Beaufort County Schools

Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. District totals are aggregated directly from the schools reporting under this district in the source records. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.

Washington, North Carolina - 14 schools

An equity score of 76/100 ranks Beaufort County Schools #28 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,227 per pupil, Beaufort County Schools ranks #57 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

5,975
Total Enrollment
14
Schools
$14,227
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Beaufort County Schools operates 14 public schools serving 5,975 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 5 combined, 4 high, 4 elementary, 1 middle schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly before they move, rent, or enrol. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Beaufort County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,227 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the upper half of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending. See how North Carolina compares in our national per-pupil spending analysis. The funding mix is 21.1% local, 53.5% state, and 25.4% federal, a state-revenue-heavy mix that insulates the district somewhat from local property-tax volatility, though it ties funding to state budget cycles. The district's equity score is 76/100, ranked #28 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, notably more even than the typical district in the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 14 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 313.2:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 23.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 42.2% White, 31.4% African American, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is John C Tayloe Elementary, with a diversity index of 69.1/100.

Its largest campus is Washington High, enrolling 794 students (14% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is B C Ed Tech Center, at 39 students, a 20x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Beaufort County Schools school enrollment varies 20× across entities

Beaufort County Schools school enrollment ranges from 39 students (lowest) to 794 students (highest), a spread of 755 students. That spread is wider than typical and predicts noticeable gaps in service quality between the highest and lowest areas. Per-school staffing ratios, programme availability, and capital-renovation cycles often diverge inside the same district based on enrollment shape.

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

Beaufort County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 94.7% of the population qualifies for free or reduced-price lunch

free or reduced-price lunch eligibility is the federal threshold for Title I funding allocations, established under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA, 2015). Eligibility here is a supermajority of the population — well past the 75% concentration-grant threshold that unlocks extra funding on top of the basic Title I formula. Regions with eligibility this high typically draw a substantially larger federal funding share relative to their local tax base, which can either offset or reinforce existing gaps depending on allocation policy.

Source: ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system ESSA Title I Part A; ED EDFacts file system

Beaufort County Schools student-counselor ratio is 313:1 — 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 Beaufort County Schools is typically wider than the Beaufort County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Beaufort County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 23.1% — 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 Beaufort County Schools is typically wider than the Beaufort County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Where does the funding come from?

25.4%
Federal
53.5%
State
21.1%
Local

Funding Equity

76
Equity Score
28 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 14 schools in Beaufort County Schools.

White 42.2%
Hispanic or Latino 18.5%
African American 31.4%
Multiracial 7.3%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 62.2/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Beaufort County Schools's schools, above the North Carolina average of 56.1.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 John C Tayloe Elementary 69.1
  2. 2 P S Jones Middle 68.7
  3. 3 Eastern Elementary 68.1
  4. 4 Washington High 67.4
  5. 5 Southside High 67.2

Programs & Resources

3 / 14
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
313.2:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
23.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Beaufort County Schools

School Enrollment
Washington High
794
P S Jones Middle
659
Bath Elementary
511
Eastern Elementary
484
Chocowinity Primary
484
Southside High
410
John C Tayloe Elementary
382
Northside High
380
John Small Elementary
379
Chocowinity Middle
366
Northeast Elementary
355
Beaufort Co Early College High
280
S W Snowden Elementary
117
B C Ed Tech Center
39

How Beaufort County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

The North Carolina districts closest to this one in total enrollment.

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Mooresville Graded School District Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Davie County Schools Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Mcdowell County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Scotland County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Stokes County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Beaufort County Schools's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data and the F-33 Finance Survey.

Nearby Districts in North Carolina

Top districts in the same state, compare side-by-side for enrollment, spending, and demographics.

Wake County Schools
159,778 students · 197 schools · $11,859/pupil
Compare vs Beaufort County Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Beaufort County Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Beaufort County Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/pupil
Compare vs Beaufort County Schools →

Compare Beaufort County Schools

See how this district compares to others in enrollment, spending, demographics, and academic resources.

Compare vs Wake County Schools →

Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools are in Beaufort County Schools?

Beaufort County Schools has 14 schools, including 4 high, 1 middle, 4 elementary, 5 combined. Total enrollment is 5,975 students.

How much does Beaufort County Schools spend per student?

Beaufort County Schools spends $14,227 per student. The district has an equity score of 76/100, ranking #28 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Beaufort County Schools?

Beaufort County Schools students are 42.2% White, 31.4% African American, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 14 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Beaufort County Schools?

Beaufort County Schools has an equity score of 76/100, ranking #28 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.