Lee County Schools & Education
Lee County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
29/100
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
$6,400
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
29/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#82
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lee County
Measured School Summary
Lee County faces educational challenges with a school score of 29/100 and a graduation rate of 87.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,400 per pupil, Lee County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 29% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 1.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 8% lower 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
19 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
29/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #82 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
87.0%
1.0 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,400
$569 below the state average
School coverage
19
4 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
Lee County has 19 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 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.
Dominant-district county
Lee County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 16 of 19 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#82
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 11 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.
Lee County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
9,143 students
16 listed schools in this county slice.
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County
High school only in this slice
547 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
MINA Charter School of Lee County
Elementary school only in this slice
474 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
Central Carolina Academy
Middle school only in this slice
272 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Lee County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 16 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?
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 Lee 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 diverse hub for public education
Lee County provides 19 public schools serving a total of 10,436 students across four districts. The system includes nine elementary, four middle, and five high schools, plus specialized centers. This distribution ensures educational access for both town residents and rural communities.
Public and charter options in Lee
Lee County Schools is the primary district, educating 9,143 students across 16 campuses. The county also features a significant charter presence, with three schools including Ascend Leadership Academy and MINA Charter School. Charters represent nearly 16% of all schools, offering families multiple pedagogical choices.
Town-centered schools with moderate enrollment
With 11 schools located in town settings and eight in rural areas, the county offers a balanced geographic mix. Lee County High is the largest school with 1,508 students, while the average school size across the county is 549. This scale allows for diverse extracurriculars without losing the sense of a local community.
School Overview
Total Schools
19
in Lee County
Reported Enrollment
10,436
19 schools reporting
School Districts
4
districts
Charter Schools
3
16% of total
School Level Breakdown
4 School Districts in Lee County
Lee County Schools
GuideAscend Leadership Academy: Lee County
MINA Charter School of Lee County
Central Carolina Academy
19 Public Schools in Lee County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 2 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 19 of 19 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lee County High | Profile | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 1,508 |
| Southern Lee High School | Profile | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27332Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,234 |
| SanLee Middle School | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27332Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 809 |
| West Lee Middle | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 607 |
| WB Wicker Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 575 |
| Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County | Record | Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County | Sanford, 27332Rural: Fringe | 6–12 | Charter | 547 |
| Tramway Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 545 |
| J Glenn Edwards Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27332Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 532 |
| East Lee Middle | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 531 |
| Greenwood Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Lemon Springs, 28355Rural: Fringe | KG–5 | Primary | 530 |
| BT Bullock Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 485 |
| Broadway Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Broadway, 27505Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 483 |
| MINA Charter School of Lee County | Record | MINA Charter School of Lee County | Sanford, 27332Town: Distant | KG–7 | Charter | 474 |
| Deep River Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 473 |
| J R Ingram Jr Elementary | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 408 |
| Central Carolina Academy | Record | Central Carolina Academy | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | 6–10 | Charter | 272 |
| Lee Early College | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | 9–UG | High | 272 |
| Floyd L Knight Children Center | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | PK–12 | Special Education | 105 |
| Bragg Street Academy | Record | Lee County Schools | Sanford, 27330Town: Distant | 6–12 | Alternative | 46 |
Lee County High
Lee County Schools
Sanford, 27330 / Town: Distant
Southern Lee High School
Lee County Schools
Sanford, 27332 / Rural: Fringe
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County
Sanford, 27332 / Rural: Fringe
J Glenn Edwards Elementary
Lee County Schools
Sanford, 27332 / Town: Distant
Greenwood Elementary
Lee County Schools
Lemon Springs, 28355 / Rural: Fringe
MINA Charter School of Lee County
MINA Charter School of Lee County
Sanford, 27332 / Town: Distant
J R Ingram Jr Elementary
Lee County Schools
Sanford, 27330 / Town: Distant
Central Carolina Academy
Central Carolina Academy
Sanford, 27330 / Town: Distant
Floyd L Knight Children Center
Lee County Schools
Sanford, 27330 / Town: Distant
Bragg Street Academy
Lee County Schools
Sanford, 27330 / Town: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,400
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lee 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 Lee County?
What is the graduation rate in Lee County?
How much does Lee County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lee County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lee County, North Carolina?
Lee County provides 19 public schools serving a total of 10,436 students across four districts. The system includes nine elementary, four middle, and five high schools, plus specialized centers. This distribution ensures educational access for both town residents and rural communities.
What are the major school districts in Lee County, North Carolina?
Lee County Schools is the primary district, educating 9,143 students across 16 campuses. The county also features a significant charter presence, with three schools including Ascend Leadership Academy and MINA Charter School. Charters represent nearly 16% of all schools, offering families multiple pedagogical choices.
What is the school experience like in Lee County?
With 11 schools located in town settings and eight in rural areas, the county offers a balanced geographic mix. Lee County High is the largest school with 1,508 students, while the average school size across the county is 549. This scale allows for diverse extracurriculars without losing the sense of a local community.
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.