Onslow County Schools

Jacksonville, North Carolina — 40 schools

27,921
Total Enrollment
40
Schools
$11,413
Per-Pupil Spending
Elementary, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Onslow County Schools operates 40 public schools serving 27,921 students, placing it in the mid-size range in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 16 elementary, 8 high, 8 middle, 8 other schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 27,586 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Onslow County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $11,413 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 21.1% local, 57.2% state, and 21.7% 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 $66,133 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 35/100, ranked #188 of 293 in North Carolina against a state average of 45 — measures how evenly funding reaches schools within its boundaries.

Academic infrastructure includes 9 of 40 schools offering Advanced Placement (111 AP courses district-wide), a 473.3:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 35.1% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 53.5% White, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% African American across the district's schools.

Onslow County Schools school enrollment varies 7.6× across entities

Onslow County Schools school enrollment ranges from 189 students (lowest) to 1,441 students (highest), a spread of 1,252 students. That relatively narrow ratio reflects an unusually homogeneous campus portfolio — most districts have a wider mix of school sizes. 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

Onslow County Schools student-counselor ratio is 473:1 — 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

Onslow County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 35.1% — 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?

21.7%
Federal
57.2%
State
21.1%
Local

Funding Equity

35
Equity Score
188 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores below average on funding equity. High reliance on local revenue or lower spending may contribute.

Local Rent Costs

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

$929
Studio/mo
$935
1 BR/mo
$1,173
2 BR/mo
$1,631
3 BR/mo
$1,968
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$66,133
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 40 schools in Onslow County Schools.

White 53.5%
Hispanic or Latino 18.5%
African American 16.0%
Asian 1.0%
Multiracial 10.3%
Other 0.7%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

9 / 40
Schools with AP
111 AP courses total
473.3:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
35.1%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Onslow County Schools

School Enrollment
Jacksonville High
1,441
White Oak High
1,252
Swansboro High
1,232
Dixon High
1,085
Northside High
1,067
Swansboro Middle
1,052
Richlands High
1,027
Dixon Middle
997
Jacksonville Commons Middle
918
Hunters Creek Middle
856
Coastal Elementary
833
Southwest High
803
Trexler Middle
770
Dixon Elementary
760
Southwest Elementary
720
Morton Elementary
715
Queens Creek Elementary
706
Silverdale Elementary
648
Northwoods Park Middle
633
Swansboro Elementary
592
Richlands Elementary
591
Hunters Creek Elementary
585
Stateside Elementary
579
Carolina Forest Elementary
570
Heritage Elementary School
565
Bell Fork Elementary
551
Clear View Elementary
535
Sand Ridge Elementary
527
Meadow View Elementary
520
Southwest Middle
510
Jacksonville Commons Elem
506
Blue Creek Elementary
498
Summersill Elementary
482
New Bridge Middle
482
Parkwood Elementary
457
Northwoods Elementary
439
Onslow Virtual Secondary
421
Clyde Erwin Elementary
283
Onslow Early College
189
Onslow Virtual Elementary
189

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

Compare Onslow 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 Onslow County Schools?

Onslow County Schools has 40 schools, including 8 high, 8 middle, 16 elementary, 8 other. Total enrollment is 27,921 students.

How much does Onslow County Schools spend per student?

Onslow County Schools spends $11,413 per student. The district has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #188 in North Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Onslow County Schools?

The average teacher salary in Onslow County Schools is $66,133 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Onslow County Schools?

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

What is the demographic composition of Onslow County Schools?

Onslow County Schools students are 53.5% White, 18.5% Hispanic or Latino, 16.0% African American, 1.0% Asian, averaged across 40 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Onslow County Schools?

Onslow County Schools has an equity score of 35/100, ranking #188 out of 293 districts in North Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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