Surry County Schools

Dobson, North Carolina — 20 schools

7,340
Total Enrollment
20
Schools
$13,317
Per-Pupil Spending
Other, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Surry County Schools operates 20 public schools serving 7,340 students, placing it in the mid-size range in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 12 other, 4 high, 4 middle schools, giving families a clear picture of grade-band coverage before they move, rent, or enrol. Aggregated across those campuses, enrollment totals 7,318 pupils using the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2022-23 release, and the district is geographically located in Surry County County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $13,317 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 15.6% local, 60.1% state, and 24.3% 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 $74,402 per NCES F-33, a signal of the district's ability to recruit and retain staff against neighbouring districts. The district's equity score — 61/100, ranked #78 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 20 schools offering Advanced Placement (14 AP courses district-wide), a 337.8:1 student-counselor ratio, above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 33.6% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 67.4% White, 26.4% Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% African American across the district's schools.

Surry County Schools school enrollment varies 6.5× across entities

Surry County Schools school enrollment ranges from 121 students (lowest) to 792 students (highest), a spread of 671 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

Surry County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 60.9% 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). 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

Surry County Schools student-counselor ratio is 338:1 — 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 Surry County Schools is typically wider than the Surry County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Surry County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 33.6% — 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?

24.3%
Federal
60.1%
State
15.6%
Local

Funding Equity

61
Equity Score
78 / 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 Surry County county, where this district is located.

$700
Studio/mo
$705
1 BR/mo
$925
2 BR/mo
$1,109
3 BR/mo
$1,406
4 BR/mo

Average Teacher Salary

$74,402
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 20 schools in Surry County Schools.

White 67.4%
Hispanic or Latino 26.4%
African American 1.8%
Multiracial 4.0%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Programs & Resources

3 / 20
Schools with AP
14 AP courses total
337.8:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.6%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Surry County Schools

School Enrollment
North Surry High
792
Surry Central High
679
East Surry High
576
Central Middle
502
Franklin Elementary
473
Pilot Mountain Middle
401
Pilot Mountain Elementary
353
Dobson Elementary
350
Cedar Ridge Elementary
348
Rockford Elementary
335
White Plains Elementary
328
J Sam Gentry Middle
320
Meadowview Magnet Middle
318
Surry Early College
296
Copeland Elementary
274
Shoals Elementary
235
Flat Rock Elementary
217
Westfield Elementary
212
Mountain Park Elementary
188
Surry Online Magnet School
121

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

Compare Surry 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 Surry County Schools?

Surry County Schools has 20 schools, including 4 high, 4 middle, 12 other. Total enrollment is 7,340 students.

How much does Surry County Schools spend per student?

Surry County Schools spends $13,317 per student. The district has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #78 in North Carolina.

What is the average teacher salary in Surry County Schools?

The average teacher salary in Surry County Schools is $74,402 per year, according to the NCES CCD F-33 Finance Survey.

What is the average rent near Surry County Schools?

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

What is the demographic composition of Surry County Schools?

Surry County Schools students are 67.4% White, 26.4% Hispanic or Latino, 1.8% African American, 0.5% Asian, averaged across 20 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Surry County Schools?

Surry County Schools has an equity score of 61/100, ranking #78 out of 293 districts in North Carolina. This score measures resource distribution fairness across schools in the district.

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