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 middle schools serving 1,975 students in Lee County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Lee County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 38% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
16 Schools
872 Schools
# Students
9,131 Students
496,921 Students
# Teachers
566 Teachers
31,042 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%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)46%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
42%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
59%
63%
Graduation Rate
82%
86.5%
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)24.3%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.71
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
44%
21%
% Black
20%
25%
% White
30%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
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
Spending
$128 MM
$21,575 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,904
$13,318
Spending / Student
$13,969
$13,934
Best Lee County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Sanlee Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2309 Tramway Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 708-7227
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 708-7227
Gr: 6-8 | 792 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #22.
West Lee Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3301 Wicker St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7351
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7351
Gr: 6-8 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #33.
East Lee Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1337 Broadway Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-8441
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-8441
Gr: 6-8 | 526 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
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%
Recent Articles
How Often Does Your Child's School Change Teachers Between Grade Levels?
Learn how teacher movement between grade levels affects continuity, experience, instruction, and school stability, plus the questions parents should ask about staffing patterns before choosing a public school today.
The School Pickup Test: What Arrival and Dismissal Reveal About a Public School
Discover what school arrival and dismissal reveal about safety, supervision, organization, communication, student behavior, transportation, and school climate before choosing the right public school for your child and family.
Should Siblings Attend the Same Public School?
Should siblings attend the same public school? Learn when academic needs, learning styles, programs, social fit, support services, and individual interests may make different schools better choices for children.
