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 16 public schools serving 9,131 students in Lee County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Lee County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 42% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 69% 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
16 Schools
2,734 Schools
# Students
9,131 Students
1,549,621 Students
# Teachers
566 Teachers
96,132 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
16:1
16:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Lee 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 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
1%
5%
% Hispanic
44%
22%
% Black
20%
24%
% White
30%
42%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
5%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $11,300 is higher than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $10,882 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$103 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$99 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$11,300
$11,168
Spending / Student
$10,882
$11,592
Best Lee County Schools Public Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Lee Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1105 Kelly Drive
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 888-4502
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 888-4502
Gr: 9-13 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 34:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #22.
Tramway Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
360 Center Church Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0170
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0170
Gr: K-5 | 559 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #33.
Greenwood Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1127 Greenwood Rd
Lemon Springs, NC 28355
(919) 776-0506
Lemon Springs, NC 28355
(919) 776-0506
Gr: K-5 | 571 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #44.
Southern Lee High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
2301 Tramway Road
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 718-2400
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 718-2400
Gr: 9-12 | 1,180 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #55.
Bt Bullock Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1410 Mcneill Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0160
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0160
Gr: K-5 | 511 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #66.
Deep River Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4000 Deep River Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-2722
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-2722
Gr: K-5 | 557 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #77.
J Glenn Edwards Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3115 Cemetery Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 774-3733
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 774-3733
Gr: K-5 | 587 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #88.
J R Ingram Jr Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3309 Wicker St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-3772
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-3772
Gr: K-5 | 419 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #99.
Sanlee Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2309 Tramway Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 708-7227
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 708-7227
Gr: 6-8 | 792 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #1010.
Lee County High School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1708 Nash Street
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-7541
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-7541
Gr: 9-12 | 1,459 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1111.
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 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #1212.
Wb Wicker Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
900 S Vance St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 897-5400
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 897-5400
Gr: K-5 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #1313.
West Lee Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3301 Wicker St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7351
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7351
Gr: 6-8 | 522 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1414.
East Lee Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1337 Broadway Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-8441
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-8441
Gr: 6-8 | 526 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #1515.
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 | 95 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1616.
Bragg Street Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
504 Bragg Street
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-2686
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-2686
Gr: 6-12 | 40 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Lee County Schools?
Lee County Schools manages 16 public schools serving 9,131 students.
What is the rank of Lee County Schools?
Lee County Schools is ranked #212 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: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Lee County Schools?
44% of Lee County Schools students are Hispanic, 30% of students are White, 20% of students are Black, 5% of students are Two or more races, and 1% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Lee County Schools?
Lee County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 16:1, which is equal to the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Lee County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $10,882 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has grown by 5% over four school years.
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
