Sampson County Schools & Education
Sampson County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
20/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Lower Signal
Graduation Rate
80.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
80.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,654
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
20/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#99
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Sampson County
Measured School Summary
Sampson County faces educational challenges with a school score of 20/100 and a graduation rate of 80.9%, falling below typical benchmarks.
Funding Context
At $6,654 per pupil, Sampson County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 49% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 7.1 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Sampson 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
23 public schools and 2 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
20/100
Lower measured signal. Ranks #99 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
80.9%
7.1 pts below the state average
Funding context
$6,654
$315 below the state average
School coverage
23
2 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
Sampson County has 23 public schools across 2 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 Sampson 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
Sampson County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 18 of 23 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#99
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 20 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.
Sampson County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
7,971 students
18 listed schools in this county slice.
Clinton City Schools
Elementary to high school visible
3,051 students
5 listed schools in this county slice.
District reality check
Sampson County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 18 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 Sampson County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Sampson County district systems?
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 Sampson 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 Public School System
Sampson County operates 23 public schools serving a total of 11,022 students across two separate districts. The system is comprised of 12 elementary schools, five middle schools, and six high schools. This infrastructure provides comprehensive coverage for the county's growing student population.
Two Districts Serving Unique Communities
Sampson County Schools is the primary district with 18 schools and 7,971 students, while Clinton City Schools serves 3,051 students across five campuses. Notably, there are no charter schools in the county, meaning all public education is managed through these two traditional districts. Clinton High remains the largest individual school in the county with 851 students.
A Predominantly Rural Learning Environment
Nineteen of the county's 23 schools are in rural settings, reflecting the area's agricultural heritage. With an average school size of 479 students, the environment offers a mid-sized community feel. Schools range from larger institutions like Midway High to smaller, town-based campuses in the Clinton City district.
School Overview
Total Schools
23
in Sampson County
Reported Enrollment
11,022
23 schools reporting
School Districts
2
districts
Charter Schools
0
0% of total
School Level Breakdown
2 School Districts in Sampson County
Sampson County Schools
GuideClinton City Schools
23 Public Schools in Sampson County
Sorted by reported enrollment. Every NCES public school remains listed here; no school-level profile pages are included in the current generated coverage for this county.
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataLevel
Showing 20 of 23 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton High | Record | Clinton City Schools | Clinton, 28328Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 851 |
| Midway High | Record | Sampson County Schools | Newton Grove, 28366Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 757 |
| Sunset Avenue Elementary | Record | Clinton City Schools | Clinton, 28328Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 720 |
| Sampson Middle | Record | Clinton City Schools | Clinton, 28328Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 647 |
| Midway Middle | Record | Sampson County Schools | Dunn, 28334Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 550 |
| Midway Elementary | Record | Sampson County Schools | Dunn, 28334Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 532 |
| Hobbton High | Record | Sampson County Schools | Newton Grove, 28366Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 483 |
| Lakewood High | Record | Sampson County Schools | Salemburg, 28385Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 479 |
| Union Elementary | Record | Sampson County Schools | Clinton, 28328Rural: Remote | PK–2 | Primary | 474 |
| Salemburg Elementary | Record | Sampson County Schools | Salemburg, 28385Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 462 |
| Union High | Record | Sampson County Schools | Rose Hill, 28458Rural: Remote | 9–12 | High | 461 |
| Hobbton Elementary | Record | Sampson County Schools | Newton Grove, 28366Rural: Distant | KG–5 | Primary | 452 |
| Butler Avenue Elementary | Record | Clinton City Schools | Clinton, 28328Town: Distant | 1–2 | Primary | 437 |
| Union Middle | Record | Sampson County Schools | Clinton, 28328Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 427 |
| Hobbton Middle | Record | Sampson County Schools | Newton Grove, 28366Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 417 |
| Roseboro-Salemburg Middle | Record | Sampson County Schools | Roseboro, 28382Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 406 |
| Langdon C Kerr Elementary | Record | Clinton City Schools | Clinton, 28328Town: Distant | PK–KG | Primary | 396 |
| Roseboro Elementary | Record | Sampson County Schools | Roseboro, 28382Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 387 |
| Union Intermediate | Record | Sampson County Schools | Clinton, 28328Rural: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 387 |
| Hargrove Elementary | Record | Sampson County Schools | Faison, 28341Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 365 |
Sunset Avenue Elementary
Clinton City Schools
Clinton, 28328 / Town: Distant
Salemburg Elementary
Sampson County Schools
Salemburg, 28385 / Rural: Distant
Hobbton Elementary
Sampson County Schools
Newton Grove, 28366 / Rural: Distant
Butler Avenue Elementary
Clinton City Schools
Clinton, 28328 / Town: Distant
Roseboro-Salemburg Middle
Sampson County Schools
Roseboro, 28382 / Rural: Distant
Langdon C Kerr Elementary
Clinton City Schools
Clinton, 28328 / Town: Distant
Roseboro Elementary
Sampson County Schools
Roseboro, 28382 / Rural: Distant
Hargrove Elementary
Sampson County Schools
Faison, 28341 / Rural: Distant
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,654
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Sampson 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 Sampson County?
What is the graduation rate in Sampson County?
How much does Sampson County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Sampson County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Sampson County, North Carolina?
Sampson County operates 23 public schools serving a total of 11,022 students across two separate districts. The system is comprised of 12 elementary schools, five middle schools, and six high schools. This infrastructure provides comprehensive coverage for the county's growing student population.
What are the major school districts in Sampson County, North Carolina?
Sampson County Schools is the primary district with 18 schools and 7,971 students, while Clinton City Schools serves 3,051 students across five campuses. Notably, there are no charter schools in the county, meaning all public education is managed through these two traditional districts. Clinton High remains the largest individual school in the county with 851 students.
What is the school experience like in Sampson County?
Nineteen of the county's 23 schools are in rural settings, reflecting the area's agricultural heritage. With an average school size of 479 students, the environment offers a mid-sized community feel. Schools range from larger institutions like Midway High to smaller, town-based campuses in the Clinton City district.
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.