North Carolina school districts by resource index
Watauga County Schools has the highest mean resource index of North Carolina's districts with 500 or more students and at least two schools: 53.9 of 100 across its 11 schools open in 2024-25, with 15.8 students per teacher on average. The index measures staffing, counseling, gifted programs and attendance, not how well students learn.
Resource index 2024-25 × 2021-22 · NCES F-33 fiscal year 2022-23 · districts with 500+ students and 2+ schools · method
The chart draws the top of the register below; its source is named under the register.
The 50 highest district means
| District | Open schools | Students, fall 2022 | Per teacher | Per student | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watauga County Schools | 11 | 4,754 | 15.8 | $13,003 | 53.9 |
| Stokes County Schools | 17 | 5,606 | 14.4 | $12,939 | 53.2 |
| Elkin City Schools | 3 | 1,239 | 15.0 | $13,671 | 53.0 |
| Jones County Schools | 5 | 1,067 | 13.9 | $17,058 | 52.6 |
| Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | 19 | 11,561 | 12.4 | $16,963 | 51.7 |
| Polk County Schools | 7 | 2,166 | 14.4 | $15,041 | 51.3 |
| Davidson County Schools | 35 | 17,964 | 16.2 | $11,178 | 50.5 |
| Transylvania County Schools | 9 | 3,312 | 11.5 | $14,323 | 50.3 |
| Alexander County Schools | 11 | 4,525 | 17.6 | $12,929 | 49.5 |
| Carteret County Public Schools | 17 | 8,081 | 14.2 | $12,846 | 49.4 |
| Wilkes County Schools | 22 | 8,673 | 15.7 | $12,150 | 49.1 |
| Chatham County Schools | 21 | 9,129 | 13.7 | $14,128 | 48.9 |
| Burke County Schools | 27 | 11,770 | 17.0 | $12,261 | 48.8 |
| Lincoln County Schools | 22 | 11,629 | 14.8 | $10,722 | 48.2 |
| Ashe County Schools | 6 | 2,743 | 20.8 | $14,547 | 47.7 |
The other 35 on the list
| District | Open schools | Students, fall 2022 | Per teacher | Per student | Index |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weldon City Schools | 4 | 659 | 23.6 | $24,869 | 47.5 |
| Surry County Schools | 20 | 7,340 | 17.8 | $12,301 | 47.4 |
| New Hanover County Schools | 42 | 25,244 | 14.3 | $13,808 | 47.3 |
| Yancey County Schools | 6 | 2,038 | 13.7 | $14,455 | 47.2 |
| Buncombe County Schools | 45 | 22,091 | 14.9 | $13,585 | 46.7 |
| Wake County Schools | 197 | 159,778 | 14.6 | $11,691 | 46.5 |
| Wilson County Schools | 25 | 10,276 | 16.0 | $12,450 | 46.5 |
| Avery County Schools | 8 | 1,904 | 13.7 | $15,513 | 46.4 |
| Asheville City Schools | 8 | 4,137 | 14.1 | $16,507 | 46.3 |
| Greene County Schools | 6 | 2,668 | 14.2 | $16,157 | 46.0 |
| Orange County Schools | 13 | 7,208 | 14.6 | $14,399 | 45.8 |
| Cherokee County Schools | 13 | 3,146 | 15.0 | $14,303 | 45.8 |
| Stanly County Schools | 23 | 8,643 | 15.9 | $10,914 | 45.7 |
| McDowell County Schools | 14 | 5,776 | 15.7 | $13,112 | 45.6 |
| Jackson County Public Schools | 9 | 3,557 | 19.6 | $13,568 | 45.6 |
| Camden County Schools | 5 | 1,920 | 18.1 | $12,508 | 45.4 |
| Henderson County Schools | 23 | 12,896 | 15.2 | $11,579 | 45.2 |
| Cabarrus County Schools | 43 | 34,810 | 16.9 | $10,749 | 45.0 |
| Durham Public Schools | 54 | 31,531 | 14.6 | $15,239 | 45.0 |
| Haywood County Schools | 15 | 6,605 | 17.6 | $12,458 | 45.0 |
| Gates County Schools | 5 | 1,497 | 15.8 | $15,749 | 45.0 |
| Gaston County Schools | 56 | 30,281 | 15.8 | $12,190 | 45.0 |
| Macon County Schools | 12 | 4,450 | 22.7 | $13,238 | 44.8 |
| Iredell-Statesville Schools | 38 | 20,721 | 16.7 | $11,291 | 44.8 |
| Union County Public Schools | 52 | 41,497 | 15.8 | $11,340 | 44.7 |
| Craven County Schools | 26 | 12,755 | 17.6 | $11,893 | 44.7 |
| Pamlico County Schools | 4 | 1,244 | 12.9 | $17,517 | 44.5 |
| Person County Schools | 11 | 4,374 | 21.6 | $13,682 | 44.5 |
| Whiteville City Schools | 5 | 2,104 | 15.2 | $14,346 | 44.4 |
| Cleveland County Schools | 28 | 14,406 | 15.0 | $12,540 | 44.4 |
| Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | 180 | 144,197 | 16.6 | $12,198 | 44.3 |
| Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools | 12 | 4,834 | 16.5 | $13,931 | 44.3 |
| Northampton County Schools | 6 | 1,291 | 15.4 | $20,303 | 44.2 |
| Moore County Schools | 23 | 13,008 | 16.7 | $11,374 | 44.1 |
| Lee County Schools | 16 | 9,143 | 16.2 | $13,241 | 44.0 |
Source: Resource index 2024-25 × 2021-22, mean over the district's schools open in 2024-25; per teacher: mean of school ratios; students and spending: NCES F-33 fiscal year 2022-23.
More lists for North Carolina
- 01Public schools in North Carolina
The state hub: schools, students, districts
- 02Every school district
Directory, 2024-25
- 03Largest schools
By 2024-25 enrollment
- 04Fewest students per teacher
Schools, 2024-25
- 05Highest-spending districts
F-33 fiscal year 2022-23
- 06Teacher salary spending by district
F-33 fiscal year 2022-23
Questions about North Carolina's districts
Which North Carolina school districts have the most resources?
Watauga County Schools, whose 11 schools average 53.9 of 100 on the PlainSchools resource index, the highest of North Carolina's districts with 500 or more students.How are districts ranked?
By the mean resource index of their schools open in 2024-25. The index averages students per teacher (CCD 2024-25), students per counselor and gifted programs (CRDC 2021-22) and chronic absenteeism (EDFacts 2021-22). Districts need 500 or more students and at least two schools.How many school districts are in North Carolina?
324 districts and other agencies ran at least one North Carolina public school open in 2024-25 (NCES CCD).
Sources
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School membership and staff · 2024-25
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District membership and spending · FY 2022-23