Sampson 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.

Clinton, North Carolina - 18 schools

An equity score of 71/100 ranks Sampson County Schools #42 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $12,503 per pupil, Sampson County Schools ranks #111 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

7,971
Total Enrollment
18
Schools
$12,503
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Sampson County Schools operates 18 public schools serving 7,971 students, placing it among the smaller districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 6 combined, 5 high, 4 middle, 3 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 Sampson County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $12,503 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 14.3% local, 59.9% state, and 25.7% 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 71/100, ranked #42 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.

Academic infrastructure includes 2 of 18 schools offering Advanced Placement (5 AP courses district-wide), a 392.9:1 student-counselor ratio, well above the ASCA benchmark though still under the roughly 408:1 national average, and 40.5% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 46.8% Hispanic or Latino, 32.3% White, 15.6% African American across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Roseboro Elementary, with a diversity index of 71.2/100.

Its largest campus is Midway High, enrolling 726 students (9% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Sampson Early College High, at 229 students, a 3x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Sampson County Schools school enrollment varies 3.2× across entities

Sampson County Schools school enrollment ranges from 229 students (lowest) to 726 students (highest), a spread of 497 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

Sampson County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 99.2% 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 a supermajority of the population — well past the 75% concentration-grant threshold that unlocks extra funding 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

Sampson County Schools student-counselor ratio is 393:1 — 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

Sampson County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 40.5% — 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?

25.7%
Federal
59.9%
State
14.3%
Local

Funding Equity

71
Equity Score
42 / 293
State Rank
45
State Average

This district scores well on funding equity, with balanced funding sources and good resource allocation.

Student Demographics

Average demographic composition across 18 schools in Sampson County Schools.

White 32.3%
Hispanic or Latino 46.8%
African American 15.6%
Multiracial 4.1%
Other 0.9%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 61.5/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Roseboro Elementary 71.2
  2. 2 Roseboro-Salemburg Middle 70.3
  3. 3 Lakewood High 70.1
  4. 4 Salemburg Elementary 64.8
  5. 5 Midway Middle 63.4

Programs & Resources

2 / 18
Schools with AP
5 AP courses total
392.9:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
40.5%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Sampson County Schools

School Enrollment
Midway High
726
Midway Middle
584
Midway Elementary
539
Salemburg Elementary
502
Union High
494
Lakewood High
475
Hobbton High
467
Union Elementary
466
Hobbton Elementary
453
Hobbton Middle
428
Union Intermediate
396
Roseboro-Salemburg Middle
394
Union Middle
374
Roseboro Elementary
369
Clement Elementary
367
Plain View Elementary
362
Hargrove Elementary
361
Sampson Early College High
229

How Sampson County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Franklin County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Carteret County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending More locally funded
Lenoir County Public Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Rutherford County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix
Surry County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

Comparisons are relative to Sampson 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 Sampson County Schools →
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
144,197 students · 180 schools · $11,853/pupil
Compare vs Sampson County Schools →
Guilford County Schools
68,894 students · 126 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Sampson County Schools →
Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools
52,717 students · 81 schools · $13,036/pupil
Compare vs Sampson County Schools →
Cumberland County Schools
49,661 students · 86 schools · $12,412/pupil
Compare vs Sampson County Schools →

Compare Sampson 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 Sampson County Schools?

Sampson County Schools has 18 schools, including 5 high, 4 middle, 6 combined, 3 elementary. Total enrollment is 7,971 students.

How much does Sampson County Schools spend per student?

Sampson County Schools spends $12,503 per student. The district has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #42 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Sampson County Schools?

Sampson County Schools students are 46.8% Hispanic or Latino, 32.3% White, 15.6% African American, 0.3% Asian, averaged across 18 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Sampson County Schools?

Sampson County Schools has an equity score of 71/100, ranking #42 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.