Chatham County Schools

Pittsboro, North Carolina — 21 schools

9,129
Total Enrollment
21
Schools
$15,369
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Chatham County Schools operates 21 public schools serving 9,129 students, placing it in the mid-size range in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 9 other, 6 high, 4 elementary, 2 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 8,987 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Chatham County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $15,369 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 38.4% local, 46.9% state, and 14.8% 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. Average teacher compensation clocks in at $85,589 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 53/100, ranked #110 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 21 schools offering Advanced Placement (38 AP courses district-wide), a 367.1:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.4% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 53.6% White, 27.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% African American across the district's schools.

Chatham County Schools school enrollment varies 121× across entities

Chatham County Schools school enrollment ranges from 9 students (lowest) to 1,088 students (highest), a spread of 1,079 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

Chatham County Schools student-counselor ratio is 367:1 — high (typically associated with staffing constraints that limit per-student counselor time; CRDC data shows higher ratios cluster in larger urban systems)

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 Higher values may reflect larger urban scale or recent resource constraints that have widened the gap.

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

Chatham County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 29.4% — 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 Chatham County Schools is typically wider than the Chatham 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?

14.8%
Federal
46.9%
State
38.4%
Local

Funding Equity

53
Equity Score
110 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

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

Local Rent Costs

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

$1,417
Studio/mo
$1,507
1 BR/mo
$1,711
2 BR/mo
$2,117
3 BR/mo
$2,527
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$85,589
Average annual teacher salary

Source: NCES CCD F-33 (Finance Survey).

Teacher salary data from NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 21 schools in Chatham County Schools.

White 53.6%
Hispanic or Latino 27.0%
African American 12.0%
Asian 1.3%
Multiracial 5.8%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

4 / 21
Schools with AP
38 AP courses total
367.1:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.4%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Chatham County Schools

School Enrollment
Seaforth High
1,088
Jordan Matthews High
848
Margaret B. Pollard Middle
736
Chatham Grove Elementary
683
Northwood High
634
Siler City Elementary
591
North Chatham Elementary
588
Chatham Middle
513
Pittsboro Elementary
503
Virginia Cross Elementary
494
Horton Middle
414
Chatham Central High
320
Bonlee School
290
Silk Hope School
281
Perry W Harrison Elementary
262
J S Waters School
222
Bennett School
187
Moncure School
176
Chatham School of Science & Engineering
113
Sage Academy
35
Chatham County Schools Virtual Academy
9

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 · $14,074/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $15,997/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,788/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
52,717 students · 81 schools · $14,195/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,982/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →

Compare Chatham 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 Chatham County Schools?

Chatham County Schools has 21 schools, including 6 high, 2 middle, 9 other, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 9,129 students.

How much does Chatham County Schools spend per student?

Chatham County Schools spends $15,369 per student. The district has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #110 in North Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Chatham County Schools?

The average teacher salary in Chatham County Schools is $85,589 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Chatham County Schools?

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

What is the demographic composition of Chatham County Schools?

Chatham County Schools students are 53.6% White, 27.0% Hispanic or Latino, 12.0% African American, 1.3% Asian, averaged across 21 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Chatham County Schools?

Chatham County Schools has an equity score of 53/100, ranking #110 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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