Can I use Wayne County's school score to choose a house?

No. Use the Wayne County school score as a first-pass county screen, then verify the exact district, attendance boundary, transfer rules, and grade pathway for any address you are considering.

Does SchoolsByCounty confirm school attendance boundaries in Wayne County?

No. SchoolsByCounty publishes NCES and Census-backed public-school records. Attendance zones, magnet eligibility, charter lotteries, transportation, and transfer rules must be confirmed with local districts.

How should parents compare public schools in Wayne County?

Start with the 35 listed public schools and 3 district entries, then compare similar grade bands and confirm the address-level rules locally.

Wayne County Schools & Education

Name: Wayne County, North Carolina Education Data
Creator: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
License: https://creativecommons.org/publicdomain/zero/1.0/

Wayne County, North Carolina

NCES 2022-23 public school data and FY 2022 school-finance data

School Score

23/100

Percentile-style score

Score Band

Lower Signal

Graduation Rate

81.0%

National avg 87.5%

Education Statistics

Graduation Rate

81.0%

National avg 87.5%

State avg 88.0%

Per-Pupil Spending

$6,828

National avg $13,239

State avg $6,969

School Score

23/100

Percentile-style score

State avg 40/100

State Score Position

#94

of 100 counties by score

Education Data Brief: Wayne County

Measured School Summary

Wayne County faces educational challenges with a school score of 23/100 and a graduation rate of 81.0%, falling below typical benchmarks.

Funding Context

At $6,828 per pupil, Wayne County operates with limited funding, which may constrain staffing, materials, and extracurricular offerings.

Neighbor Context

Its school score is 43% below the North Carolina average, and its graduation rate trails the state average by 7.0 percentage points, while per-pupil spending is 2% lower than the state norm.

School Data Brief

How to read Wayne 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

35 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

23/100

Lower measured signal. Ranks #94 of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data.

Completion

81.0%

7.0 pts below the state average

Funding context

$6,828

$141 below the state average

School coverage

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

Wayne County has 35 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.

View Public Schools Compare Counties

Parent decision brief

What Wayne 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

Wayne County Public Schools carries most of the listed public-school system, with 33 of 35 schools. Start there, then verify whether your target address sits inside that district slice.

State position

#94

of 100 North Carolina counties with school score data. The county score is 17 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.

Wayne County Public Schools

Elementary to high school visible

17,558 students

Elementary 13Middle 9High 9Other 2

33 listed schools in this county slice.

Wayne Preparatory

Other grade structure

1,015 students

Elementary 0Middle 0High 0Other 1

1 listed school in this county slice.

Dillard Academy

Elementary school only in this slice

277 students

Elementary 1Middle 0High 0Other 0

1 listed school in this county slice.

District reality check

Wayne County Public Schools is the largest listed district slice, with 33 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 Wayne County?

Do the neighborhoods we like fall inside the same district, or are we comparing different Wayne 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 Wayne 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 and Widespread School System

Wayne County manages a large education network of 35 public schools serving 18,850 students. The system is well-balanced with 14 elementary, 9 middle, and 9 high schools, plus 3 specialized facilities. Three different districts oversee this expansive educational infrastructure.

Major Districts and Charter Alternatives

Wayne County Public Schools is the largest district, serving 17,558 students across 33 schools. The county also provides charter options like Wayne Preparatory Academy, which serves over 1,000 students. Charter schools currently make up 5.7% of the total public education options in the area.

From City Centers to Rural Ridges

Wayne County offers a varied locale mix with 18 rural schools and 13 schools located within city limits. The average school size is 539 students, but high schools like Charles B Aycock and Southern Wayne serve over 1,000 students each. This diversity allows families to choose between urban energy and rural tranquility.

School Overview

Total Schools

in Wayne County

Reported Enrollment

18,850

35 schools reporting

School Districts

districts

Charter Schools

6% of total

School Level Breakdown

Elementary14

Middle9

High9

Other3

3 School Districts in Wayne County

Wayne County Public Schools

Wayne Preparatory

1 school

1,015 students

Dillard Academy

1 school

277 students

35 Public Schools in Wayne 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 data

Search schools

Level

Sort

Showing 20 of 35 matching schools

Public schools in Wayne County, including district, location, profile availability, grades, type, and enrollment.
School Name	Profile	District	Location	Grades	Type / Flags	Reported Enrollment
Charles B Aycock High	Profile	Wayne County Public Schools	Pikeville, 27863Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,122
Southern Wayne High	Profile	Wayne County Public Schools	Dudley, 28333Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	1,066
Wayne Preparatory Academy	Profile	Wayne Preparatory	Goldsboro, 27530Suburb: Small	KG–12	Charter	1,015
Norwayne Middle	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Fremont, 27830Rural: Fringe	6–8	Middle	886
Spring Creek Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27534Rural: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	829
Eastern Wayne High	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27534Suburb: Small	9–12	High	826
Brogden Primary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Dudley, 28333Rural: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	764
Spring Creek High	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Seven Springs, 28578Rural: Distant	9–12	High	753
Northwest Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Pikeville, 27863Rural: Fringe	KG–5	Primary	709
Northeast Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Pikeville, 27863Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	707
Meadow Lane Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27534City: Small	PK–5	Primary	692
Rosewood Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27530Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	633
Spring Creek Middle	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Seven Springs, 28578Rural: Fringe	5–8	Middle	624
Brogden Middle	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Dudley, 28333Rural: Fringe	5–8	Middle	588
Tommy's Road Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27534Suburb: Small	PK–5	Primary	573
Carver Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Mount Olive, 28365Rural: Fringe	PK–4	Primary	556
Eastern Wayne Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27534Rural: Fringe	PK–5	Primary	525
North Drive Elementary	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27530City: Small	PK–2	Primary	522
Goldsboro High	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27530City: Small	9–12	High	470
Rosewood High	Record	Wayne County Public Schools	Goldsboro, 27530Rural: Fringe	9–12	High	469

Charles B Aycock High

Wayne County Public Schools

Pikeville, 27863 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,122 students

Southern Wayne High

Wayne County Public Schools

Dudley, 28333 / Rural: Fringe

Profile9–12High1,066 students

Wayne Preparatory Academy

Wayne Preparatory

Goldsboro, 27530 / Suburb: Small

ProfileKG–12Charter1,015 students

Norwayne Middle

Wayne County Public Schools

Fremont, 27830 / Rural: Fringe

Record6–8Middle886 students

Spring Creek Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27534 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary829 students

Eastern Wayne High

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27534 / Suburb: Small

Record9–12High826 students

Brogden Primary

Wayne County Public Schools

Dudley, 28333 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary764 students

Spring Creek High

Wayne County Public Schools

Seven Springs, 28578 / Rural: Distant

Record9–12High753 students

Northwest Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Pikeville, 27863 / Rural: Fringe

RecordKG–5Primary709 students

Northeast Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Pikeville, 27863 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary707 students

Meadow Lane Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27534 / City: Small

RecordPK–5Primary692 students

Rosewood Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27530 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary633 students

Spring Creek Middle

Wayne County Public Schools

Seven Springs, 28578 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle624 students

Brogden Middle

Wayne County Public Schools

Dudley, 28333 / Rural: Fringe

Record5–8Middle588 students

Tommy's Road Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27534 / Suburb: Small

RecordPK–5Primary573 students

Carver Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Mount Olive, 28365 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–4Primary556 students

Eastern Wayne Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27534 / Rural: Fringe

RecordPK–5Primary525 students

North Drive Elementary

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27530 / City: Small

RecordPK–2Primary522 students

Goldsboro High

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27530 / City: Small

Record9–12High470 students

Rosewood High

Wayne County Public Schools

Goldsboro, 27530 / Rural: Fringe

Record9–12High469 students

Education Funding Detail

Annual Per-Pupil Expenditure

$6,828

State avg $6,969

Compare Nearby Counties

Review Wayne 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 Wayne County?

Wayne County has a school score of 23/100, 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 Wayne County?

The high school graduation rate in Wayne County is 81.0%, 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 Wayne County spend per student?

Wayne County spends $6,828 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 Wayne County, North Carolina — FAQ

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

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

What is the school experience like in Wayne County?

Counties with Similar School Profile

Franklin County

North Carolina

-1 pts

22/100

School score

Harnett County

North Carolina

+1 pts

24/100

School score

Edgecombe County

North Carolina

+1 pts

24/100

School score

By Evan Brooks, Data EditorUpdated May 13, 2026Reviewed 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.

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