Top Rankings
Lee County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 5 public high schools serving 3,009 students in Lee County Schools. This district's average high testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public high schools in North Carolina.
Public High Schools in Lee County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Lee County School have a Graduation Rate of 83%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Lee Early College, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 70% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
16 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
9,131 Students
568,636 Students
# Teachers
566 Teachers
31,535 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Lee County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 82% has decreased from 89% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#212 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)46%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
59%
63%
Graduation Rate
82%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)24.3%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
Showing 2007–2020. Full 18-year historical data available below ↓
% Asian
1%
4%
Showing 2012–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
44%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
20%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
30%
44%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,904 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has declined by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $13,969 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$127 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$128 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$13,904
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$13,969
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Lee County Schools Public High Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lee Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1105 Kelly Drive
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 888-4502
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 888-4502
Gr: 9-13 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 34:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #22.
Southern Lee High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2301 Tramway Road
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 718-2400
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 718-2400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,180 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #33.
Lee County High School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1708 Nash Street
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-7541
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-7541
Gr: 9-12 | 1,459 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #44.
Floyd L Knight Children Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
607 W Mcintosh St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-4634
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-4634
Gr: PK-12 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #55.
Bragg Street Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
504 Bragg Street
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-2686
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-2686
Gr: 6-12 | 40 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
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