Forsyth County, NC Schools & Education Data [2026]

Name: Forsyth County, North Carolina Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

85.8%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,993

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

33/100

Higher = better

State avg 40/100

Student-Teacher Ratio

N/A

National avg 15.8 : 1

Free Lunch (Median)

N/A

National median 48.2%

State School Rank

#67

of 100 counties (1 = best)

Education Advisory: Forsyth County

School Verdict

Forsyth County faces educational challenges with a school score of 33/100 and a graduation rate of 85.8%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,993 per pupil, Forsyth County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Attainment Context

Educational attainment data for Forsyth County is not available.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 19% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 2.2 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 0% higher than the state norm.

Education Overview

About Schools in Forsyth County, North Carolina

A Large-Scale Urban Education Hub

Forsyth County operates a massive educational network of 87 public schools serving 56,563 students. This infrastructure includes 47 elementary, 16 middle, and 18 high schools, along with six specialized facilities. Seven distinct districts manage this diverse array of learning environments across the region.

Competitive Scores in a Major Metro

The county achieves an 85.8% graduation rate, approaching the national average of 87.0% despite the challenges of a large urban system. Investment stays consistent with state levels at $6,993 per pupil, though this is roughly half the national average of $13,000. These resources support a school score of 51.3, which exceeds the national median of 50.0.

Winston-Salem / Forsyth Leads the Way

The Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools district dominates the landscape, managing 81 schools and 52,717 students. Charter schools represent 5.7% of the total school count, with Quality Education Academy serving as the largest independent option with 673 students. This mix of traditional and charter options provides families with varied specialized curricula.

Diverse Locales and Large High Schools

Most students attend one of the 59 schools located in city centers, though 17 suburban and 11 rural schools offer different atmospheres. Large-scale high schools define the experience here, with West Forsyth High leading the county with 2,348 students. The average school size is 665 students, reflecting the county's urban and suburban density.

Find Your Home in a Diverse District

Whether you prefer urban lofts or suburban lawns, Forsyth County offers homes near some of the state's largest and most active schools. Access to major institutions like R J Reynolds High or West Forsyth High is a significant draw for families moving to the area. Real estate near these high-performing districts continues to be a primary focus for local homebuyers.

School Overview

Total Schools

87

in Forsyth County

Total Enrollment

56,563

students

School Districts

7

districts

Charter Schools

5

6% of total

Student-Teacher Ratio

—

county average

Free Lunch (Median)

—

of students countywide

School Type Breakdown

Elementary47

Middle16

High18

Other6