schoolsbycounty

Richmond County Schools & Education

School Score

28/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

84.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

84.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,903

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

28/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#84

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Richmond County

Measured School Summary

Richmond County faces educational challenges with a school score of 28/100 and a graduation rate of 84.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,903 per pupil, Richmond County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 30% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 4.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 1% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Richmond 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

15 public schools and 1 district 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

28/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #84 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

84.0%

4.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,903

$66 below the state average

School coverage

15

1 district 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

Richmond County has 15 public schools across 1 district, 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.

Parent decision brief

What Richmond 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

Richmond County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 15 of 15 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#84

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 12 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.

Richmond County Schools

Elementary to high school visible

6,678 students

Elementary 7Middle 4High 3Other 1

15 listed schools in this county slice.

District reality check

Richmond County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 15 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 Richmond County?

Which attendance zones, transfer rules, and transportation policies apply inside the local district?

What changes at the elementary-to-middle and middle-to-high transitions in the district pathway we would likely use?

If we need a program not visible in the NCES flags, which district office can confirm current offerings?

Are the largest listed schools the ones our address can actually attend, or are they only county-level context?

Education Overview

About Schools in Richmond 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.

Fifteen Public Schools Serving Richmond County

Richmond County operates a consolidated system of 15 public schools with a total enrollment of 6,678 students. The landscape includes seven elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools, including a dedicated 9th Grade Academy. All schools are managed by a single unified district.

The Richmond County Unified School District

Richmond County Schools serves as the sole provider of public education for all 6,678 students in the area. There are no charter schools currently operating in the county, ensuring all resources are concentrated within the local district. The district also operates one alternative school to support diverse student needs.

A Balanced Mix of Town and Rural Settings

The school locale is evenly split, with eight schools in town settings and seven in rural areas. Schools maintain an average size of 445 students, providing a mid-sized feel. Richmond Senior High is the central student hub with ,1286 pupils, while local elementary schools like East Rockingham serve about 500 students each.

School Overview

Total Schools

15

in Richmond County

Reported Enrollment

6,678

15 schools reporting

School Districts

1

district

Charter Schools

0

0% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary7
Middle4
High3
Other1

1 School District in Richmond County

Richmond County Schools

Guide
15 schools
6,678 students enrolled
Open district guide

15 Public Schools in Richmond 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 data

Level

Showing 15 of 15 matching schools

Richmond Senior High

Richmond County Schools

Rockingham, 28380 / Rural: Fringe

Profile10–12High1,286 students

Rockingham Middle

Richmond County Schools

Rockingham, 28379 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle616 students

East Rockingham Elementary

Richmond County Schools

Rockingham, 28379 / Town: Distant

RecordKG–5Primary514 students

Fairview Heights Elementary

Richmond County Schools

Hamlet, 28345 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary504 students

Richmond 9th Grade Academy

Richmond County Schools

Hamlet, 28345 / Rural: Fringe

Record9Other491 students

L J Bell Elementary

Richmond County Schools

Rockingham, 28379 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary476 students

Washington Street Elementary

Richmond County Schools

Rockingham, 28379 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary434 students

Hamlet Middle

Richmond County Schools

Hamlet, 28345 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle425 students

Monroe Avenue Elementary

Richmond County Schools

Hamlet, 28345 / Town: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary407 students

Mineral Springs Elementary

Richmond County Schools

Ellerbe, 28338 / Rural: Distant

RecordPK–5Primary371 students

Richmond Early College High

Richmond County Schools

Hamlet, 28345 / Town: Distant

Record9–UGHigh295 students

West Rockingham Elementary

Richmond County Schools

Rockingham, 28379 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary285 students

Cordova Middle

Richmond County Schools

Cordova, 28330 / Town: Distant

Record6–8Middle270 students

Ellerbe Middle

Richmond County Schools

Ellerbe, 28338 / Rural: Distant

Record6–8Middle212 students

Ashley Chapel Educational Center

Richmond County Schools

Rockingham, 28379 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–12Alternative92 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,903

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Richmond 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 Richmond County?
Richmond County has a school score of 28/100, 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 Richmond County?
The high school graduation rate in Richmond County is 84.0%, 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 Richmond County spend per student?
Richmond County spends $6,903 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 Richmond County, North Carolina — FAQ

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

Richmond County operates a consolidated system of 15 public schools with a total enrollment of 6,678 students. The landscape includes seven elementary schools, four middle schools, and three high schools, including a dedicated 9th Grade Academy. All schools are managed by a single unified district.

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

Richmond County Schools serves as the sole provider of public education for all 6,678 students in the area. There are no charter schools currently operating in the county, ensuring all resources are concentrated within the local district. The district also operates one alternative school to support diverse student needs.

What is the school experience like in Richmond County?

The school locale is evenly split, with eight schools in town settings and seven in rural areas. Schools maintain an average size of 445 students, providing a mid-sized feel. Richmond Senior High is the central student hub with ,1286 pupils, while local elementary schools like East Rockingham serve about 500 students each.

Counties with Similar School Profile

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated Reviewed 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.