Davidson 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.

Lexington, North Carolina - 36 schools

An equity score of 49/100 ranks Davidson County Schools #126 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $10,930 per pupil, Davidson County Schools ranks #199 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

17,964
Total Enrollment
36
Schools
$10,930
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Davidson County Schools operates 36 public schools serving 17,964 students, placing it in the mid-size range in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 20 combined, 9 high, 6 middle, 1 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 Davidson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $10,930 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, in the lower 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 16.2% local, 62.4% state, and 21.3% 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 49/100, ranked #126 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 7 of 36 schools offering Advanced Placement (92 AP courses district-wide), a 322:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 29.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 73.9% White, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Ledford Middle, with a diversity index of 60.7/100.

Its largest campus is Oak Grove High, enrolling 992 students (6% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Davidson County High School, at 64 students, a 16x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Davidson County Schools school enrollment varies 16× across entities

Davidson County Schools school enrollment ranges from 64 students (lowest) to 992 students (highest), a spread of 928 students. That spread reflects typical mixed-portfolio variation between specialty programs and large neighbourhood schools. 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

Davidson County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 50.4% 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). Areas above 75% eligibility receive concentration grants 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

Davidson County Schools student-counselor ratio is 322:1 — 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 Davidson County Schools is typically wider than the Davidson County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Davidson County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 29.1% — 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 Davidson County Schools is typically wider than the Davidson 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?

21.3%
Federal
62.4%
State
16.2%
Local

Funding Equity

49
Equity Score
126 / 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 36 schools in Davidson County Schools.

White 73.9%
Hispanic or Latino 14.3%
African American 5.0%
Asian 1.7%
Multiracial 4.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 41.9/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Ledford Middle 60.7
  2. 2 Ledford Senior High 60.0
  3. 3 Hasty Elementary 56.4
  4. 4 Friendship Elementary 55.6
  5. 5 Wallburg Elementary 48.7

Programs & Resources

7 / 36
Schools with AP
92 AP courses total
322:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
29.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Davidson County Schools

School Enrollment
Oak Grove High
992
North Davidson High
935
Central Davidson High
897
Ledford Senior High
776
West Davidson High
740
Oak Grove Middle
727
Wallburg Elementary
717
East Davidson High
709
North Davidson Middle
706
Central Davidson Middle
686
Ledford Middle
651
South Davidson Middle and High
640
Welcome Elementary
638
Northwest Elementary
625
Southwood Elementary
616
E Lawson Brown Middle
560
Midway Elementary
546
Tyro Middle
528
Fair Grove Elementary
524
Friendship Elementary
470
Friedberg Elementary
468
Churchland Elementary
441
Davis-Townsend Elementary
430
Tyro Elementary
393
Hasty Elementary
385
Denton Elementary
369
Pilot Elementary
321
Southmont Elementary
281
Reeds Elementary
274
Silver Valley Elementary
221
Brier Creek Elementary
210
Yadkin Valley Regional Career Academy
167
Davidson Early College
138
Stoner-Thomas School
91
Davidson County Schools Virtual Academy
69
Davidson County High School
64

How Davidson County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Rowan-Salisbury Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Wayne County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Harnett County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Catawba County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Randolph County School System Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Davidson 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 Davidson County Schools?

Davidson County Schools has 36 schools, including 9 high, 6 middle, 20 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 17,964 students.

How much does Davidson County Schools spend per student?

Davidson County Schools spends $10,930 per student. The district has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #126 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Davidson County Schools?

Davidson County Schools students are 73.9% White, 14.3% Hispanic or Latino, 5.0% African American, 1.7% Asian, averaged across 36 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Davidson County Schools?

Davidson County Schools has an equity score of 49/100, ranking #126 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.