Lincoln County Schools & Education
Lincoln County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
32/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
90.1%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
90.1%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$5,855
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
32/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#70
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Lincoln County
Measured School Summary
Despite a lower school score of 32/100, Lincoln County maintains a strong graduation rate of 90.1%, suggesting effective student support systems.
Funding Context
At $5,855 per pupil, Lincoln County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 19% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 2.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 16% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Lincoln 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
25 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
32/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #70 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
90.1%
2.1 pts above the state average
Funding context
$5,855
$1,114 below the state average
School coverage
25
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
Lincoln County has 25 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.
What Lincoln 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
Lincoln County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 23 of 25 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#70
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 8 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.
Lincoln County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
11,629 students
23 listed schools in this county slice.
Lincoln Charter School
Other grade structure
2,263 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
West Lake Preparatory Academy
Elementary school only in this slice
428 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Lincoln County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 23 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 Lincoln County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Lincoln 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 Lincoln 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.
Modern schools serving fourteen thousand students
Lincoln County features 25 public schools that support a total enrollment of 14,320 students. The infrastructure is comprised of 14 elementary, four middle, and five high schools across three districts. This established network provides a broad range of educational opportunities for a growing suburban population.
Public districts and a major charter
Lincoln County Schools serves 11,629 students across 23 schools, while the Lincoln Charter School operates as a massive independent option. Lincoln Charter alone educates 2,263 students, representing 8% of the county's total school count but a larger share of enrollment. This variety gives parents high-quality alternatives to traditional district schools.
Rural roots with large-scale campuses
Sixteen of the county's 25 schools are located in rural areas, while nine serve town centers. Lincoln Charter School is the largest campus in the county, followed by North Lincoln High with 1,079 students. The average school size is 597 students, offering a blend of rural tranquility and larger campus resources.
School Overview
Total Schools
25
in Lincoln County
Reported Enrollment
14,320
25 schools reporting
School Districts
3
districts
Charter Schools
2
8% of total
School Level Breakdown
3 School Districts in Lincoln County
Lincoln County Schools
GuideLincoln Charter School
West Lake Preparatory Academy
25 Public Schools in Lincoln County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Dedicated profile pages are available for 3 high-enrollment schools; every NCES public school remains listed here.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 25 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Charter School | Profile | Lincoln Charter School | Denver, 28037Rural: Fringe | KG–12 | Charter | 2,263 |
| North Lincoln High | Profile | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,079 |
| East Lincoln High | Profile | Lincoln County Schools | Denver, 28037Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 1,047 |
| Lincolnton High | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Town: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 813 |
| North Lincoln Middle | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Denver, 28037Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 776 |
| West Lincoln High | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 756 |
| East Lincoln Middle | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Iron Station, 28080Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 728 |
| Rock Springs Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Denver, 28037Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 647 |
| St James Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Denver, 28037Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 633 |
| Lincolnton Middle | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 560 |
| West Lincoln Middle | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 554 |
| Catawba Springs Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Denver, 28037Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 529 |
| West Lake Preparatory Academy | Record | West Lake Preparatory Academy | Denver, 28037Rural: Fringe | KG–8 | Charter | 428 |
| Childers Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 415 |
| Battleground Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 403 |
| GE Massey Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 388 |
| Iron Station Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Iron Station, 28080Town: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 376 |
| North Brook Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Vale, 28168Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 364 |
| Union Elementary | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Vale, 28168Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 323 |
| Pumpkin Center Intermediate | Record | Lincoln County Schools | Lincolnton, 28092Rural: Fringe | 3–5 | Primary | 315 |
Lincoln Charter School
Lincoln Charter School
Denver, 28037 / Rural: Fringe
North Lincoln High
Lincoln County Schools
Lincolnton, 28092 / Rural: Fringe
East Lincoln High
Lincoln County Schools
Denver, 28037 / Rural: Fringe
East Lincoln Middle
Lincoln County Schools
Iron Station, 28080 / Rural: Fringe
Rock Springs Elementary
Lincoln County Schools
Denver, 28037 / Town: Fringe
West Lincoln Middle
Lincoln County Schools
Lincolnton, 28092 / Rural: Distant
Catawba Springs Elementary
Lincoln County Schools
Denver, 28037 / Rural: Fringe
West Lake Preparatory Academy
West Lake Preparatory Academy
Denver, 28037 / Rural: Fringe
Childers Elementary
Lincoln County Schools
Lincolnton, 28092 / Rural: Fringe
Battleground Elementary
Lincoln County Schools
Lincolnton, 28092 / Town: Fringe
GE Massey Elementary
Lincoln County Schools
Lincolnton, 28092 / Town: Fringe
Iron Station Elementary
Lincoln County Schools
Iron Station, 28080 / Town: Fringe
North Brook Elementary
Lincoln County Schools
Vale, 28168 / Rural: Distant
Pumpkin Center Intermediate
Lincoln County Schools
Lincolnton, 28092 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$5,855
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Lincoln 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 Lincoln County?
What is the graduation rate in Lincoln County?
How much does Lincoln County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Lincoln County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Lincoln County, North Carolina?
Lincoln County features 25 public schools that support a total enrollment of 14,320 students. The infrastructure is comprised of 14 elementary, four middle, and five high schools across three districts. This established network provides a broad range of educational opportunities for a growing suburban population.
What are the major school districts in Lincoln County, North Carolina?
Lincoln County Schools serves 11,629 students across 23 schools, while the Lincoln Charter School operates as a massive independent option. Lincoln Charter alone educates 2,263 students, representing 8% of the county's total school count but a larger share of enrollment. This variety gives parents high-quality alternatives to traditional district schools.
What is the school experience like in Lincoln County?
Sixteen of the county's 25 schools are located in rural areas, while nine serve town centers. Lincoln Charter School is the largest campus in the county, followed by North Lincoln High with 1,079 students. The average school size is 597 students, offering a blend of rural tranquility and larger campus resources.
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.