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Lenoir County Public Schools

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

Top Rankings

Lenoir County Public 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 5 public high schools serving 2,737 students in Lenoir County Public 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 Lenoir County Public Schools have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 58% statewide average).
Public High School in Lenoir County Public School have a Graduation Rate of 80%, which is less than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Lenoir County Early College High School, with ≥90% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 67% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 55% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
17 Schools
758 Schools
# Students
8,348 Students
565,236 Students
# Teachers
539 Teachers
33,421 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1

Student By Grade

District Rank

Lenoir County Public 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 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%
(21-22)
84%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.66
0.70
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
17%
20%
% Black
46%
24%
% White
32%
45%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
4%
6%
All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,136 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,192. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,737 is less than the state median of $11,617. The school district spending/student has grown by 6% 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
$10,136
$11,192
Spending / Student
$10,737
$11,617

Best Lenoir County Public Schools Public High Schools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lenoir County Early College High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
231 Hwy 58 South
Kinston, NC 28502
(252) 233-6870
Gr: 9-13 | 206 students Student-teacher ratio: 26:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #22.
South Lenoir High School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3355 Old Hwy 11 South
Deep Run, NC 28525
(252) 568-6161
Gr: 9-12 | 764 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #33.
North Lenoir High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2400 Institute Road
La Grange, NC 28551
(252) 527-9184
Gr: 9-12 | 989 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #44.
Kinston High School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2601 N Queen St
Kinston, NC 28501
(252) 527-8067
Gr: 9-12 | 706 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #55.
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 | 72 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 81%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 17 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 8,348 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 68%
  • : 84% (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

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