Top Rankings
Lincoln County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Graduation Rate
Highest graduation rate (Top 20%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 5 public middle schools serving 2,672 students in Lincoln County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 7/10, which is in the top 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Lincoln County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 59% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 50% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 29% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
23 Schools
872 Schools
# Students
11,710 Students
496,921 Students
# Teachers
762 Teachers
31,042 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Lincoln County Schools, which is ranked within the top 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 89% has decreased from 90% over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#109 out of 325 school districts
(Top 50%)
(Top 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. Full 14-year historical data available below ↓
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)60%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
53%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
73%
63%
Graduation Rate
89%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)22.7%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.46
0.71
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
Showing 2010–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Hispanic
14%
21%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
% Black
7%
25%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% White
72%
43%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 36-year historical data available below ↓
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
6%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. Full 13-year historical data available below ↓
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,797 in this school district is less than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,597 is less than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$138 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending
$136 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Revenue / Student
$11,797
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Spending / Student
$11,597
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. Full 34-year historical data available below ↓
Best Lincoln County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
North Lincoln Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1503 Amity Church Road
Denver, NC 28037
(704) 736-0262
Denver, NC 28037
(704) 736-0262
Gr: 6-8 | 774 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #22.
East Lincoln Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4137 Hwy 73
Iron Station, NC 28080
(704) 732-0761
Iron Station, NC 28080
(704) 732-0761
Gr: 6-8 | 738 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #33.
Asbury Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
221 Salem Church Road
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 736-4766
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 736-4766
Gr: 6-12 | 34 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #44.
West Lincoln Middle School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
260 Shoal Rd
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 276-1760
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 276-1760
Gr: 6-8 | 563 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 16%
Rank: #55.
Lincolnton Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2361 Startown Road
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 735-1120
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 735-1120
Gr: 6-8 | 563 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Recent Articles
When a Public School Cancels a Course Your Child Needs
Learn what parents can do when public schools cancel essential courses, including protecting graduation credits, finding approved alternatives, requesting substitutions, and preventing disruptions to college or career plans before deadlines.
Verify School Assignment Before Buying a House
Before buying a house, learn how to verify your child's assigned public school, check conflicting property listings, confirm enrollment eligibility, and avoid costly school assignment surprises before closing on a property.
School Bus Commute Times: What Parents Should Know
Discover how long school bus commutes really take, why routes vary, and what parents should ask about pickup times, student fatigue, transportation reliability, and daily schedules before choosing schools.
