Lenoir County Public Schools

Kinston, North Carolina — 17 schools

8,334
Total Enrollment
17
Schools
$12,624
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Lenoir County Public Schools operates 17 public schools serving 8,334 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 7 other, 4 high, 3 middle, 3 elementary schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 8,331 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Lenoir County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,624 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 11.9% local, 65.3% state, and 22.9% 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 $71,837 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 67/100, ranked #52 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 3 of 17 schools offering Advanced Placement (13 AP courses district-wide), a 335.5:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 44.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 45.6% African American, 30.9% White, 16.9% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools.

Lenoir County Public Schools school enrollment varies 15× across entities

Lenoir County Public Schools school enrollment ranges from 66 students (lowest) to 957 students (highest), a spread of 891 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

Lenoir County Public Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 98.8% 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 — including this one — 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

Lenoir County Public Schools student-counselor ratio is 336:1 — 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 Lenoir County Public Schools is typically wider than the Lenoir County Public Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Lenoir County Public Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 44.5% — high (typically associated with higher-than-average disruption; recent CRDC data showed elevated rates persisting after pandemic-era schooling changes)

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

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

Where does the funding come from?

22.9%
Federal
65.3%
State
11.9%
Local

Funding Equity

67
Equity Score
52 / 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 Lenoir County county, where this district is located.

$727
Studio/mo
$732
1 BR/mo
$925
2 BR/mo
$1,241
3 BR/mo
$1,441
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$71,837
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 17 schools in Lenoir County Public Schools.

White 30.9%
Hispanic or Latino 16.9%
African American 45.6%
Asian 0.9%
Multiracial 5.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

3 / 17
Schools with AP
13 AP courses total
335.5:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
44.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Lenoir County Public Schools

School Enrollment
North Lenoir High
957
Contentnea-Savannah School
789
South Lenoir High
721
Kinston High
659
Woodington Middle
584
La Grange Elementary
547
Rochelle Middle
517
Northwest Elementary
504
E B Frink Middle
488
Northeast Elementary
465
Pink Hill Elementary
437
Banks Elementary
436
Moss Hill Elementary
371
Southeast Elementary
326
Lenoir County Early College High
246
Southwood Elementary
218
Lenoir County Learning Academy
66

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 Lenoir County Public Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $15,997/pupil
Compare vs Lenoir County Public Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,788/pupil
Compare vs Lenoir County Public Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,982/pupil
Compare vs Lenoir County Public Schools →

Compare Lenoir County Public 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 Lenoir County Public Schools?

Lenoir County Public Schools has 17 schools, including 4 high, 7 other, 3 middle, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 8,334 students.

How much does Lenoir County Public Schools spend per student?

Lenoir County Public Schools spends $12,624 per student. The district has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #52 in North Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Lenoir County Public Schools?

The average teacher salary in Lenoir County Public Schools is $71,837 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Lenoir County Public Schools?

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

What is the demographic composition of Lenoir County Public Schools?

Lenoir County Public Schools students are 45.6% African American, 30.9% White, 16.9% Hispanic or Latino, 0.9% Asian, averaged across 17 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Lenoir County Public Schools?

Lenoir County Public Schools has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #52 out of 293 districts in North Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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