Montgomery 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.

Troy, North Carolina - 11 schools

An equity score of 67/100 ranks Montgomery County Schools #57 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $14,181 per pupil, Montgomery County Schools ranks #58 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

3,663
Total Enrollment
11
Schools
$14,181
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Montgomery County Schools operates 11 public schools serving 3,663 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 2 high, 2 middle, 1 elementary schools, a compact enough portfolio that families can compare every campus directly 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 Montgomery County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $14,181 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 18.8% local, 53.3% state, and 27.9% 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 67/100, ranked #57 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.

a 296.9:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 33.0% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 37.3% White, 35.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Montgomery Learning Academy, with a diversity index of 69.1/100.

Its largest campus is Montgomery Central High, enrolling 846 students (24% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Montgomery Learning Academy, at 54 students, a 16x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Montgomery Central High accounts for 23.1% of all Montgomery County Schools student enrollment

That concentration means Montgomery County Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: high. A single dominant campus often anchors a district's program offerings and staffing patterns; the share helps explain why district-wide averages may not reflect the typical neighbourhood-school experience. When one entity dominates a region's footprint, its programmatic and budget decisions effectively set policy for a majority of the affected population.

Source: NCES Common Core of Data NCES Common Core of Data

Montgomery County Schools school enrollment varies 16× across entities

Montgomery County Schools school enrollment ranges from 54 students (lowest) to 846 students (highest), a spread of 792 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

Montgomery County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 72.9% 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). Eligibility here is approaching the 75% concentration-grant threshold; it does not yet unlock the extra funding tier but sits meaningfully above the baseline 50% majority mark. 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

Montgomery County Schools student-counselor ratio is 297:1 — 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 Montgomery County Schools is typically wider than the Montgomery County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Montgomery County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 33.0% — 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?

27.9%
Federal
53.3%
State
18.8%
Local

Funding Equity

67
Equity Score
57 / 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 11 schools in Montgomery County Schools.

White 37.3%
Hispanic or Latino 35.1%
African American 19.5%
Asian 1.4%
Multiracial 6.4%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 63.4/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Montgomery Learning Academy 69.1
  2. 2 Montgomery Central High 67.9
  3. 3 West Middle 67.8
  4. 4 Montgomery County Early College 67.6
  5. 5 Mount Gilead Elementary 66.6

Programs & Resources

296.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.0%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Montgomery County Schools

School Enrollment
Montgomery Central High
846
East Middle
422
Candor Elementary
368
West Middle
343
Troy Elementary
291
Montgomery County Early College
282
Star Elementary
272
Green Ridge Elementary
271
Page Street Elementary
248
Mount Gilead Elementary
190
Montgomery Learning Academy
54

How Montgomery County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Jackson County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Hickory City Schools Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Bladen County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Transylvania County Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Asheville City Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded

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

Compare Montgomery 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 Montgomery County Schools?

Montgomery County Schools has 11 schools, including 2 high, 2 middle, 6 combined, 1 elementary. Total enrollment is 3,663 students.

How much does Montgomery County Schools spend per student?

Montgomery County Schools spends $14,181 per student. The district has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #57 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Montgomery County Schools?

Montgomery County Schools students are 37.3% White, 35.1% Hispanic or Latino, 19.5% African American, 1.4% Asian, averaged across 11 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Montgomery County Schools?

Montgomery County Schools has an equity score of 67/100, ranking #57 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.