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 school year, there are 2 public preschools serving 597 students in Lee County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Lee County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 40% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 37% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
16 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
9,018 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
639 Teachers
33,275 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Lee County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 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
(21-22)88%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.68
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
n/a
4%
% Hispanic
43%
23%
% Black
20%
25%
% White
32%
41%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,441 is higher than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has grown by 10% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $11,018 is less than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$103 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$99 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,441
$11,192
Spending / Student
$11,018
$11,617
Best Lee County Schools Public Preschools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Broadway Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
307 S Main St
Broadway, NC 27505
(919) 258-3828
Broadway, NC 27505
(919) 258-3828
Gr: PK-5 | 482 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #22.
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 | 115 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Recent Articles
Multilingual Learner Growth Models & Accountability
Learn how multilingual learner growth models are reshaping school accountability systems and what it means for public schools in 2026.
School-Based Health Clinics: Funding, Billing, and Student Access
Learn how school-based health clinics are funded, how billing works, and how students access care in public schools.
Outdoor Learning in Urban Schools: Forest School Programs
Explore how urban districts adopt outdoor learning and forest school programs to boost student engagement, well-being, and academic success.
