Chapel Hill-Carrboro City 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.

Chapel Hill, North Carolina - 20 schools

An equity score of 62/100 ranks Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools #80 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $16,534 per pupil, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools ranks #21 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

11,561
Total Enrollment
20
Schools
$16,534
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools operates 20 public schools serving 11,561 students, placing it in the mid-size range in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 10 combined, 4 high, 4 middle, 2 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage 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 Orange County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $16,534 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 33 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 46.2% local, 43.3% state, and 10.5% federal, a balanced mix across local, state, and federal sources, spreading budget risk across funding cycles rather than concentrating it in one. The district's equity score is 62/100, ranked #80 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 4 of 20 schools offering Advanced Placement (101 AP courses district-wide), a 343.1:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 19.7% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 46.0% White, 19.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Rashkis Elementary, with a diversity index of 76.9/100.

Its largest campus is Chapel Hill High, enrolling 1,608 students (14% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Phoenix Academy High, at 27 students, a 60x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools school enrollment varies 60× across entities

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools school enrollment ranges from 27 students (lowest) to 1,608 students (highest), a spread of 1,581 students. That ratio is among the widest observed and reflects extreme enrollment heterogeneity, the district operates both small specialty programs and large comprehensive campuses inside a single budgeting unit. 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

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools student-counselor ratio is 343:1 — 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 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is typically wider than the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 19.7% — 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 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools is typically wider than the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City 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?

10.5%
Federal
43.3%
State
46.2%
Local

Funding Equity

62
Equity Score
80 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district has moderate funding equity. There may be room to improve funding diversity or resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 20 schools in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools.

White 46.0%
Hispanic or Latino 19.5%
African American 13.3%
Asian 13.2%
Multiracial 7.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 67.5/100

Average Simpson diversity index across Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools's schools, above the North Carolina average of 56.1.

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Rashkis Elementary 76.9
  2. 2 Seawell Elementary 73.9
  3. 3 Phoenix Academy High 73.0
  4. 4 Smith Middle 72.9
  5. 5 Northside Elementary 72.1

Programs & Resources

4 / 20
Schools with AP
101 AP courses total
343.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
19.7%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

School Enrollment
Chapel Hill High
1,608
East Chapel Hill High
1,419
Carrboro High
885
Smith Middle
763
Mcdougle Middle
659
Culbreth Middle
632
Phillips Middle
600
Fpg Elementary
536
Carrboro Elementary
515
Mcdougle Elementary
497
Rashkis Elementary
455
Seawell Elementary
416
Northside Elementary
412
Ephesus Elementary
410
Scroggs Elementary
410
Glenwood Elementary
390
Morris Grove Elementary
383
Estes Hills Elementary
336
Virtual Academy School
39
Phoenix Academy High
27

How Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Lincoln County Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Burke County Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Rockingham County Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Pender County Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Caldwell County Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Chapel Hill-Carrboro City 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 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/pupil
Compare vs Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools →

Compare Chapel Hill-Carrboro City 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 Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools?

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has 20 schools, including 4 high, 4 middle, 10 combined, 2 elementary. Total enrollment is 11,561 students.

How much does Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools spend per student?

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools spends $16,534 per student. The district has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #80 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools?

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools students are 46.0% White, 19.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.3% African American, 13.2% Asian, averaged across 20 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools?

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools has an equity score of 62/100, ranking #80 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.