Top Rankings
Harnett County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 29 public schools serving 20,091 students in Harnett County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Harnett County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 39% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
29 Schools
2,734 Schools
# Students
20,091 Students
1,549,621 Students
# Teachers
1,152 Teachers
96,132 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Harnett 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 86% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#241 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)38%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.71
0.72
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
5%
% Hispanic
28%
22%
% Black
24%
24%
% White
39%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $9,495 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,641 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$191 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$194 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,495
$11,168
Spending / Student
$9,641
$11,592
Best Harnett County Schools Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Harnett County Early College
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
910 W. Harnett Street
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 814-3470
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 814-3470
Gr: 9-13 | 181 students Student-teacher ratio: 36:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #22.
Benhaven Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
520 Olive Farm Dr
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 499-4811
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 499-4811
Gr: PK-5 | 1,065 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #33.
Triton High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
215 Maynard Lake Road
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-8121
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-8121
Gr: 9-12 | 1,274 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #44.
Overhills High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2495 Ray Road
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-1436
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-1436
Gr: 9-12 | 1,981 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #55.
Western Harnett High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
10637 Nc Hwy 27 West
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-5113
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-5113
Gr: 9-12 | 1,324 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #66.
Northwest Harnett Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
736 Rollins Road
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 552-4547
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 552-4547
Gr: PK-5 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #77.
Harnett Central High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2911 Harnett Central Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6161
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6161
Gr: 9-12 | 1,522 students Student-teacher ratio: 25:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #88.
Buies Creek Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
340 Main Street
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(910) 893-3505
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(910) 893-3505
Gr: K-5 | 267 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #99.
Western Harnett Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
11135 Nc Hwy 27 West
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-4497
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-4497
Gr: 6-8 | 700 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1010.
Overhills Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2711 Ray Road
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-0009
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-0009
Gr: 6-8 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1111.
Highland Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
345 Highland School Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 498-3331
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 498-3331
Gr: 6-8 | 762 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1212.
Harnett Virtual Academy
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
900 11th Strrt
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Gr: K-12 | 100 students Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1313.
Highland Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1915 Buffalo Lake Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 499-2200
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 499-2200
Gr: PK-5 | 854 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1414.
Dunn Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
800 W Harnett St
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-0126
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-0126
Gr: PK-5 | 813 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1515.
Boone Trail Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1425 Adcock Road
Mamers, NC 27552
(910) 893-4013
Mamers, NC 27552
(910) 893-4013
Gr: PK-5 | 545 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1616.
Harnett Central Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2529 Harnett Central Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6000
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6000
Gr: 6-8 | 1,059 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1717.
Coats-erwin Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2833 Nc Hwy 55e
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 230-0300
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 230-0300
Gr: 6-8 | 589 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1818.
Overhills Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2626 Ray Road
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-3545
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-3545
Gr: PK-5 | 866 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1919.
Lillington-shawtown Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
855 Old Us 421
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3483
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3483
Gr: PK-5 | 695 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #2020.
South Harnett Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
8335 Nc 210 South
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-9153
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-9153
Gr: 3-5 | 476 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2121.
Johnsonville Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
18495 Nc Hwy 27 West
Cameron, NC 28326
(919) 499-4912
Cameron, NC 28326
(919) 499-4912
Gr: PK-5 | 489 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2222.
Dunn Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1301 Meadowlark Road
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1016
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1016
Gr: 6-8 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2323.
Angier Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
130 E Mciver St
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-2635
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-2635
Gr: 3-5 | 376 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #2424.
Coats Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
585 Brick Mill Road
Coats, NC 27521
(910) 897-8353
Coats, NC 27521
(910) 897-8353
Gr: PK-5 | 633 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #2525.
Erwin Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
405 Denim Dr.
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-7178
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-7178
Gr: PK-5 | 637 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2626.
Star Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
900 11th Street
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Gr: 6-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: n/an/a
914 Anderson Creek Sch Rd
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-4523
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-4523
Gr: PK-2 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: n/an/a
108 Lafayette School Rd
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 552-4353
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 552-4353
Gr: K-5 | 179 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: n/an/a
282 N Harnett School Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-4480
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-4480
Gr: PK-2 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Harnett County Schools?
Harnett County Schools manages 29 public schools serving 20,091 students.
What is the rank of Harnett County Schools?
Harnett County Schools is ranked #238 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Harnett County Schools?
39% of Harnett County Schools students are White, 28% of students are Hispanic, 24% of students are Black, 7% of students are Two or more races, 1% of students are American Indian, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Harnett County Schools?
Harnett County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 17:1, which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Harnett County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $9,641 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
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