Can I use Harnett County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Harnett County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Harnett County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Harnett County?

Start with the 30 listed public schools and 3 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Harnett County Schools & Education

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

Harnett County, North Carolina

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

School Score

24/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

87.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$5,985

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

24/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#93

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Harnett County

Measured School Summary

Harnett County faces educational challenges with a school score of 24/100 and a graduation rate of 87.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $5,985 per pupil, Harnett County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 41% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 14% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Harnett 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

30 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

24/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #93 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

87.0%

1.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$5,985

$984 below the state average

School coverage

3 districts represented in the county school list.

Start with measured county context

The county-level signal is lower, so review individual schools and local records before interpreting the score. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.

Check the local school mix

Harnett County has 30 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Harnett 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

Harnett County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 28 of 30 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#93

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 16 points below 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.

Harnett County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

20,050 students

Elementary 15Middle 6High 6Other 1

28 listed schools in this county slice.

Anderson Creek Academy

Elementary school only in this slice

288 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

Achievement Charter Academy

Elementary school only in this slice

158 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Harnett County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 28 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 Harnett County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Harnett 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 Harnett 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.

Growing Enrollment in a Thriving County

Harnett County supports 30 public schools and a large student population of 20,496 across three districts. The landscape is primarily elementary-focused with 17 schools, balanced by 6 middle and 6 high schools.

Graduation Rates Match National Standards

Harnett County achieves an 87.0% graduation rate, perfectly matching the national average. This is accomplished with a leaner per-pupil expenditure of $5,985, which is notably lower than both state and national spending levels.

Harnett County Schools Dominates Enrollment

Harnett County Schools is the central pillar of the community, serving 20,050 students in 28 schools. While charter options like Anderson Creek Academy exist, they represent less than 7% of the total school landscape.

Larger Campuses in a Rural Setting

The county features an average school size of 683 students, with 17 schools situated in rural locales. Overhills High stands out as the largest facility, housing 1,971 students in a modern educational environment.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Harnett County

Reported Enrollment

20,496

30 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

7% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary17

Middle6

High6

Other1

3 School Districts in Harnett County

Harnett County Schools

Anderson Creek Academy

1 school

288 students

Achievement Charter Academy

1 school

158 students

30 Public Schools in Harnett 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

Search schools

Level

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Showing 20 of 30 matching schools

Public schools in Harnett County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Overhills High	Profile	Harnett County Schools	Spring Lake, 28390Suburb: Large	9–12	High	1,971
Harnett Central High	Profile	Harnett County Schools	Angier, 27501Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,474
Western Harnett High	Profile	Harnett County Schools	Lillington, 27546Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,386
Triton High	Profile	Harnett County Schools	Erwin, 28339Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,287
Benhaven Elementary	Profile	Harnett County Schools	Sanford, 27332Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	1,030
Harnett Central Middle	Profile	Harnett County Schools	Angier, 27501Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	1,024
Overhills Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Spring Lake, 28390Suburb: Large	PK–5	Primary	930
Highland Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Sanford, 27330Town: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	891
Highland Middle	Record	Harnett County Schools	Sanford, 27332Town: Fringe	6–8	Middle	875
Western Harnett Middle	Record	Harnett County Schools	Lillington, 27546Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	820
Dunn Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Dunn, 28334Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	799
Overhills Middle	Record	Harnett County Schools	Spring Lake, 28390Suburb: Large	6–8	Middle	799
Lillington-Shawtown Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Lillington, 27546Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	694
Coats Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Coats, 27521Town: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	671
LaFayette Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Kipling, 27543Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	625
Coats-Erwin Middle	Record	Harnett County Schools	Dunn, 28334Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	606
Anderson Creek Primary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Bunnlevel, 28323Rural: Fringe	PK–2	Primary	582
Erwin Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Erwin, 28339Town: Distant	PK–5	Primary	562
Boone Trail Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Mamers, 27552Rural: Distant	PK–5	Primary	507
Johnsonville Elementary	Record	Harnett County Schools	Cameron, 28326Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	475

Overhills High

Harnett County Schools

Spring Lake, 28390 / Suburb: Large

Profile9–12High1,971 students

Harnett Central High

Harnett County Schools

Angier, 27501 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,474 students

Western Harnett High

Harnett County Schools

Lillington, 27546 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,386 students

Triton High

Harnett County Schools

Erwin, 28339 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,287 students

Benhaven Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Sanford, 27332 / Rural: Fringe

ProfilePK–5Primary1,030 students

Harnett Central Middle

Harnett County Schools

Angier, 27501 / Rural: Fringe

Profile6–8Middle1,024 students

Overhills Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Spring Lake, 28390 / Suburb: Large

RecordPK–5Primary930 students

Highland Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Sanford, 27330 / Town: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary891 students

Highland Middle

Harnett County Schools

Sanford, 27332 / Town: Fringe

Record6–8Middle875 students

Western Harnett Middle

Harnett County Schools

Lillington, 27546 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle820 students

Dunn Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Dunn, 28334 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary799 students

Overhills Middle

Harnett County Schools

Spring Lake, 28390 / Suburb: Large

Record6–8Middle799 students

Lillington-Shawtown Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Lillington, 27546 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary694 students

Coats Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Coats, 27521 / Town: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary671 students

LaFayette Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Kipling, 27543 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary625 students

Coats-Erwin Middle

Harnett County Schools

Dunn, 28334 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle606 students

Anderson Creek Primary

Harnett County Schools

Bunnlevel, 28323 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–2Primary582 students

Erwin Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Erwin, 28339 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary562 students

Boone Trail Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Mamers, 27552 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary507 students

Johnsonville Elementary

Harnett County Schools

Cameron, 28326 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary475 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$5,985

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Harnett 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 Harnett County?

Harnett County has a school score of 24/100, which is a lower 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 Harnett County?

The high school graduation rate in Harnett County is 87.0%, which is below 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 Harnett County spend per student?

Harnett County spends $5,985 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 Harnett County, North Carolina — FAQ

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

How do schools in Harnett County perform academically?

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

What is the school experience like in Harnett County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Edgecombe County

North Carolina

+0 pts

24/100

School score

Lenoir County

North Carolina

+0 pts

24/100

School score

Wayne County

North Carolina

-1 pts

23/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

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