Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County

Sanford, North Carolina — 1 schools

547
Total Enrollment
1
Schools
$9,785
Per-Pupil Spending
Other
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County operates 1 public schools serving 547 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 1 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 628 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Lee County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $9,785 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, which aggregates every revenue and spending line reported under federal accounting standards. The funding mix is 21.5% local, 70.9% state, and 7.6% federal — a breakdown that matters because districts leaning heavily on local revenue are more exposed to property-tax swings, while higher federal shares typically track Title I concentration. The district's equity score — 36/100, ranked #184 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 1 of 1 schools offering Advanced Placement (3 AP courses district-wide), a 314:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 15.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 54.1% White, 20.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% African American across the district's schools.

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County accounts for 100.0% of all Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County student enrollment

That concentration — well above the 8.4% national median for largest-entity share — means Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: other. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County student-counselor ratio is 314:1 — near the typical range (US average ~408) — within the typical range for U.S. public districts

student-counselor ratio is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: the ratio counts FTE counselors against total enrollment — districts that contract intervention or social-emotional staff outside the counselor classification may be under-counted Variation between sub-units within Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County is typically wider than the Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection NCES Civil Rights Data Collection

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County chronic absenteeism rate is 15.4% — near the typical range (US average ~28) — aligned with the national post-pandemic baseline of roughly 28% chronic absenteeism

chronic absenteeism rate is the simplest comparative metric but it does not capture the full picture: a student is chronically absent if they miss ≥10% of enrolled days for any reason — illness, family obligations, or disengagement Variation between sub-units within Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County is typically wider than the Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County-aggregate figure suggests.

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22 NCES Civil Rights Data Collection 2021-22

Where does the funding come from?

7.6%
Federal
70.9%
State
21.5%
Local

Funding Equity

36
Equity Score
184 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

Fair Market Rents in Lee County county, where this district is located.

$874
Studio/mo
$880
1 BR/mo
$1,136
2 BR/mo
$1,362
3 BR/mo
$1,715
4 BR/mo

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 1 schools in Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County.

White 54.1%
Hispanic or Latino 20.5%
African American 12.9%
Asian 1.3%
Multiracial 10.4%
Other 0.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

1 / 1
Schools with AP
3 AP courses total
314:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
15.4%
Chronically Absent

Source: NCES Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) 2021-22.

Schools in Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County

School Enrollment
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County
Charter
628

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County?

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County has 1 schools, including 1 other. Total enrollment is 547 students.

How much does Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County spend per student?

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County spends $9,785 per student. The district has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #184 in North Carolina.

What is the average rent near Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County?

The HUD Fair Market Rent for a 2-bedroom in Lee County County is $N/A/month (2026). This affects housing affordability for families in the district.

What is the demographic composition of Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County?

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County students are 54.1% White, 20.5% Hispanic or Latino, 12.9% African American, 1.3% Asian, averaged across 1 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County?

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County has an equity score of 36/100, ranking #184 out of 293 districts in North Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

Federal data Last updated 2026 Free public data

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Refreshed within 30 days of upstream release

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Federal

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