How equitable is school funding in North Carolina?

The average funding equity score for North Carolina school districts is 45 out of 100, compared to the national average of 49. This score considers per-pupil spending, need-adjusted spending, funding source diversity, and student-teacher ratios.

What does the equity score measure?

The equity score (0-100) measures four dimensions: per-pupil spending level, need-adjusted spending (rewarding districts that spend more where poverty is higher), funding diversity (less reliance on local property taxes), and resource access (lower student-teacher ratios).

North Carolina · NCES F-33 finance data

School Funding Equity in North Carolina

293 districts ranked by how equitably school funding is distributed, scored from NCES F-33 school finance data covering districts in all 50 states.

Compiled by PlainSchools Editorial, Independent education-data publisher · June 10, 2026

The equity picture in one line

Tyrrell County Schools ranks first in North Carolina for funding equity at 98/100, in a state whose districts average 45 against a national average of 49.

98/100
top score (Tyrrell County Schools): $21,536
per-pupil spending in the top district: 47
districts scoring 70 or higher: 89
districts below 30

#	District	Enrollment	$/Pupil	Free Lunch	Local Rev %	Score
1	Tyrrell County Schools	499	$21,536	98.1%	8.0%	98
2	Hyde County Schools	475	$26,448	72.0%	16.7%	94
3	Graham County Schools	1,141	$16,563	66.6%	13.7%	91
4	Jones County Schools	1,067	$17,274	98.0%	13.7%	91
5	Greene County Schools	2,668	$15,182	99.1%	11.5%	88
6	Whiteville City Schools	2,104	$14,263	96.9%	16.0%	88
7	Alleghany County Schools	1,421	$15,572	60.0%	14.6%	87
8	Northampton County Schools	1,291	$20,192	89.7%	16.9%	86
9	Pamlico County Schools	1,244	$17,355	86.4%	22.1%	85
10	Gates County Schools	1,497	$16,417	51.3%	17.1%	84
11	Cherokee County Schools	3,146	$15,950	79.5%	20.4%	83
12	Swain County Schools	1,910	$14,269	66.5%	7.7%	83
13	Global Scholars Academy	211	$19,145	97.2%	24.2%	83
14	Martin County Schools	2,636	$14,638	98.9%	16.8%	82
15	Edenton-Chowan Schools	1,917	$14,768	61.6%	15.1%	82
16	Weldon City Schools	659	$19,454	98.0%	20.0%	82
17	Quality Education Academy	673	$15,219	97.6%	19.3%	81
18	Moss Street Partnership School	339	$12,083	99.1%	11.3%	81
19	Edgecombe County Public Schools	5,419	$13,224	94.4%	13.7%	80
20	Bertie County Schools	1,831	$16,069	98.3%	13.1%	80
21	Washington County Schools	1,104	$17,233	98.1%	10.8%	80
22	Community School of Digital and Visual a	217	$14,930	97.7%	25.2%	79
23	Scotland County Schools	5,624	$14,867	98.3%	17.3%	78
24	Caswell County Schools	2,250	$13,976	87.0%	10.9%	78
25	Halifax County Schools	2,173	$16,759	98.4%	16.0%	77
26	Madison County Schools	2,108	$14,773	59.9%	17.7%	77
27	Clay County Schools	1,314	$14,506	55.6%	12.5%	77
28	Beaufort County Schools	5,975	$14,227	94.7%	21.1%	76
29	Anson County Schools	2,964	$14,107	98.6%	15.2%	76
30	Arapahoe Charter School	484	$14,031	53.3%	16.7%	76
31	D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy	215	$14,519	93.0%	23.0%	76
32	Rutherford County Schools	7,527	$14,170	99.0%	22.0%	75
33	Columbus County Schools	5,335	$12,909	98.9%	13.5%	74
34	Bladen County Schools	3,983	$13,797	98.4%	14.4%	74
35	Movement Charter School	640	$12,914	99.5%	22.5%	74
36	Hertford County Schools	2,486	$14,364	98.6%	17.0%	73
37	Next Generation Academy	434	$14,144	95.6%	20.3%	73
38	Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington	385	$13,789	99.2%	28.8%	73
39	Lenoir County Public Schools	8,334	$12,373	98.8%	11.9%	72
40	Richmond County Schools	6,678	$12,389	98.8%	14.0%	72
41	Lexington City Schools	2,999	$13,565	97.9%	20.5%	72
42	Sampson County Schools	7,971	$12,503	99.2%	14.3%	71
43	Polk County Schools	2,166	$15,096	68.8%	30.0%	71
44	Warren County Schools	1,801	$16,222	98.0%	18.0%	71
45	Rise Southeast Raleigh Charter School	479	$13,037	99.4%	27.8%	71
46	Hoke County Schools	8,920	$11,383	99.0%	9.6%	70
47	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	4,834	$13,245	92.9%	18.8%	70
48	Cumberland County Schools	49,661	$12,412	84.1%	16.5%	69
49	Kannapolis City Schools	5,390	$12,268	99.0%	19.9%	69
50	Ashe County Schools	2,743	$13,780	56.7%	15.5%	69
51	Avery County Schools	1,904	$15,311	57.4%	31.0%	69
52	Mitchell County Schools	1,722	$13,939	52.5%	18.5%	69
53	Sallie B Howard School	1,204	$13,609	98.8%	18.2%	69
54	Public Schools of Robeson County	21,206	$12,594	97.6%	11.8%	68
55	Yancey County Schools	2,038	$14,275	55.6%	18.4%	68
56	Carteret County Public Schools	8,081	$13,086	83.2%	26.2%	67
57	Montgomery County Schools	3,663	$14,181	72.9%	18.8%	67
58	Mount Airy City Schools	1,726	$12,873	76.0%	17.2%	67
59	Movement School Eastland	400	$13,913	96.8%	22.6%	67
60	Appalachian State U Academy Middle Fork	261	$17,964	67.4%	20.0%	67
61	Lee County Schools	9,143	$12,250	65.7%	16.8%	66
62	Vance County Schools	5,269	$12,944	93.3%	15.4%	66
63	Asheboro City Schools	4,383	$12,643	70.6%	20.2%	66
64	Perquimans County Schools	1,665	$13,955	57.6%	17.3%	66
65	Kipp Halifax College Preparatory	591	$12,110	97.3%	8.5%	66
66	Durham Public Schools	31,531	$14,937	65.9%	34.5%	65
67	Kipp Gaston College Preparatory	1,286	$11,654	97.7%	6.2%	65
68	Rockingham County Schools	11,189	$12,295	71.3%	16.4%	64
69	Mcdowell County Schools	5,776	$12,857	60.5%	16.9%	64
70	Transylvania County Schools	3,312	$13,904	59.4%	30.7%	64
71	Clinton City Schools	3,051	$11,956	99.4%	19.2%	64
72	Roanoke Rapids City Schools	2,765	$12,783	99.1%	17.4%	64
73	Thomasville City Schools	2,228	$13,257	98.8%	21.0%	64
74	Wayne County Public Schools	17,558	$11,752	95.0%	11.4%	63
75	Surry County Schools	7,340	$12,638	60.9%	15.6%	63
76	Alexander County Schools	4,525	$12,879	56.0%	16.3%	63
77	Jackson County Public Schools	3,557	$13,534	62.2%	23.8%	63
78	Mina Charter School of Lee County	474	$10,166	91.1%	15.3%	63
79	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	52,717	$13,036	75.3%	25.3%	62
80	Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools	11,561	$16,534	33.5%	46.2%	62
81	Elkin City Schools	1,239	$12,606	35.1%	18.3%	62
82	New Hanover County Schools	25,244	$13,724	66.9%	29.4%	61
83	Caldwell County Schools	10,758	$11,644	66.1%	16.5%	61
84	Guilford County Schools	68,894	$13,036	72.4%	24.4%	60
85	Person County Schools	4,374	$13,423	76.7%	23.3%	60
86	Dillard Academy	277	$12,587	97.1%	9.4%	60
87	Alamance-Burlington Schools	22,489	$12,211	65.4%	18.4%	59
88	Cleveland County Schools	14,406	$11,957	78.8%	21.4%	59
89	Durham Charter School	643	$14,728	99.1%	25.3%	59
90	Ridgeview Charter School	254	$10,573	92.1%	11.4%	59
91	Duplin County Schools	9,905	$10,965	99.5%	11.3%	58
92	Asheville City Schools	4,137	$15,998	42.2%	45.0%	58
93	West Lake Preparatory Academy	428	$15,827	30.1%	30.4%	58
94	Wilkes County Schools	8,673	$12,156	86.4%	20.8%	57
95	Haywood County Schools	6,605	$12,690	72.9%	25.5%	57
96	Hickory City Schools	3,877	$11,646	67.8%	18.9%	57
97	Carter G Woodson School	451	$12,892	95.1%	18.0%	57
98	Pitt County Schools	24,091	$11,733	77.4%	20.2%	56
99	Buncombe County Schools	22,091	$13,190	56.0%	29.2%	56
100	Burke County Schools	11,770	$11,845	67.2%	15.2%	56
101	Orange County Schools	7,208	$14,085	50.0%	38.0%	56
102	Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville	879	$11,852	93.5%	6.8%	56
103	Harnett County Schools	20,050	$11,026	63.5%	13.4%	55
104	Randolph County School System	15,383	$11,621	57.8%	16.0%	55
105	Nash County Public Schools	14,469	$12,090	72.7%	14.1%	55
106	Yadkin County Schools	5,243	$12,232	57.4%	17.5%	55
107	Macon County Schools	4,450	$13,154	60.7%	20.4%	55
108	Wayne Preparatory	1,015	$10,152	-	12.1%	55
109	Bethel Hill Charter	356	$10,249	46.6%	15.0%	55
110	Stokes County Schools	5,606	$13,084	56.0%	22.6%	54
111	Newton Conover City Schools	2,856	$11,901	55.7%	20.7%	54
112	Southern Wake Academy	579	$12,016	-	20.5%	54
113	Craven County Schools	12,755	$11,737	64.9%	18.0%	53
114	North East Carolina Preparatory School	909	$10,958	66.7%	7.0%	53
115	Central Park School for Children	594	$14,327	32.8%	32.6%	53
116	Pocosin Innovative Charter	234	$10,291	-	8.5%	53
117	Franklin County Schools	7,897	$12,156	62.8%	23.3%	52
118	Rocky Mount Preparatory	1,022	$10,585	95.3%	11.6%	52
119	Rowan-Salisbury Schools	18,225	$11,832	68.7%	18.6%	51
120	Brunswick County Schools	12,944	$12,819	99.3%	34.5%	51
121	Dare County Schools	5,181	$13,375	41.8%	36.1%	51
122	Cabarrus Charter Academy	669	$11,385	53.7%	24.8%	51
123	Maureen Joy Charter	616	$14,827	67.7%	26.0%	51
124	Kipp Durham College Preparatory	311	$12,597	96.8%	27.1%	50
125	Gaston County Schools	30,281	$11,409	68.1%	16.3%	49
126	Davidson County Schools	17,964	$10,930	50.4%	16.2%	49
127	Stanly County Schools	8,643	$11,496	74.9%	18.7%	49
128	Davie County Schools	6,114	$11,624	50.1%	23.9%	49
129	Henderson Collegiate	1,320	$10,015	98.6%	13.6%	49
130	Wilson County Schools	10,276	$12,063	81.3%	21.1%	48
131	Chatham County Schools	9,129	$13,461	44.7%	38.4%	48
132	The Experiential School of Greensboro	339	$10,634	-	20.7%	48
133	Apprentice Academy Hs of Nc	249	$11,115	-	20.2%	48
134	Henderson County Schools	12,896	$11,469	52.0%	21.8%	46
135	Watauga County Schools	4,754	$12,698	37.7%	27.9%	46
136	Camden County Schools	1,920	$12,277	22.3%	18.1%	46
137	Artspace Charter	398	$11,255	-	22.1%	46
138	Eastside Stream Academy	289	$10,694	68.2%	15.9%	46
139	Island Montessori Charter	215	$11,820	-	26.8%	46
140	Emereau: Bladen	580	$8,711	-	15.0%	45
141	Kestrel Heights School	424	$12,439	50.2%	32.8%	45
142	Reaching All Minds Academy	400	$11,833	-	27.5%	45
143	Granville County Schools	6,748	$12,049	65.4%	22.5%	44
144	Vance Charter School	954	$10,039	-	15.6%	44
145	Johnston County Public Schools	37,286	$10,788	54.3%	20.7%	43
146	Millennium Charter Academy	687	$9,447	-	18.6%	43
147	Stewart Creek High School	238	$13,328	-	13.5%	43
148	Wake County Schools	159,778	$11,859	38.4%	28.9%	42
149	Catawba County Schools	15,678	$11,517	50.9%	22.3%	42
150	Moore County Schools	13,008	$11,242	45.9%	23.6%	42
151	Pender County Schools	10,941	$11,305	51.1%	22.0%	42
152	The College Preparatory and Leadership a	821	$11,472	96.2%	20.0%	42
153	The Exploris School	447	$11,508	-	28.3%	42
154	A.C.E. Academy	419	$12,351	57.0%	26.3%	42
155	United Community School	247	$11,320	-	27.3%	42
156	Sugar Creek Charter	1,588	$11,551	96.5%	23.4%	41
157	Bear Grass Charter School	433	$10,067	-	17.8%	41
158	Crosscreek Charter School	396	$9,723	-	22.0%	41
159	Southeastern Academy	218	$8,734	-	7.9%	41
160	Wilmington School of the Arts	201	$11,983	48.3%	21.1%	41
161	Falls Lake Academy	1,104	$10,029	-	24.9%	40
162	Charlotte Lab School	991	$11,031	32.4%	32.5%	40
163	Kipp: Charlotte	944	$10,346	96.6%	26.0%	40
164	Willow Oak Montessori	283	$10,670	-	29.1%	40
165	Commonwealth High School	241	$18,861	-	20.1%	40
166	Lincoln County Schools	11,629	$10,582	49.9%	22.4%	39
167	Hobgood Charter School	404	$11,103	-	15.7%	39
168	Central Wake Charter High School	220	$14,114	-	18.3%	39
169	Onslow County Schools	27,921	$10,680	46.7%	21.1%	38
170	Shining Rock Classical Academy	604	$9,591	-	24.9%	38
171	The Expedition School	361	$11,687	-	31.4%	38
172	Invest Collegiate - Imagine	1,248	$9,954	-	27.2%	37
173	Alpha Academy	1,126	$10,918	54.6%	17.2%	37
174	Woods Charter School	508	$10,945	-	35.7%	37
175	Lake Lure Classical Academy	442	$11,825	-	19.8%	37
176	Lakeside Charter Academy	235	$10,927	-	30.5%	37
177	Triad Math and Science Academy	1,321	$11,565	96.2%	28.4%	36
178	Forsyth Academy	759	$12,733	78.0%	-	36
179	Evergreen Community Charter	441	$12,060	-	34.0%	36
180	Summit Charter	292	$14,623	-	42.2%	36
181	North Carolina Cyber Academy	2,372	$8,974	-	7.7%	35
182	Longleaf School of the Arts	406	$10,245	-	29.4%	35
183	Magellan Charter	406	$11,380	-	33.5%	35
184	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	144,197	$11,853	58.5%	32.2%	34
185	Mooresville Graded School District	5,971	$11,157	41.2%	35.2%	34
186	Currituck County Schools	4,514	$11,948	31.9%	30.7%	34
187	Langtree Charter Academy	1,531	$9,913	24.9%	26.7%	34
188	Voyager Academy	1,361	$10,735	23.1%	36.4%	34
189	Mallard Creek Stem Academy	961	$10,808	48.7%	28.6%	34
190	The Capitol Encore Academy	725	$8,995	57.2%	14.5%	34
191	The Franklin School of Innovation	694	$9,575	-	26.0%	34
192	Washington Montessori	403	$9,544	-	27.5%	34
193	Eno River Academy	782	$10,627	-	31.7%	33
194	The New Dimensions School	535	$9,247	-	19.4%	33
195	Union County Public Schools	41,497	$11,010	39.9%	28.9%	32
196	Iredell-Statesville Schools	20,721	$10,865	46.9%	24.6%	32
197	Invest Collegiate	324	$14,429	-	25.0%	32
198	Oxford Preparatory School	851	$8,449	-	20.4%	31
199	Carolina International School	731	$10,033	-	26.9%	31
200	Cardinal Charter	700	$7,990	34.4%	26.3%	31
201	The Hawbridge School	585	$8,927	-	26.7%	31
202	Summit Creek Academy	560	$12,475	66.8%	-	31
203	Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy	1,360	$10,093	-	21.4%	30
204	American Renaissance School	757	$9,585	42.3%	24.4%	30
205	Research Triangle Charter	693	$12,058	68.3%	-	29
206	Roxboro Community School	688	$9,025	-	22.9%	29
207	Arts Based School	579	$11,203	-	29.3%	29
208	Cape Fear Center for Inquiry	409	$10,627	-	38.1%	29
209	Cabarrus County Schools	34,810	$10,831	45.4%	30.2%	28
210	Wilson Preparatory Academy	807	$6,733	59.2%	16.8%	28
211	Envision Science Academy	741	$9,505	-	29.6%	28
212	Chatham Charter	574	$9,725	22.3%	31.1%	28
213	Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County	547	$9,055	-	21.5%	28
214	Alamance Community School	532	$9,724	-	16.7%	28
215	Old Main Stream	280	$8,775	36.4%	13.8%	28
216	Nc Virtual Academy	3,047	$7,459	-	8.4%	27
217	Bethany Community School	649	$8,317	-	16.9%	27
218	Raleigh Charter High School	564	$9,547	-	94.3%	27
219	Northeast Academy of Aerospace & Advtech	756	$9,246	28.6%	19.8%	26
220	Gray Stone Day School	751	$7,404	-	19.3%	26
221	Pioneer Springs Community School	527	$9,260	-	32.4%	26
222	Youngsville Academy	526	$6,693	-	20.3%	26
223	Telra Institute	467	$13,000	7.5%	31.1%	26
224	The Institute for the Development of You	397	$11,885	-	25.8%	26
225	Neuse Charter School	904	$9,216	-	19.1%	25
226	Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss	809	$8,981	-	24.5%	25
227	Endeavor Charter	767	$10,151	-	33.1%	25
228	Iredell Charter Academy	627	$9,783	45.3%	22.3%	25
229	Research Triangle High School	582	$9,584	-	32.1%	25
230	Raleigh Oak Charter School	303	$12,215	-	35.5%	25
231	Lincoln Charter School	2,263	$9,167	-	21.3%	24
232	East Wake Academy	1,227	$9,321	-	28.1%	24
233	River Mill Academy	771	$8,715	-	24.4%	24
234	Preeminent Charter School	702	$10,951	77.8%	-	24
235	The Academy of Moore County	473	$8,708	-	19.7%	24
236	Brevard Academy	413	$11,340	-	26.4%	24
237	Franklin Academy	1,651	$8,124	-	30.1%	23
238	Classical Charter Schools of Leland	1,000	$11,521	-	26.9%	23
239	Jackson Day School	817	$11,655	-	37.2%	23
240	Clover Garden	685	$10,222	-	21.7%	23
241	Community Public Charter	607	$7,841	-	16.9%	23
242	Anderson Creek Academy	288	$7,671	-	15.6%	23
243	Bradford Preparatory School	1,511	$8,322	-	32.7%	22
244	The Math and Science Academy of Charlott	790	$10,786	37.6%	27.4%	22
245	Carolina Charter Academy: Cfa	755	$8,162	-	21.7%	22
246	Gate City Charter Academy	683	$10,608	74.2%	34.5%	22
247	Guilford Preparatory Academy	551	$9,477	97.3%	32.3%	21
248	Uwharrie Charter Academy	1,910	$7,862	-	21.0%	20
249	Piedmont Community Charter	1,906	$7,697	-	25.8%	20
250	Southwest Charlotte Stem Academy	817	$9,534	43.8%	27.5%	20
251	Faith Academy	601	$8,931	-	21.0%	20
252	Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy	390	$9,779	-	39.5%	20
253	Doral Academy North Carolina	333	$11,687	32.1%	39.6%	20
254	Pinnacle Classical Academy	1,132	$7,366	-	18.5%	19
255	Sterling Montessori Academy	620	$10,966	-	31.0%	19
256	Discovery Charter School	332	$11,000	-	31.9%	19
257	Socrates Academy	864	$9,780	-	29.9%	18
258	Winterville Charter Academy	592	$10,447	56.1%	-	18
259	Fernleaf Community Charter School	520	$9,636	-	27.1%	18
260	Mountain Island Charter	1,703	$9,750	21.4%	32.6%	17
261	Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai	1,060	$8,828	35.0%	27.8%	17
262	Wake Forest Charter Academy	636	$9,860	36.3%	-	17
263	Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls	786	$7,251	37.8%	27.0%	16
264	Classical Charter Schools of Southport	614	$10,529	-	28.5%	16
265	Davidson Charter Academy	589	$7,804	-	26.0%	16
266	Pine Lake Preparatory	1,879	$9,334	-	35.9%	15
267	Community School of Davidson	1,501	$9,842	-	34.3%	15
268	Cornerstone Charter Academy	1,337	$8,143	-	31.6%	15
269	Concord Lake Steam Academy	603	$8,579	59.2%	25.6%	15
270	Piedmont Classical High School	426	$8,626	-	31.3%	15
271	Moore Montessori Community School	210	$10,533	-	34.6%	15
272	Phoenix Academy Inc	1,258	$7,003	-	22.8%	14
273	Matthews Charter Academy	759	$10,006	48.7%	-	14
274	Union Academy Charter School	2,129	$8,019	-	32.5%	13
275	Corvian Community School	1,294	$10,235	-	37.3%	13
276	American Leadership Academy-Coastal	777	$10,317	-	30.2%	13
277	Casa Esperanza Montessori	615	$10,445	-	39.1%	13
278	Union Day School	552	$8,000	-	28.6%	13
279	Excelsior Classical Academy	987	$9,772	-	32.4%	12
280	Pine Springs Preparatory Academy	1,243	$7,147	-	32.9%	11
281	Nc Leadership Charter Academy	1,123	$8,494	-	30.3%	11
282	Steele Creek Preparatory Academy	513	$7,926	54.0%	31.0%	11
283	Lake Norman Charter	2,215	$9,064	-	39.7%	10
284	Triangle Math and Science Academy	1,276	$10,109	-	35.0%	10
285	Peak Charter Academy	767	$9,420	11.3%	-	10
286	Rolesville Charter Academy	632	$9,508	40.7%	-	10
287	Unity Classical Charter School	606	$9,382	-	30.5%	10
288	Summerfield Charter Academy	777	$9,304	14.5%	-	9
289	Johnston Charter Academy	679	$9,086	38.9%	-	9
290	Greensboro Academy	766	$9,225	-	-	7
291	Revolution Academy	724	$6,324	-	29.8%	6
292	Bonnie Cone Classical Academy	879	$8,511	-	32.8%	5
293	Queen's Grant Community School	1,331	$8,441	34.8%	-	4

How the Equity Score Works

The equity score (0-100) evaluates four dimensions of school funding fairness. According to the National Center for Education Statistics F-33 Finance Survey (FY 2021-22, released in 2024), which covers more than 17,000 districts nationwide, local property wealth drives most of the spending differences the score captures; our methodology documents each weight:

Per-Pupil Spending (0-25)

Higher spending relative to peers

Need-Adjusted Spending (0-25)

Spending weighted by poverty level, rewards districts that spend more where need is greatest

Funding Diversity (0-25)

Less reliance on local property taxes, more state/federal support

Resource Access (0-25)

Lower student-teacher ratios = more individualized attention

National Equity Rankings → ← Back to North Carolina

Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.