Washington 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.

Plymouth, North Carolina - 5 schools

An equity score of 80/100 ranks Washington County Schools #21 of 293 districts in North Carolina (state average 45). Derived live from how evenly resources are distributed across the district's schools.

At $17,233 per pupil, Washington County Schools ranks #18 of 322 North Carolina districts by per-pupil spending (North Carolina districts). NCES F-33 finance data.

1,104
Total Enrollment
5
Schools
$17,233
Per-Pupil Spending
Combined, High
School Types

District-Level NCES Analysis

Washington County Schools operates 5 public schools serving 1,104 students, placing it among the smallest districts in North Carolina. The school portfolio breaks down into 2 combined, 2 high, 1 middle schools, a small enough portfolio that most families will interact with nearly every campus in the district at some point. These enrollment and school figures come from the NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) 2024-25 release, and the district is based in Washington County.

Per-pupil expenditure runs $17,233 according to the NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey, among the top 33 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 10.8% local, 59.0% state, and 30.3% 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 80/100, ranked #21 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 272.4:1 student-counselor ratio, somewhat above the 250:1 ASCA recommendation, and 33.3% chronic absenteeism from the 2021-22 Civil Rights Data Collection. Demographically, the student body averages 76.8% African American, 9.5% White, 8.4% Hispanic or Latino across the district's schools. Its most demographically mixed campus is Washington Early College High, with a diversity index of 46.6/100.

Its largest campus is Pines Elementary, enrolling 502 students (37% of the district's total enrollment). Its smallest is Washington Early College High, at 72 students, a 7x enrollment spread across the district's campuses.

Pines Elementary accounts for 36.9% of all Washington County Schools student enrollment

That dominant concentration means Washington County Schools-wide averages can mask substantial variation outside the dominant entity. Grade band: combined. 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

Washington County Schools school enrollment varies 7.0× across entities

Washington County Schools school enrollment ranges from 72 students (lowest) to 502 students (highest), a spread of 430 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

Washington County Schools has higher-than-average Title I eligibility — 98.1% 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

Washington County Schools student-counselor ratio is 272:1 — 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 Washington County Schools is typically wider than the Washington County Schools-aggregate figure suggests.

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

Washington County Schools chronic absenteeism rate is 33.3% — 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?

30.3%
Federal
59.0%
State
10.8%
Local

Funding Equity

80
Equity Score
21 / 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 5 schools in Washington County Schools.

White 9.5%
Hispanic or Latino 8.4%
African American 76.8%
Asian 0.8%
Multiracial 4.5%

Source: NCES CCD School Membership 2024-25.

Student-body diversity

Average diversity index 38.7/100

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

Most mixed schools

  1. 1 Washington Early College High 46.6
  2. 2 Pines Elementary 39.9
  3. 3 Washington County High 29.7

Programs & Resources

272.4:1
Student-Counselor Ratio
33.3%
Chronically Absent

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

Schools in Washington County Schools

School Enrollment
Pines Elementary
502
Washington County High
450
Washington County Middle
219
Creswell Elementary
119
Washington Early College High
72

How Washington County Schools Compares to Similar-Size Districts

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

District Enrollment Spending Funding Mix
Falls Lake Academy Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Nc Leadership Charter Academy Similar size Lower spending More locally funded
Alpha Academy Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Pinnacle Classical Academy Similar size Lower spending Similar funding mix
Graham County Schools Similar size Similar spending Similar funding mix

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

Compare Washington 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 Washington County Schools?

Washington County Schools has 5 schools, including 2 combined, 2 high, 1 middle. Total enrollment is 1,104 students.

How much does Washington County Schools spend per student?

Washington County Schools spends $17,233 per student. The district has an equity score of 80/100, ranking #21 in North Carolina.

What is the demographic composition of Washington County Schools?

Washington County Schools students are 76.8% African American, 9.5% White, 8.4% Hispanic or Latino, 0.8% Asian, averaged across 5 schools. Source: NCES CCD Membership 2024-25.

What is the equity score for Washington County Schools?

Washington County Schools has an equity score of 80/100, ranking #21 out of 293 districts in North Carolina.