Surry County Schools & Education
Surry County, North Carolina
NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance dataSchool Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
Score Band
Midrange Signal
Graduation Rate
93.9%
National avg 87.5%
Education Statistics
Graduation Rate
93.9%
National avg 87.5%
State avg 88.0%
Per-Pupil Spending
$6,637
National avg $13,239
State avg $6,969
School Score
55/100
Percentile-style score
State avg 40/100
State Score Position
#18
of 100 counties by score
Education Data Brief: Surry County
Measured School Summary
Surry County performs at an average level with a school score of 55/100 and a solid graduation rate of 93.9%.
Funding Context
At $6,637 per pupil, Surry County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.
Neighbor Context
Its school score is 37% above the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate exceeds the state average by 5.9 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 5% lower than the state norm.
School Data Brief
How to read Surry 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 5 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
55/100
Mixed county signal. Ranks #18 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.
Completion
93.9%
5.9 pts above the state average
Funding context
$6,637
$332 below the state average
School coverage
30
5 districts represented in the county school list.
Start with measured county context
This county needs a closer look at district mix, school level, and local context. Compare the score, graduation rate, and spending together rather than treating any single metric as final.
Check the local school mix
Surry County has 30 public schools across 5 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 Surry 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
Surry County Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 20 of 30 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.
State position
#18
of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 15 points above 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.
Surry County Schools
Elementary to high school visible
7,340 students
20 listed schools in this county slice.
Mount Airy City Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,726 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Elkin City Schools
Elementary to high school visible
1,239 students
4 listed schools in this county slice.
Millennium Charter Academy
Other grade structure
687 students
1 listed school in this county slice.
District reality check
Surry County Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 20 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 Surry County?
Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Surry 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 Surry 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 Broad Choice of School Districts
Surry County offers a diverse educational landscape with 30 public schools serving 11,082 students. The infrastructure is unique for its size, featuring five different school districts to provide local control. This includes 15 elementary schools, six middle schools, and six high schools, plus three specialized campuses.
Multiple Districts and Specialized Charters
Surry County Schools is the largest district with 7,340 students, but residents also benefit from Mount Airy City and Elkin City schools. Millennium Charter Academy provides an alternative for 687 students, representing about 3% of the total school count. North Surry High is the largest individual school, enrolling 843 students.
Balance of Rural and Town Locales
The county's schools are split between 18 rural settings and 12 town locations, offering a variety of environmental choices. With an average school size of 369 students, the county avoids the overcrowding seen in more urban areas. Families can choose between larger town high schools or smaller rural elementary campuses.
School Overview
Total Schools
30
in Surry County
Reported Enrollment
11,082
30 schools reporting
School Districts
5
districts
Charter Schools
1
3% of total
School Level Breakdown
5 School Districts in Surry County
Surry County Schools
GuideMount Airy City Schools
Elkin City Schools
Millennium Charter Academy
Appalachian State Univ Academy at Elkin
30 Public Schools in Surry 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 30 matching schools
| School Name | Profile | District | Location | Grades | Type / Flags | Reported Enrollment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Surry High | Record | Surry County Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Rural: Fringe | 9–12 | High | 843 |
| Millennium Charter Academy | Record | Millennium Charter Academy | Mount Airy, 27030Town: Distant | KG–12 | Charter | 687 |
| Surry Central High | Record | Surry County Schools | Dobson, 27017Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 669 |
| East Surry High | Record | Surry County Schools | Pilot Mountain, 27041Rural: Distant | 9–12 | High | 594 |
| Mount Airy High | Record | Mount Airy City Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 582 |
| Elkin Elementary | Record | Elkin City Schools | Elkin, 28621Town: Distant | PK–6 | Primary | 578 |
| Central Middle | Record | Surry County Schools | Dobson, 27017Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 490 |
| Franklin Elementary | Record | Surry County Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Town: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 456 |
| Pilot Mountain Middle | Record | Surry County Schools | Pilot Mountain, 27041Rural: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 454 |
| Mount Airy Middle | Record | Mount Airy City Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 409 |
| Elkin High | Record | Elkin City Schools | Elkin, 28621Town: Distant | 9–12 | High | 399 |
| Bruce H. Tharrington Primary | Record | Mount Airy City Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Town: Distant | PK–2 | Primary | 392 |
| Cedar Ridge Elementary | Record | Surry County Schools | Lowgap, 27024Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 364 |
| J Sam Gentry Middle | Record | Surry County Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Town: Distant | 6–8 | Middle | 363 |
| Meadowview Magnet Middle | Record | Surry County Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Rural: Fringe | 6–8 | Middle | 349 |
| Pilot Mountain Elementary | Record | Surry County Schools | Pilot Mountain, 27041Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 344 |
| Rockford Elementary | Record | Surry County Schools | Dobson, 27017Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 344 |
| Jones Intermediate | Record | Mount Airy City Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Town: Distant | 3–5 | Primary | 343 |
| Dobson Elementary | Record | Surry County Schools | Dobson, 27017Rural: Distant | PK–5 | Primary | 340 |
| White Plains Elementary | Record | Surry County Schools | Mount Airy, 27030Rural: Fringe | PK–5 | Primary | 323 |
Millennium Charter Academy
Millennium Charter Academy
Mount Airy, 27030 / Town: Distant
Franklin Elementary
Surry County Schools
Mount Airy, 27030 / Town: Distant
Pilot Mountain Middle
Surry County Schools
Pilot Mountain, 27041 / Rural: Distant
Mount Airy Middle
Mount Airy City Schools
Mount Airy, 27030 / Town: Distant
Bruce H. Tharrington Primary
Mount Airy City Schools
Mount Airy, 27030 / Town: Distant
Cedar Ridge Elementary
Surry County Schools
Lowgap, 27024 / Rural: Distant
Meadowview Magnet Middle
Surry County Schools
Mount Airy, 27030 / Rural: Fringe
Pilot Mountain Elementary
Surry County Schools
Pilot Mountain, 27041 / Rural: Distant
Jones Intermediate
Mount Airy City Schools
Mount Airy, 27030 / Town: Distant
White Plains Elementary
Surry County Schools
Mount Airy, 27030 / Rural: Fringe
Education Funding Detail
Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure
$6,637
State avg $6,969
Compare Nearby Counties
Review Surry County against other counties using the same NCES-backed metrics.
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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 Surry County?
What is the graduation rate in Surry County?
How much does Surry County spend per student?
Frequently Asked Questions
Schools in Surry County, North Carolina — FAQ
What does the school system look like in Surry County, North Carolina?
Surry County offers a diverse educational landscape with 30 public schools serving 11,082 students. The infrastructure is unique for its size, featuring five different school districts to provide local control. This includes 15 elementary schools, six middle schools, and six high schools, plus three specialized campuses.
What are the major school districts in Surry County, North Carolina?
Surry County Schools is the largest district with 7,340 students, but residents also benefit from Mount Airy City and Elkin City schools. Millennium Charter Academy provides an alternative for 687 students, representing about 3% of the total school count. North Surry High is the largest individual school, enrolling 843 students.
What is the school experience like in Surry County?
The county's schools are split between 18 rural settings and 12 town locations, offering a variety of environmental choices. With an average school size of 369 students, the county avoids the overcrowding seen in more urban areas. Families can choose between larger town high schools or smaller rural elementary campuses.
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.