Lenoir County School District

2017 W Vernon Avenue
Kinston, NC 28504
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

Top Rankings

Lenoir County School District 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 8 public preschools serving 3,284 students in Lenoir County School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 2/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Lenoir County School District have an average math proficiency score of 37% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 35% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 71% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
17 Schools
1,005 Schools
# Students
8,302 Students
477,346 Students
# Teachers
537 Teachers
32,717 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Lenoir County School District, 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 80% has decreased from 85% over five school years.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#243 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
39%
51%
39%
50%
56%
63%
80%
86.5%
(2022-23)
32.9%
28.7%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.67
0.73
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
18%
24%
% Black
46%
25%
% White
30%
40%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,192 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,177. The school district revenue/student has declined by 18% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,796 is less than the state median of $11,601. The school district spending/student has declined by 14% over four school years.
This School District
This State (NC)
Total Revenue
$85 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$90 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$10,192
$11,177
Spending / Student
$10,796
$11,601

Best Lenoir County School District Public Preschools (2026-27)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Banks Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2148 Falling Creek Rd
Kinston, NC 28504
(252) 527-9470
Gr: PK-5 | 436 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #22.
Pink Hill Elementary School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2666 Hc Turner Road
Pink Hill, NC 28572
(252) 568-4176
Gr: PK-5 | 437 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #33.
Contentnea-savannah School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3400 Ferrell Road
Kinston, NC 28501
(252) 527-8591
Gr: PK-8 | 789 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #44.
La Grange Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
402 W Railroad St
La Grange, NC 28551
(252) 566-4036
Gr: PK-5 | 547 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #55.
Southwood Elementary School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1245 Hwy 58 South
Kinston, NC 28504
(252) 527-9081
Gr: PK-5 | 218 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #66.
Southeast Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
201 Mcdaniels Street
Kinston, NC 28501
(252) 527-4210
Gr: PK-5 | 326 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #77.
Northeast Elementary School
(Math: 15% | Reading: 15%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1002 E Highland Ave
Kinston, NC 28501
(252) 527-4166
Gr: PK-5 | 465 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #88.
Lenoir County Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2529 Cedar Dell Lane, Haigler-
Kinston, NC 28504
(252) 527-4264
Gr: PK-12 | 66 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 74%

Recent Articles

School Leadership Matters: Evaluating a Principal
School Leadership Matters: Evaluating a Principal
Learn how to evaluate a public school principal before enrolling by examining leadership stability, teacher support, communication, school culture, instructional priorities, discipline, family engagement, and measurable improvement efforts.
Comparing Before- and After-School Programs
Comparing Before- and After-School Programs
Learn how to compare before- and after-school programs when choosing a public school, including hours, costs, staffing, safety, activities, enrollment rules, transportation, meals, and daily convenience for families.
Choosing a Public School During Budget Uncertainty
Choosing a Public School During Budget Uncertainty
Learn which questions parents should ask when choosing a public school during budget uncertainty, including staffing, programs, class sizes, transportation, reserves, enrollment trends, and planned reductions ahead.

Quick Facts (2026-27)

  • District size: 17 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 8,302 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 70%
  • : 80% (Btm 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 39% (Btm 50%)
  • : 39% (Btm 50%)
  • : 56% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Quick Links