schoolsbycounty

Lee County Schools & Education

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

91.9%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

91.9%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 90.7%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,537

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,270

School Score

45/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#27

of 67 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Lee County

Measured School Summary

Lee County performs at an average level with a school score of 45/100 and a solid graduation rate of 91.9%.

Funding Context

At $6,537 per pupil, Lee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 13% above the Alabama average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Lee County before comparing districts

County-level education data is best used as a screening layer. It summarizes the local school environment, then points you toward the district and school records that matter for local review.

Local context that changes the interpretation

39 public schools and 3 districts are represented below. Use those school and district records to confirm whether the county-level context fits the neighborhoods you are actually considering.

Overall screen

45/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #27 of 67 Alabama counties with school score data.

Completion

91.9%

1.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$6,537

$267 above the state average

School coverage

39

3 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Lee County has 39 public schools across 3 districts, so school-level fit can vary inside the county.

Verify local rules

Use this page as county-level context, then confirm attendance zones, transportation, special programs, and current school boundaries with local districts.

Parent decision brief

What Lee County school data means before you move

County averages are useful for screening, but parents choose addresses, grade pathways, and district rules. This brief turns the public data into the checks that matter before you sign a lease or mortgage.

Mixed school landscape

Lee County has enough school-level records to compare the local mix, but no single county metric should be treated as the answer. Use district shape, grade span, and data coverage together.

State position

#27

of 67 Alabama counties with school score data. The county score is 5 points above the state average.

Data confidence

Usable

3 of 5 county signals are present, and 100% of listed schools report enrollment. Compare schools, then verify missing fields locally.

K-12 continuity check

These are the largest visible district slices in the county data. They show whether elementary, middle, and high school records appear together or whether a family needs to investigate transition points.

Auburn City

Elementary to high school visible

9,492 students

Elementary 10Middle 2High 1Other 1

14 listed schools in this county slice.

Lee County

Elementary to high school visible

9,312 students

Elementary 7Middle 2High 4Other 1

14 listed schools in this county slice.

Opelika City

Elementary to high school visible

5,048 students

Elementary 6Middle 1High 1Other 1

9 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Auburn City is the largest listed district slice, with 14 schools. County pages do not prove address assignment, so verify boundaries with local district tools.

What the data cannot tell you

NCES records do not confirm current attendance zones, private-school options, transfer approvals, program capacity, transportation, or whether a listed school is available to a specific address.

Questions to ask before choosing an address

Which district actually serves the addresses we are considering in Lee County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lee County district systems?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Lee County, Alabama

This context is screened for neutral school-data wording and should be read alongside the current metrics on this page. It is not school advice.

A Growing Academic Hub in East Alabama

Lee County supports a robust network of 39 public schools serving 24,880 students across three distinct districts. The infrastructure includes 25 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools. This provides a diverse range of educational environments from bustling city campuses to quiet rural settings.

Leading Districts Drive Regional Growth

Auburn City and Lee County are the two primary districts, each managing 14 schools and serving approximately 9,400 students respectively. Opelika City also plays a vital role, supporting over 5,000 students in its 9 schools. There are currently no charter schools operating within these traditional public districts.

A Mix of Urban and Rural Classrooms

Students attend a variety of settings including 18 city schools and 13 rural locations, with an average school size of 672 students. Large campuses like Auburn High School host over 2,100 students, while specialized local elementary schools offer a more intimate feel. This diversity ensures families can find a school environment that fits their child's personality.

School Overview

Total Schools

39

in Lee County

Reported Enrollment

24,880

39 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary25
Middle5
High6
Other3

39 Public Schools in Lee County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 6 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

Level

Showing 20 of 39 matching schools

Auburn High School

Auburn City

Auburn, 36830 / City: Small

Profile10–12High2,143 students

Opelika High School

Opelika City

Opelika, 36801 / City: Small

Profile9–12High1,562 students

Auburn Junior High School

Auburn City

Auburn, 36830 / City: Small

Profile8–9Other1,516 students

Smiths Station High School

Lee County

Smiths Station, 36877 / Suburb: Large

Profile10–12High1,286 students

Opelika Middle School

Opelika City

Opelika, 36801 / City: Small

Profile6–8Middle1,132 students

Smiths Station Junior High School

Lee County

Smiths Station, 36877 / Suburb: Large

Profile7–8Middle934 students

West Smiths Station Elementary School

Lee County

Smiths Station, 36877 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–6Primary870 students

East Smiths Station Elementary School

Lee County

Smiths Station, 36877 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–6Primary815 students

Beauregard Elementary School

Lee County

Opelika, 36804 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary769 students

East Samford School

Auburn City

Auburn, 36830 / City: Small

Record7Middle742 students

Drake Middle School

Auburn City

Auburn, 36832 / City: Small

Record6Middle711 students

Beulah Elementary School

Lee County

Valley, 36854 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–6Primary705 students

South Smiths Station Elementary School

Lee County

Smiths Station, 36877 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–6Primary645 students

Wacoochee Elementary School

Lee County

Salem, 36874 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–6Primary621 students

Beauregard High School

Lee County

Opelika, 36804 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High555 students

Creekside Elementary School

Auburn City

Auburn, 36832 / Rural: Fringe

Record2–3Primary546 students

Sanford Middle School

Lee County

Opelika, 36804 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle545 students

Lakewood Primary School

Phenix City

Phenix City, 36867 / Suburb: Large

RecordKG–2Primary543 students

Beulah High School

Lee County

Valley, 36854 / Rural: Distant

Record7–12High533 students

Cary Woods Elementary School

Auburn City

Auburn, 36830 / City: Small

RecordPK–2Primary520 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,537

State avg $6,270

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Lee County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.

Open Compare

Browse Public Schools

See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.

View Schools

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Alabama counties have the highest graduation rates?
Cleburne County (97.0%), Henry County (97.0%), and Pickens County (97.0%) currently lead Alabama among counties with available NCES four-year adjusted cohort graduation-rate data. This answer is generated from the same dataset used in the county table and can change when federal data refreshes.
What is per-pupil spending like in Alabama?
Across Alabama counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,270. The highest current county values are Lowndes County ($8,377), Macon County ($7,057), and Jefferson County ($6,920). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Lee County?
Lee County has a school score of 45/100, which is a midrange measured signal in this county-level index. This score is calculated from available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance data, with school-level records shown separately below.
What is the graduation rate in Lee County?
The high school graduation rate in Lee County is 91.9%, which is above the national average of 87.5%. This figure is based on NCES district-level data for public high schools in the county.
How much does Lee County spend per student?
Lee County spends $6,537 per pupil annually on public education, based on NCES district finance data. Current operating spending per fall enrollment, including instruction, support services, administration, transportation, and operations. It excludes capital outlays and debt service in the SchoolsByCounty methodology.

Frequently Asked Questions

Schools in Lee County, Alabama — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Lee County, Alabama?

Lee County supports a robust network of 39 public schools serving 24,880 students across three distinct districts. The infrastructure includes 25 elementary schools, 5 middle schools, and 6 high schools. This provides a diverse range of educational environments from bustling city campuses to quiet rural settings.

What are the major school districts in Lee County, Alabama?

Auburn City and Lee County are the two primary districts, each managing 14 schools and serving approximately 9,400 students respectively. Opelika City also plays a vital role, supporting over 5,000 students in its 9 schools. There are currently no charter schools operating within these traditional public districts.

What is the school experience like in Lee County?

Students attend a variety of settings including 18 city schools and 13 rural locations, with an average school size of 672 students. Large campuses like Auburn High School host over 2,100 students, while specialized local elementary schools offer a more intimate feel. This diversity ensures families can find a school environment that fits their child's personality.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed by Evan Brooks, Data Editor

Data Sources

Education data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Common Core of Data and School District Finance Survey. School scores are derived composite metrics based on available NCES graduation-rate and school-finance signals.

Data is informational only. Coverage varies by county and reporting year. Not for use as the sole basis for educational decisions.