Chatham County Schools & Education
Chatham County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
42/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
87.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
87.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$7,274
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
42/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#35
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Chatham County
Measured School Summary
Chatham County performs at an average level with a school score of 42/100 and a solid graduation rate of 87.9%.
Funding Context
At $7,274 per pupil, Chatham County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 5% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 0.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 4% higher than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Chatham 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
24 public schools and 4 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
42/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #35 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
87.9%
0.1 pts below the state average
Funding context
$7,274
$305 above the state average
School coverage
24
4 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
Chatham County has 24 public schools across 4 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.
What Chatham 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
Chatham County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 21 of 24 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#35
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 2 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.
Chatham County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
9,129 students
21 listed schools in this county slice.
Chatham Charter
Other grade structure
574 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Woods Charter School
Other grade structure
508 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Willow Oak Montessori
Elementary school only in this slice
283 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Chatham County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 21 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 Chatham County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Chatham 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 Chatham 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 Growing and Diverse Educational Landscape
Chatham County operates 24 public schools that serve a growing population of 10,494 students. The county provides a mix of 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools, along with 4 specialized campuses.
A Mix of District and Charter Options
Chatham County Schools serves the vast majority of families with 9,129 students across 21 schools. Charter schools represent 12.5% of the county's total schools, including Chatham Charter and Woods Charter School.
Rural Schools with Town Centers
The school landscape is primarily rural, with 19 schools in rural settings and 5 in town centers. Large high schools like Northwood and Jordan Matthews serve over 900 students each, while the average school size is 437.
School Overview
Total Schools
24
in Chatham County
Reported Enrollment
10,494
24 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
3
13% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Chatham County
Chatham County Schools
GuideChatham Charter
Woods Charter School
Willow Oak Montessori
24 Public Schools in Chatham County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 1 high-enrollment school; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 24 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwood High | Profile | Chatham County Schools | Pittsboro, 27312Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 940 |
| Jordan Matthews High | Record | Chatham County Schools | Siler City, 27344Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 913 |
| Margaret B. Pollard Middle | Record | Chatham County Schools | Chapel Hill, 27516Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 768 |
| Seaforth High | Record | Chatham County Schools | Pittsboro, 27312Rural: Distant | 9–11 | Other | 732 |
| Chatham Grove Elementary | Record | Chatham County Schools | Pittsboro, 27312Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 677 |
| Siler City Elementary | Record | Chatham County Schools | Siler City, 27344Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 636 |
| North Chatham Elementary | Record | Chatham County Schools | Chapel Hill, 27517Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 616 |
| Chatham Charter | Record | Chatham Charter | Siler City, 27344Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 574 |
| Chatham Middle | Record | Chatham County Schools | Siler City, 27344Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 556 |
| Pittsboro Elementary | Record | Chatham County Schools | Pittsboro, 27312Town: Fringe | PK–4 | Primary | 510 |
| Woods Charter | Record | Woods Charter School | Chapel Hill, 27516Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 508 |
| Virginia Cross Elementary | Record | Chatham County Schools | Siler City, 27344Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 455 |
| Horton Middle | Record | Chatham County Schools | Pittsboro, 27312Town: Fringe | 5–8 | Middle | 375 |
| Chatham Central High | Record | Chatham County Schools | Bear Creek, 27207Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 364 |
| Bonlee School | Record | Chatham County Schools | Bonlee, 27213Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 292 |
| Willow Oak Montessori | Record | Willow Oak Montessori | Pittsboro, 27312Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Charter | 283 |
| Silk Hope School | Record | Chatham County Schools | Siler City, 27344Rural: Distant | PK–8 | Primary | 276 |
| Perry W Harrison Elementary | Record | Chatham County Schools | Pittsboro, 27312Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 227 |
| Moncure School | Record | Chatham County Schools | Moncure, 27559Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 213 |
| J S Waters School | Record | Chatham County Schools | Goldston, 27252Rural: Distant | KG–8 | Primary | 193 |
Northwood High
Chatham County Schools
Pittsboro, 27312 / Rural: Fringe
Jordan Matthews High
Chatham County Schools
Siler City, 27344 / Town: Distant
Margaret B. Pollard Middle
Chatham County Schools
Chapel Hill, 27516 / Rural: Fringe
Chatham Grove Elementary
Chatham County Schools
Pittsboro, 27312 / Rural: Fringe
Siler City Elementary
Chatham County Schools
Siler City, 27344 / Rural: Fringe
North Chatham Elementary
Chatham County Schools
Chapel Hill, 27517 / Rural: Fringe
Pittsboro Elementary
Chatham County Schools
Pittsboro, 27312 / Town: Fringe
Virginia Cross Elementary
Chatham County Schools
Siler City, 27344 / Rural: Fringe
Chatham Central High
Chatham County Schools
Bear Creek, 27207 / Rural: Distant
Willow Oak Montessori
Willow Oak Montessori
Pittsboro, 27312 / Rural: Fringe
Silk Hope School
Chatham County Schools
Siler City, 27344 / Rural: Distant
Perry W Harrison Elementary
Chatham County Schools
Pittsboro, 27312 / Rural: Fringe
J S Waters School
Chatham County Schools
Goldston, 27252 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$7,274
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Chatham County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
Open CompareBrowse Public Schools
See school-level enrollment, grade ranges, school type, and district affiliation.
View SchoolsFrequently Asked Questions
Which North Carolina counties have the highest graduation rates?
What is per-pupil spending like in North Carolina?
How should I read the school score in Chatham County?
What is the graduation rate in Chatham County?
How much does Chatham County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Chatham County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Chatham County, North Carolina?
Chatham County operates 24 public schools that serve a growing population of 10,494 students. The county provides a mix of 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 5 high schools, along with 4 specialized campuses.
What are the major school districts in Chatham County, North Carolina?
Chatham County Schools serves the vast majority of families with 9,129 students across 21 schools. Charter schools represent 12.5% of the county's total schools, including Chatham Charter and Woods Charter School.
What is the school experience like in Chatham County?
The school landscape is primarily rural, with 19 schools in rural settings and 5 in town centers. Large high schools like Northwood and Jordan Matthews serve over 900 students each, while the average school size is 437.
Counties with Similar School Profile
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.