Chatham 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.

Pittsboro, North Carolina - 21 schools

An equity score of 48/100 ranks Chatham County Schools #131 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $13,461 per pupil, Chatham County Schools ranks #77 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

9,129
Total Enrollment
21
Schools
$13,461
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, 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 combined, 6 high, 4 elementary, 2 middle 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 Chatham County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,461 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 38.4% local, 46.9% state, and 14.8% 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 48/100, ranked #131 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45, in line with the typical spread seen across the state for how evenly funding reaches its schools.

Academic infrastructure includes 4 of 21 schools offering Advanced Placement (38 AP courses district-wide), a 367.1:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, 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. Its most demographically mixed campus is Sage Academy, with a diversity index of 67.0/100.

Its largest campus is Seaforth High, enrolling 1,088 students (12% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Chatham County Schools Virtual Academy, at 9 students, a 121x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

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 an extreme outlier spread — among the widest gaps observed anywhere in this dataset. 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

48
Equity Score
131 / 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 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.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 50.9/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Sage Academy 67.0
  2. 2 Horton Middle 65.1
  3. 3 Pittsboro Elementary 62.6
  4. 4 North Chatham Elementary 61.8
  5. 5 Moncure School 60.7

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

How Chatham County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Lee County Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Hoke County Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded
Wilkes County Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Stanly County Schools Similar size Similar spending Less locally funded
Duplin County Schools Similar size Lower spending Less locally funded

Comparisons are relative to Chatham 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 Chatham County Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
52,717 students · 81 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Chatham County Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/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 combined, 4 elementary. Total enrollment is 9,129 students.

How much does Chatham County Schools spend per student?

Chatham County Schools spends $13,461 per student. The district has an equity score of 48/100, ranking #131 in North Carolina.

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 48/100, ranking #131 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.