIPP: Charlotte	813	1	Not reported	Not reported
Charlotte Lab School	807	1	Not reported	Not reported
Endeavor Charter	799	1	Not reported	Not reported
Iredell Charter Academy of Arts & Scienc	795	1	Not reported	Not reported
Carolina Charter Academy	782	1	Not reported	Not reported
River Mill Academy	780	1	Not reported	Not reported
Greensboro Academy	777	1	Not reported	Not reported
Quality Education Academy	776	1	Not reported	Not reported
Summerfield Charter Academy	774	1	Not reported	Not reported
Matthews Charter Academy	771	1	Not reported	Not reported
Wayne Preparatory	765	1	Not reported	Not reported
FernLeaf Community Charter School	763	1	Not reported	Not reported
NE Academy for Aerospace & AdvTech	760	1	Not reported	Not reported
The Math and Science Academy of Charlott	760	1	Not reported	Not reported
Envision Science Academy	759	1	Not reported	Not reported
Casa Esperanza Montessori	752	1	Not reported	Not reported
Summit Creek Academy	749	1	Not reported	Not reported
Carolina International School	744	1	Not reported	Not reported
Alamance Community School	736	1	Not reported	Not reported
Forsyth Academy	729	1	Not reported	Not reported
Gray Stone Day School	728	1	Not reported	Not reported
Roxboro Community School	727	1	Not reported	Not reported
Wilson Preparatory Academy	725	1	Not reported	Not reported
The Franklin School of Innovation	717	1	Not reported	Not reported
Rolesville Charter Academy	716	1	Not reported	Not reported
Gate City Charter Academy	715	1	Not reported	Not reported

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Frequently asked questions

What are the largest school districts in North Carolina?: Wake County Schools (163,176 students), Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (145,014 students), Guilford County Schools (67,620 students) have the most students in the latest NCES count.
How much does North Carolina spend per student?: Districts in North Carolina that report finance data spent an average of $13,045 per student on current operations, weighted by enrollment.
What does per-pupil spending include?: It is current spending for elementary and secondary education divided by fall enrollment, as published by the Census Bureau. It includes instruction, support services such as transportation and administration, and other day-to-day costs. It leaves out capital outlay for buildings and interest on debt.
Why do some districts have no spending or poverty figures?: Charter districts, education service agencies and other special agencies often do not report finance data separately, and Census SAIPE estimates child poverty only for geographic school districts. Values are also hidden for districts with fewer than 50 students, where a per-pupil figure can swing widely.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data; U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances and SAIPE · Last updated 10/22/2026