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

297 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, Education-data publisher · August 26, 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): $23,232
per-pupil spending in the top district: 52
districts scoring 70 or higher: 91
districts below 30

#	District	Enrollment	$/Pupil	Free Lunch	Local Rev %	Score
1	Tyrrell County Schools	499	$23,232	98.1%	8.0%	98
2	Hyde County Schools	475	$25,648	72.0%	16.7%	94
3	Graham County Schools	1,141	$16,628	66.6%	13.7%	91
4	Jones County Schools	1,067	$17,058	98.0%	13.7%	91
5	Greene County Schools	2,668	$16,157	99.1%	11.5%	88
6	Whiteville City Schools	2,104	$14,346	96.9%	16.0%	88
7	Moss Street Partnership School	339	$13,354	99.1%	11.3%	87
8	Northampton County Schools	1,291	$20,303	89.7%	16.9%	86
9	Swain County Schools	1,910	$14,518	66.5%	7.7%	84
10	Pamlico County Schools	1,244	$17,517	86.4%	22.1%	84
11	Alleghany County Schools	1,421	$14,685	60.0%	14.6%	83
12	Arapahoe Charter School	484	$15,975	53.3%	16.7%	83
13	Global Scholars Academy	211	$17,801	97.2%	24.2%	83
14	Martin County Schools	2,636	$15,333	98.9%	16.8%	82
15	Edenton-Chowan Schools	1,917	$15,037	61.6%	15.1%	82
16	Weldon City Schools	659	$24,869	98.0%	20.0%	82
17	Edgecombe County Public Schools	5,419	$13,702	94.4%	13.7%	81
18	Bertie County Schools	1,831	$16,650	98.3%	13.1%	81
19	Gates County Schools	1,497	$15,749	51.3%	17.1%	81
20	Washington County Schools	1,104	$17,309	98.1%	10.8%	80
21	D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy	215	$17,312	93.0%	23.0%	80
22	Bladen County Schools	3,983	$16,306	98.4%	14.4%	79
23	Anson County Schools	2,964	$16,070	98.6%	15.2%	79
24	Columbus County Schools	5,335	$14,006	98.9%	13.5%	78
25	Madison County Schools	2,108	$15,167	59.9%	17.7%	78
26	Community School of Digital and Visual a	217	$15,212	97.7%	25.2%	78
27	Cherokee County Schools	3,146	$14,303	79.5%	20.4%	77
28	Caswell County Schools	2,250	$14,044	87.0%	10.9%	77
29	Kipp Gaston College Preparatory	1,286	$13,871	97.7%	6.2%	77
30	Quality Education Academy	673	$14,184	97.6%	19.3%	77
31	Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington	385	$15,623	99.2%	28.8%	77
32	Ridgeview Charter School	254	$13,150	92.1%	11.4%	77
33	Hertford County Schools	2,486	$16,424	98.6%	17.0%	76
34	Halifax County Schools	2,173	$16,927	98.4%	16.0%	76
35	Rutherford County Schools	7,527	$14,515	99.0%	22.0%	75
36	Kipp Halifax College Preparatory	591	$13,826	97.3%	8.5%	75
37	Lenoir County Public Schools	8,334	$12,902	98.8%	11.9%	74
38	Beaufort County Schools	5,975	$13,749	94.7%	21.1%	74
39	Clay County Schools	1,314	$14,228	55.6%	12.5%	74
40	Scotland County Schools	5,624	$13,710	98.3%	17.3%	73
41	Vance County Schools	5,269	$14,592	93.3%	15.4%	73
42	Ashe County Schools	2,743	$14,547	56.7%	15.5%	72
43	Warren County Schools	1,801	$17,499	98.0%	18.0%	72
44	Hoke County Schools	8,920	$11,704	99.0%	9.6%	71
45	Richmond County Schools	6,678	$12,661	98.8%	14.0%	71
46	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	4,834	$13,931	92.9%	18.8%	71
47	Lexington City Schools	2,999	$13,684	97.9%	20.5%	71
48	Movement Charter School	640	$12,698	99.5%	22.5%	71
49	Lee County Schools	9,143	$13,241	65.7%	16.8%	70
50	Polk County Schools	2,166	$15,041	68.8%	30.0%	70
51	Mitchell County Schools	1,722	$14,405	52.5%	18.5%	70
52	Rise Southeast Raleigh Charter School	479	$13,326	99.4%	27.8%	70
53	Avery County Schools	1,904	$15,513	57.4%	31.0%	69
54	Sampson County Schools	7,971	$12,239	99.2%	14.3%	68
55	Mount Airy City Schools	1,726	$13,250	76.0%	17.2%	68
56	Public Schools of Robeson County	21,206	$12,767	97.6%	11.8%	67
57	Yancey County Schools	2,038	$14,455	55.6%	18.4%	67
58	Perquimans County Schools	1,665	$14,355	57.6%	17.3%	67
59	Kannapolis City Schools	5,390	$12,142	99.0%	19.9%	66
60	Asheboro City Schools	4,383	$13,003	70.6%	20.2%	66
61	Thomasville City Schools	2,228	$14,066	98.8%	21.0%	66
62	Elkin City Schools	1,239	$13,671	35.1%	18.3%	66
63	Appalachian State U Academy Middle Fork	261	$18,000	67.4%	20.0%	66
64	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	52,717	$13,811	75.3%	25.3%	65
65	Cumberland County Schools	49,661	$12,118	84.1%	16.5%	65
66	Durham Public Schools	31,531	$15,239	65.9%	34.5%	65
67	Transylvania County Schools	3,312	$14,323	59.4%	30.7%	65
68	Carteret County Public Schools	8,081	$12,846	83.2%	26.2%	64
69	Montgomery County Schools	3,663	$13,689	72.9%	18.8%	64
70	Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville	879	$13,415	93.5%	6.8%	64
71	Mina Charter School of Lee County	474	$10,593	91.1%	15.3%	64
72	Mcdowell County Schools	5,776	$13,112	60.5%	16.9%	63
73	Kipp Durham College Preparatory	311	$17,193	96.8%	27.1%	63
74	Pocosin Innovative Charter	234	$12,987	-	8.5%	63
75	Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools	11,561	$16,963	33.5%	46.2%	62
76	Rockingham County Schools	11,189	$12,373	71.3%	16.4%	62
77	Caldwell County Schools	10,758	$12,066	66.1%	16.5%	62
78	Alexander County Schools	4,525	$12,929	56.0%	16.3%	62
79	Clinton City Schools	3,051	$11,982	99.4%	19.2%	62
80	Cleveland County Schools	14,406	$12,540	78.8%	21.4%	61
81	Jackson County Public Schools	3,557	$13,568	62.2%	23.8%	61
82	New Hanover County Schools	25,244	$13,808	66.9%	29.4%	60
83	Person County Schools	4,374	$13,682	76.7%	23.3%	60
84	Movement School Eastland	400	$12,803	96.8%	22.6%	60
85	Surry County Schools	7,340	$12,301	60.9%	15.6%	59
86	Henderson Collegiate	1,320	$11,466	98.6%	13.6%	59
87	Durham Charter School	643	$14,726	99.1%	25.3%	59
88	Pitt County Schools	24,091	$12,253	77.4%	20.2%	58
89	Asheville City Schools	4,137	$16,507	42.2%	45.0%	58
90	Guilford County Schools	68,894	$12,897	72.4%	24.4%	57
91	Wayne County Public Schools	17,558	$11,267	95.0%	11.4%	57
92	Burke County Schools	11,770	$12,261	67.2%	15.2%	57
93	Duplin County Schools	9,905	$11,214	99.5%	11.3%	57
94	Southern Wake Academy	579	$13,038	-	20.5%	57
95	Buncombe County Schools	22,091	$13,585	56.0%	29.2%	56
96	Orange County Schools	7,208	$14,399	50.0%	38.0%	56
97	Hickory City Schools	3,877	$11,662	67.8%	18.9%	56
98	Cabarrus Charter Academy	669	$12,368	53.7%	24.8%	56
99	Alamance-Burlington Schools	22,489	$11,925	65.4%	18.4%	55
100	Wilkes County Schools	8,673	$12,150	86.4%	20.8%	55
101	Franklin County Schools	7,897	$13,043	62.8%	23.3%	55
102	Newton Conover City Schools	2,856	$12,359	55.7%	20.7%	55
103	Sallie B Howard School	1,204	$11,559	98.8%	18.2%	55
104	Randolph County School System	15,383	$11,457	57.8%	16.0%	54
105	Nash County Public Schools	14,469	$12,350	72.7%	14.1%	54
106	Haywood County Schools	6,605	$12,458	72.9%	25.5%	54
107	Davie County Schools	6,114	$12,525	50.1%	23.9%	54
108	Roanoke Rapids City Schools	2,765	$11,659	99.1%	17.4%	54
109	Wayne Preparatory	1,015	$10,154	-	12.1%	54
110	Gaston County Schools	30,281	$12,190	68.1%	16.3%	53
111	Harnett County Schools	20,050	$10,877	63.5%	13.4%	53
112	Craven County Schools	12,755	$11,893	64.9%	18.0%	53
113	Dare County Schools	5,181	$13,996	41.8%	36.1%	53
114	Macon County Schools	4,450	$13,238	60.7%	20.4%	53
115	Rocky Mount Preparatory	1,022	$10,975	95.3%	11.6%	53
116	The College Preparatory and Leadership a	821	$13,038	96.2%	20.0%	53
117	Brunswick County Schools	12,944	$13,088	99.3%	34.5%	52
118	Yadkin County Schools	5,243	$12,043	57.4%	17.5%	52
119	Bethel Hill Charter	356	$9,930	46.6%	15.0%	52
120	Rowan-Salisbury Schools	18,225	$12,141	68.7%	18.6%	51
121	Stokes County Schools	5,606	$12,939	56.0%	22.6%	51
122	Maureen Joy Charter	616	$15,258	67.7%	26.0%	51
123	Carter G Woodson School	451	$12,310	95.1%	18.0%	51
124	Chatham County Schools	9,129	$14,128	44.7%	38.4%	50
125	Next Generation Academy	434	$10,804	95.6%	20.3%	50
126	Davidson County Schools	17,964	$11,178	50.4%	16.2%	49
127	Wilson County Schools	10,276	$12,450	81.3%	21.1%	49
128	Kipp: Charlotte	944	$11,825	96.6%	26.0%	49
129	North East Carolina Preparatory School	909	$10,487	66.7%	7.0%	49
130	Central Park School for Children	594	$13,423	32.8%	32.6%	49
131	Granville County Schools	6,748	$13,027	65.4%	22.5%	48
132	Reaching All Minds Academy	400	$12,740	-	27.5%	48
133	Artspace Charter	398	$11,899	-	22.1%	48
134	Henderson County Schools	12,896	$11,579	52.0%	21.8%	47
135	Sugar Creek Charter	1,588	$12,768	96.5%	23.4%	47
136	The Experiential School of Greensboro	339	$10,493	-	20.7%	47
137	Johnston County Public Schools	37,286	$11,352	54.3%	20.7%	46
138	Watauga County Schools	4,754	$13,003	37.7%	27.9%	46
139	Camden County Schools	1,920	$12,508	22.3%	18.1%	46
140	A.C.E. Academy	419	$13,129	57.0%	26.3%	46
141	Apprentice Academy Hs of Nc	249	$10,787	-	20.2%	46
142	Island Montessori Charter	215	$11,940	-	26.8%	46
143	Vance Charter School	954	$10,618	-	15.6%	45
144	Emereau: Bladen	580	$9,024	-	15.0%	45
145	Stanly County Schools	8,643	$10,914	74.9%	18.7%	44
146	Eastside Stream Academy	289	$10,547	68.2%	15.9%	44
147	Millennium Charter Academy	687	$9,785	-	18.6%	43
148	West Lake Preparatory Academy	428	$12,343	30.1%	30.4%	43
149	Dillard Academy	277	$10,708	97.1%	9.4%	43
150	Stewart Creek High School	238	$13,689	-	13.5%	43
151	Southeastern Academy	218	$9,394	-	7.9%	43
152	Moore County Schools	13,008	$11,374	45.9%	23.6%	42
153	Pender County Schools	10,941	$11,425	51.1%	22.0%	42
154	Crosscreek Charter School	396	$10,417	-	22.0%	42
155	Catawba County Schools	15,678	$11,487	50.9%	22.3%	41
156	Charlotte Lab School	991	$11,430	32.4%	32.5%	41
157	The Franklin School of Innovation	694	$11,529	-	26.0%	41
158	Bear Grass Charter School	433	$10,353	-	17.8%	41
159	United Community School	247	$11,077	-	27.3%	41
160	Wilmington School of the Arts	201	$12,109	48.3%	21.1%	41
161	Wake County Schools	159,778	$11,691	38.4%	28.9%	40
162	Onslow County Schools	27,921	$11,056	46.7%	21.1%	40
163	North Carolina Cyber Academy	2,372	$10,841	-	7.7%	40
164	Triad Math and Science Academy	1,321	$12,202	96.2%	28.4%	40
165	The Exploris School	447	$10,982	-	28.3%	40
166	Lake Lure Classical Academy	442	$12,808	-	19.8%	40
167	The Expedition School	361	$12,385	-	31.4%	40
168	Willow Oak Montessori	283	$11,170	-	29.1%	40
169	Lincoln County Schools	11,629	$10,722	49.9%	22.4%	39
170	Commonwealth High School	241	$16,614	-	20.1%	39
171	Lakeside Charter Academy	235	$11,438	-	30.5%	39
172	Central Wake Charter High School	220	$14,386	-	18.3%	39
173	Woods Charter School	508	$11,522	-	35.7%	38
174	Voyager Academy	1,361	$11,634	23.1%	36.4%	37
175	Falls Lake Academy	1,104	$9,524	-	24.9%	37
176	Evergreen Community Charter	441	$12,698	-	34.0%	37
177	Invest Collegiate - Imagine	1,248	$10,022	-	27.2%	36
178	Shining Rock Classical Academy	604	$9,235	-	24.9%	36
179	Longleaf School of the Arts	406	$10,998	-	29.4%	36
180	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	144,197	$12,198	58.5%	32.2%	35
181	Forsyth Academy	759	$12,809	78.0%	-	35
182	The Capitol Encore Academy	725	$9,359	57.2%	14.5%	35
183	Summit Creek Academy	560	$13,513	66.8%	-	35
184	Hobgood Charter School	404	$10,460	-	15.7%	35
185	Washington Montessori	403	$10,270	-	27.5%	35
186	Mooresville Graded School District	5,971	$11,346	41.2%	35.2%	34
187	Mallard Creek Stem Academy	961	$10,966	48.7%	28.6%	34
188	Union County Public Schools	41,497	$11,340	39.9%	28.9%	33
189	Iredell-Statesville Schools	20,721	$11,291	46.9%	24.6%	33
190	Currituck County Schools	4,514	$12,078	31.9%	30.7%	33
191	Eno River Academy	782	$10,803	-	31.7%	33
192	Gate City Charter Academy	683	$12,410	74.2%	34.5%	33
193	The New Dimensions School	535	$9,424	-	19.4%	33
194	Kestrel Heights School	424	$10,698	50.2%	32.8%	33
195	Magellan Charter	406	$11,241	-	33.5%	33
196	Summit Charter	292	$13,469	-	42.2%	33
197	Wilson Preparatory Academy	807	$8,658	59.2%	16.8%	32
198	American Renaissance School	757	$10,149	42.3%	24.4%	32
199	Northeast Academy of Aerospace & Advtech	756	$10,844	28.6%	19.8%	32
200	Cardinal Charter	700	$8,801	34.4%	26.3%	32
201	Research Triangle Charter	693	$12,802	68.3%	-	32
202	Invest Collegiate	324	$14,648	-	25.0%	32
203	Oxford Preparatory School	851	$8,565	-	20.4%	31
204	Preeminent Charter School	702	$12,150	77.8%	-	31
205	Cape Fear Center for Inquiry	409	$11,259	-	38.1%	31
206	The Hawbridge School	585	$8,805	-	26.7%	30
207	Carolina International School	731	$9,551	-	26.9%	29
208	Roxboro Community School	688	$9,118	-	22.9%	29
209	Nc Virtual Academy	3,047	$8,102	-	8.4%	28
210	Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy	1,360	$9,605	-	21.4%	28
211	Jackson Day School	817	$13,118	-	37.2%	28
212	Envision Science Academy	741	$9,603	-	29.6%	28
213	Arts Based School	579	$11,314	-	29.3%	28
214	Raleigh Charter High School	564	$10,122	-	94.3%	28
215	Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County	547	$8,991	-	21.5%	28
216	Old Main Stream	280	$8,857	36.4%	13.8%	28
217	Langtree Charter Academy	1,531	$8,008	24.9%	26.7%	27
218	Gray Stone Day School	751	$8,130	-	19.3%	27
219	Bethany Community School	649	$8,547	-	16.9%	27
220	Chatham Charter	574	$9,627	22.3%	31.1%	27
221	Brevard Academy	413	$12,015	-	26.4%	27
222	Cabarrus County Schools	34,810	$10,749	45.4%	30.2%	26
223	Alpha Academy	1,126	$8,735	54.6%	17.2%	26
224	Pioneer Springs Community School	527	$9,224	-	32.4%	26
225	Youngsville Academy	526	$7,439	-	20.3%	26
226	Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss	809	$9,010	-	24.5%	25
227	Endeavor Charter	767	$10,520	-	33.1%	25
228	Alamance Community School	532	$8,919	-	16.7%	25
229	Lincoln Charter School	2,263	$9,402	-	21.3%	24
230	East Wake Academy	1,227	$9,293	-	28.1%	24
231	River Mill Academy	771	$8,946	-	24.4%	24
232	Research Triangle High School	582	$9,481	-	32.1%	24
233	Guilford Preparatory Academy	551	$10,136	97.3%	32.3%	24
234	Franklin Academy	1,651	$8,437	-	30.1%	23
235	Bradford Preparatory School	1,511	$9,056	-	32.7%	23
236	Neuse Charter School	904	$8,631	-	19.1%	23
237	Southwest Charlotte Stem Academy	817	$10,463	43.8%	27.5%	23
238	The Academy of Moore County	473	$8,017	-	19.7%	23
239	The Institute for the Development of You	397	$11,264	-	25.8%	23
240	Anderson Creek Academy	288	$8,243	-	15.6%	23
241	The Math and Science Academy of Charlott	790	$11,042	37.6%	27.4%	22
242	Iredell Charter Academy	627	$9,415	45.3%	22.3%	22
243	Community Public Charter	607	$7,377	-	16.9%	22
244	Discovery Charter School	332	$11,828	-	31.9%	22
245	Uwharrie Charter Academy	1,910	$8,505	-	21.0%	21
246	Carolina Charter Academy: Cfa	755	$7,801	-	21.7%	21
247	Clover Garden	685	$9,841	-	21.7%	21
248	Rolesville Charter Academy	632	$11,769	40.7%	-	21
249	Faith Academy	601	$9,331	-	21.0%	21
250	Piedmont Community Charter	1,906	$7,913	-	25.8%	20
251	Pinnacle Classical Academy	1,132	$7,378	-	18.5%	19
252	Classical Charter Schools of Leland	1,000	$10,759	-	26.9%	19
253	Wake Forest Charter Academy	636	$10,642	36.3%	-	19
254	Fernleaf Community Charter School	520	$10,121	-	27.1%	19
255	Telra Institute	467	$11,694	7.5%	31.1%	19
256	Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy	390	$9,782	-	39.5%	19
257	Raleigh Oak Charter School	303	$11,241	-	35.5%	19
258	Mountain Island Charter	1,703	$10,105	21.4%	32.6%	18
259	Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai	1,060	$9,325	35.0%	27.8%	18
260	Socrates Academy	864	$10,209	-	29.9%	18
261	American Leadership Academy-Coastal	777	$11,803	-	30.2%	18
262	Matthews Charter Academy	759	$10,809	48.7%	-	18
263	Casa Esperanza Montessori	615	$12,000	-	39.1%	18
264	Unity Classical Charter School	606	$11,622	-	30.5%	18
265	Winterville Charter Academy	592	$10,552	56.1%	-	18
266	Piedmont Classical High School	426	$9,746	-	31.3%	18
267	Moore Montessori Community School	210	$11,367	-	34.6%	18
268	Sterling Montessori Academy	620	$10,887	-	31.0%	17
269	Classical Charter Schools of Southport	614	$10,974	-	28.5%	17
270	Davidson Charter Academy	589	$8,455	-	26.0%	17
271	Union Day School	552	$9,697	-	28.6%	17
272	Steele Creek Preparatory Academy	513	$9,704	54.0%	31.0%	17
273	Union Academy Charter School	2,129	$9,536	-	32.5%	16
274	Pine Lake Preparatory	1,879	$9,643	-	35.9%	16
275	Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls	786	$6,996	37.8%	27.0%	16
276	Cornerstone Charter Academy	1,337	$8,536	-	31.6%	15
277	Corvian Community School	1,294	$11,046	-	37.3%	15
278	Phoenix Academy Inc	1,258	$8,038	-	22.8%	15
279	Concord Lake Steam Academy	603	$8,638	59.2%	25.6%	15
280	Community School of Davidson	1,501	$9,969	-	34.3%	14
281	Summerfield Charter Academy	777	$10,454	14.5%	-	13
282	Johnston Charter Academy	679	$10,152	38.9%	-	12
283	Lake Norman Charter	2,215	$9,401	-	39.7%	11
284	Pine Springs Preparatory Academy	1,243	$7,536	-	32.9%	11
285	Nc Leadership Charter Academy	1,123	$8,424	-	30.3%	11
286	Peak Charter Academy	767	$10,013	11.3%	-	11
287	Greensboro Academy	766	$10,569	-	-	11
288	Triangle Math and Science Academy	1,276	$10,502	-	35.0%	10
289	Excelsior Classical Academy	987	$9,184	-	32.4%	9
290	Queen's Grant Community School	1,331	$9,393	34.8%	-	8
291	Revolution Academy	724	$6,601	-	29.8%	6
292	The Math and Science Academy of Apex	613	$9,897	-	-	6
293	Doral Academy North Carolina	333	$8,553	32.1%	39.6%	6
294	Bonnie Cone Classical Academy	879	$8,366	-	32.8%	4
295	Wake Preparatory Academy	1,961	$9,113	-	-	3
296	American Leadership Academy - Johnston	1,740	$8,684	-	-	2
297	Central Carolina Academy	272	$7,757	24.3%	-	2

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 2022-23), 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.