schoolsbycounty

Bladen County Schools & Education

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Midrange Signal

Graduation Rate

89.2%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

89.2%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$7,074

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

43/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#33

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Bladen County

Measured School Summary

Bladen County performs at an average level with a school score of 43/100 and a solid graduation rate of 89.2%.

Funding Context

At $7,074 per pupil, Bladen County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 8% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 1.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% higher than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Bladen 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

15 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

43/100

Mixed county signal. Ranks #33 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

89.2%

1.2 pts above the state average

Funding context

$7,074

$105 above the state average

School coverage

15

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

Bladen County has 15 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 Bladen 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.

Dominant-district county

Bladen County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 13 of 15 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#33

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 3 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.

Bladen County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

3,983 students

Elementary 6Middle 4High 3Other 0

13 listed schools in this county slice.

Emereau: Bladen

Elementary school only in this slice

580 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

Paul R Brown Leadership Academy

High school only in this slice

148 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 1Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Bladen County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 13 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 Bladen County?

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

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

Which charter, magnet, or virtual options require a lottery, application window, separate transportation plan, or address eligibility check?

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

Education Overview

About Schools in Bladen County, North Carolina

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 Rural Network Serving Bladen's Youth

Bladen County maintains an educational infrastructure of 15 public schools, including 7 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. These facilities serve a total enrollment of 4,711 students across 3 distinct school districts. The system provides localized access to education in a predominantly rural landscape.

Bladen County Schools and Emerging Charter Options

Bladen County Schools is the primary provider, managing 13 schools for 3,983 students. Charter schools represent 13.3% of the county's total inventory, with Emereau: Bladen serving 580 students. Paul R Brown Leadership Academy adds specialized choice with 148 students.

Small-Scale Learning in a Rural Setting

With an average size of 314 students, schools here offer an intimate learning environment across 13 rural and 2 town locales. West Bladen High is the largest campus with 701 students, while the smallest districts manage single-school campuses. Attending school in Bladen means learning in a close-knit, community-focused environment.

School Overview

Total Schools

15

in Bladen County

Reported Enrollment

4,711

15 schools reporting

School Districts

3

districts

Charter Schools

2

13% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7
Middle4
High4
Other0

3 School Districts in Bladen County

Bladen County Schools

Guide
13 schools
3,983 students
Open district guide

Emereau: Bladen

1 school
580 students

Paul R Brown Leadership Academy

1 school
148 students

15 Public Schools in Bladen County

Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.

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

Level

Showing 15 of 15 matching schools

West Bladen High

Bladen County Schools

Bladenboro, 28320 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High701 students

Emereau: Bladen

Emereau: Bladen

Elizabethtown, 28337 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–8Charter580 students

East Bladen High

Bladen County Schools

Elizabethtown, 28377 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High545 students

Elizabethtown Primary

Bladen County Schools

Elizabethtown, 28337 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary503 students

Bladenboro Primary

Bladen County Schools

Bladenboro, 28320 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary403 students

Elizabethtown Middle

Bladen County Schools

Elizabethtown, 28337 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle320 students

Tar Heel Middle

Bladen County Schools

Tar Heel, 28392 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle287 students

Bladenboro Middle

Bladen County Schools

Bladenboro, 28320 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle277 students

Dublin Primary

Bladen County Schools

Dublin, 28332 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary227 students

Clarkton School of Discovery

Bladen County Schools

Clarkton, 28433 / Rural: Distant

Record5–8Middle212 students

Plain View Primary

Bladen County Schools

Tar Heel, 28392 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary183 students

Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy

Paul R Brown Leadership Academy

Elizabethtown, 28337 / Town: Distant

Record6–12Charter148 students

Bladen Early College

Bladen County Schools

Dublin, 28332 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High139 students

Bladen Lakes Primary

Bladen County Schools

Elizabethtown, 28337 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–4Primary136 students

East Arcadia Elementary

Bladen County Schools

Riegelwood, 28456 / Rural: Distant

RecordKG–4Primary50 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$7,074

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Bladen 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 North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
Jones County (97.0%), Pamlico County (95.7%), and Currituck County (95.0%) currently lead North Carolina 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 North Carolina?
Across North Carolina counties with available NCES district-finance data, average per-pupil spending is $6,969. The highest current county values are Hyde County ($10,356), Tyrrell County ($9,655), and Orange County ($8,629). Compare counties in the table before treating the statewide average as representative of a local district.
How should I read the school score in Bladen County?
Bladen County has a school score of 43/100, 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 Bladen County?
The high school graduation rate in Bladen County is 89.2%, 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 Bladen County spend per student?
Bladen County spends $7,074 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 Bladen County, North Carolina — FAQ

What does the school system look like in Bladen County, North Carolina?

Bladen County maintains an educational infrastructure of 15 public schools, including 7 elementary, 4 middle, and 4 high schools. These facilities serve a total enrollment of 4,711 students across 3 distinct school districts. The system provides localized access to education in a predominantly rural landscape.

What are the major school districts in Bladen County, North Carolina?

Bladen County Schools is the primary provider, managing 13 schools for 3,983 students. Charter schools represent 13.3% of the county's total inventory, with Emereau: Bladen serving 580 students. Paul R Brown Leadership Academy adds specialized choice with 148 students.

What is the school experience like in Bladen County?

With an average size of 314 students, schools here offer an intimate learning environment across 13 rural and 2 town locales. West Bladen High is the largest campus with 701 students, while the smallest districts manage single-school campuses. Attending school in Bladen means learning in a close-knit, community-focused environment.

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.