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).

School Funding Equity in North Carolina

Reviewed by PlainSchools Editorial, K12 Schools Editorial Team · June 4, 2026

293 districts ranked by equity score — how equitably is school funding distributed? Equity is computed from NCES F-33 school finance data covering districts in all 50 states. See our methodology.

State Avg Score

National Avg Score

Highly Equitable (70+)

Low Equity (<30)

#	District	Enrollment	$/Pupil	Free Lunch	Local Rev %	Score
1	Tyrrell County Schools	499	$22,023	98.1%	8.0%	96
2	Hyde County Schools	475	$31,734	72.0%	16.7%	95
3	Graham County Schools	1,141	$19,447	66.6%	13.7%	92
4	Jones County Schools	1,067	$20,865	98.0%	13.7%	92
5	Greene County Schools	2,668	$16,131	99.1%	11.5%	88
6	Whiteville City Schools	2,104	$15,004	96.9%	16.0%	86
7	Alleghany County Schools	1,421	$17,210	60.0%	14.6%	86
8	Washington County Schools	1,104	$17,911	98.1%	10.8%	83
9	Quality Education Academy	673	$15,307	97.6%	19.3%	83
10	Gates County Schools	1,497	$17,711	51.3%	17.1%	82
11	Northampton County Schools	1,291	$21,503	89.7%	16.9%	82
12	Pamlico County Schools	1,244	$18,273	86.4%	22.1%	82
13	Swain County Schools	1,910	$15,228	66.5%	7.7%	81
14	Global Scholars Academy	211	$19,145	97.2%	24.2%	81
15	Cherokee County Schools	3,146	$16,832	79.5%	20.4%	80
16	Weldon City Schools	659	$20,147	98.0%	20.0%	80
17	Community School of Digital and Visual A	217	$17,742	97.7%	25.2%	80
18	Martin County Schools	2,636	$15,949	98.9%	16.8%	79
19	Caswell County Schools	2,250	$18,175	87.0%	10.9%	79
20	Madison County Schools	2,108	$16,807	59.9%	17.7%	79
21	Next Generation Academy	434	$15,679	95.6%	20.3%	79
22	Bladen County Schools	3,983	$15,523	98.4%	14.4%	78
23	Bertie County Schools	1,831	$17,473	98.3%	13.1%	78
24	Rutherford County Schools	7,527	$16,397	99.0%	22.0%	77
25	Asheboro City Schools	4,383	$16,451	70.6%	20.2%	77
26	Clay County Schools	1,314	$15,277	55.6%	12.5%	76
27	Scotland County Schools	5,624	$15,245	98.3%	17.3%	75
28	Arapahoe Charter School	484	$14,855	53.3%	16.7%	75
29	Moss Street Partnership School	339	$12,094	99.1%	11.3%	75
30	Edgecombe County Public Schools	5,419	$13,967	94.4%	13.7%	74
31	Anson County Schools	2,964	$14,602	98.6%	15.2%	74
32	Halifax County Schools	2,173	$18,545	98.4%	16.0%	74
33	Edenton-Chowan Schools	1,917	$15,070	61.6%	15.1%	74
34	Sallie B Howard School	1,204	$17,067	98.8%	18.2%	74
35	Durham Charter School	643	$15,140	99.1%	25.3%	74
36	Avery County Schools	1,904	$18,561	57.4%	31.0%	73
37	Movement School Eastland	400	$13,987	96.8%	22.6%	73
38	Columbus County Schools	5,335	$13,748	98.9%	13.5%	72
39	Hertford County Schools	2,486	$15,253	98.6%	17.0%	72
40	Beaufort County Schools	5,975	$15,013	94.7%	21.1%	70
41	Elizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools	4,834	$13,578	92.9%	18.8%	70
42	Alamance-Burlington Schools	22,489	$15,701	65.4%	18.4%	69
43	Public Schools of Robeson County	21,206	$14,227	97.6%	11.8%	69
44	Lexington City Schools	2,999	$14,532	97.9%	20.5%	69
45	Polk County Schools	2,166	$18,211	68.8%	30.0%	69
46	RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School	479	$13,877	99.4%	27.8%	69
47	Sampson County Schools	7,971	$13,220	99.2%	14.3%	68
48	Perquimans County Schools	1,665	$14,764	57.6%	17.3%	68
49	Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington	385	$13,989	99.2%	28.8%	68
50	Cumberland County Schools	49,661	$12,982	84.1%	16.5%	67
51	Durham Public Schools	31,531	$17,524	65.9%	34.5%	67
52	Lenoir County Public Schools	8,334	$12,624	98.8%	11.9%	67
53	Warren County Schools	1,801	$16,702	98.0%	18.0%	67
54	Mount Airy City Schools	1,726	$13,769	76.0%	17.2%	67
55	North East Carolina Preparatory School	909	$12,296	66.7%	7.0%	67
56	Movement Charter School	640	$12,914	99.5%	22.5%	67
57	Pocosin Innovative Charter	234	$14,062	—	8.5%	67
58	Richmond County Schools	6,678	$13,139	98.8%	14.0%	66
59	Kannapolis City Schools	5,390	$12,963	99.0%	19.9%	66
60	Yancey County Schools	2,038	$14,949	55.6%	18.4%	66
61	Montgomery County Schools	3,663	$15,400	72.9%	18.8%	65
62	Appalachian State U Academy Middle Fork	261	$17,964	67.4%	20.0%	65
63	Hoke County Schools	8,920	$12,029	99.0%	9.6%	64
64	Carteret County Public Schools	8,081	$13,818	83.2%	26.2%	64
65	Macon County Schools	4,450	$15,639	60.7%	20.4%	64
66	Mitchell County Schools	1,722	$15,139	52.5%	18.5%	64
67	Lee County Schools	9,143	$12,597	65.7%	16.8%	63
68	Vance County Schools	5,269	$14,113	93.3%	15.4%	63
69	Ashe County Schools	2,743	$14,155	56.7%	15.5%	63
70	KIPP Gaston College Preparatory	1,286	$13,159	97.7%	6.2%	63
71	KIPP Halifax College Preparatory	591	$13,310	97.3%	8.5%	63
72	MINA Charter School of Lee County	474	$11,052	91.1%	15.3%	63
73	KIPP Durham College Preparatory	311	$14,392	96.8%	27.1%	63
74	Ridgeview Charter School	254	$12,071	92.1%	11.4%	63
75	McDowell County Schools	5,776	$13,553	60.5%	16.9%	62
76	Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools	52,717	$14,195	75.3%	25.3%	61
77	Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools	11,561	$17,566	33.5%	46.2%	61
78	Surry County Schools	7,340	$13,317	60.9%	15.6%	61
79	Carter G Woodson School	451	$15,061	95.1%	18.0%	61
80	Transylvania County Schools	3,312	$14,327	59.4%	30.7%	60
81	Elkin City Schools	1,239	$12,847	35.1%	18.3%	60
82	New Hanover County Schools	25,244	$14,481	66.9%	29.4%	59
83	Wayne County Public Schools	17,558	$12,270	95.0%	11.4%	59
84	Rockingham County Schools	11,189	$13,012	71.3%	16.4%	59
85	Caldwell County Schools	10,758	$12,314	66.1%	16.5%	59
86	Person County Schools	4,374	$14,126	76.7%	23.3%	59
87	Jackson County Public Schools	3,557	$14,416	62.2%	23.8%	59
88	Thomasville City Schools	2,228	$14,366	98.8%	21.0%	59
89	Guilford County Schools	68,894	$13,788	72.4%	24.4%	58
90	Pitt County Schools	24,091	$13,053	77.4%	20.2%	58
91	Buncombe County Schools	22,091	$14,785	56.0%	29.2%	58
92	Alexander County Schools	4,525	$13,412	56.0%	16.3%	58
93	Roanoke Rapids City Schools	2,765	$13,272	99.1%	17.4%	58
94	Sugar Creek Charter	1,588	$16,872	96.5%	23.4%	58
95	Orange County Schools	7,208	$15,558	50.0%	38.0%	57
96	Clinton City Schools	3,051	$12,228	99.4%	19.2%	57
97	West Lake Preparatory Academy	428	$18,447	30.1%	30.4%	57
98	Cleveland County Schools	14,406	$12,545	78.8%	21.4%	56
99	Brunswick County Schools	12,944	$14,887	99.3%	34.5%	56
100	Duplin County Schools	9,905	$11,840	99.5%	11.3%	56
101	Haywood County Schools	6,605	$13,613	72.9%	25.5%	56
102	Dillard Academy	277	$12,940	97.1%	9.4%	56
103	D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy	215	$14,519	93.0%	23.0%	56
104	Hobgood Charter School	404	$12,155	—	15.7%	55
105	Wilmington School of the Arts	201	$12,284	48.3%	21.1%	55
106	Harnett County Schools	20,050	$11,473	63.5%	13.4%	54
107	Burke County Schools	11,770	$12,502	67.2%	15.2%	54
108	Asheville City Schools	4,137	$16,748	42.2%	45.0%	54
109	Nash County Public Schools	14,469	$12,433	72.7%	14.1%	53
110	Chatham County Schools	9,129	$15,369	44.7%	38.4%	53
111	Stokes County Schools	5,606	$13,565	56.0%	22.6%	53
112	Oxford Preparatory School	851	$25,686	—	20.4%	53
113	Cabarrus Charter Academy	669	$13,146	53.7%	24.8%	53
114	Southern Wake Academy	579	$12,826	—	20.5%	53
115	Randolph County School System	15,383	$12,337	57.8%	16.0%	52
116	Wilson County Schools	10,276	$13,816	81.3%	21.1%	52
117	Bethel Hill Charter	356	$10,964	46.6%	15.0%	52
118	Yadkin County Schools	5,243	$12,779	57.4%	17.5%	51
119	Henderson Collegiate	1,320	$11,271	98.6%	13.6%	51
120	Wake County Schools	159,778	$14,074	38.4%	28.9%	50
121	Wilkes County Schools	8,673	$12,482	86.4%	20.8%	50
122	Franklin County Schools	7,897	$12,921	62.8%	23.3%	50
123	Dare County Schools	5,181	$14,049	41.8%	36.1%	50
124	Hickory City Schools	3,877	$12,070	67.8%	18.9%	50
125	Classical Charter Schools of Whiteville	879	$12,045	93.5%	6.8%	50
126	Central Park School For Children	594	$14,934	32.8%	32.6%	50
127	Emereau: Bladen	580	$10,504	—	15.0%	50
128	Island Montessori Charter	215	$13,493	—	26.8%	50
129	Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools	144,197	$15,997	58.5%	32.2%	49
130	Craven County Schools	12,755	$12,267	64.9%	18.0%	48
131	Wayne Preparatory	1,015	$10,236	—	12.1%	48
132	Maureen Joy Charter	616	$15,422	67.7%	26.0%	48
133	Gaston County Schools	30,281	$11,856	68.1%	16.3%	47
134	Rowan-Salisbury Schools	18,225	$12,322	68.7%	18.6%	47
135	Stanly County Schools	8,643	$12,039	74.9%	18.7%	47
136	Davie County Schools	6,114	$12,062	50.1%	23.9%	46
137	Newton Conover City Schools	2,856	$12,580	55.7%	20.7%	46
138	The Franklin School of Innovation	694	$13,160	—	26.0%	46
139	Reaching All Minds Academy	400	$12,661	—	27.5%	46
140	Apprentice Academy HS of NC	249	$11,387	—	20.2%	46
141	Davidson County Schools	17,964	$11,522	50.4%	16.2%	45
142	Catawba County Schools	15,678	$12,509	50.9%	22.3%	45
143	Rocky Mount Preparatory	1,022	$11,245	95.3%	11.6%	45
144	FernLeaf Community Charter School	520	$14,021	—	27.1%	45
145	Mooresville Graded School District	5,971	$16,322	41.2%	35.2%	44
146	ArtSpace Charter	398	$11,513	—	22.1%	44
147	Guilford Preparatory Academy	551	$12,264	97.3%	32.3%	43
148	Doral Academy North Carolina	333	$13,747	32.1%	39.6%	43
149	Henderson County Schools	12,896	$12,094	52.0%	21.8%	42
150	Watauga County Schools	4,754	$13,277	37.7%	27.9%	42
151	Camden County Schools	1,920	$12,684	22.3%	18.1%	42
152	Bear Grass Charter School	433	$10,683	—	17.8%	42
153	Eastside STREAM Academy	289	$11,140	68.2%	15.9%	42
154	Granville County Schools	6,748	$12,663	65.4%	22.5%	41
155	Triad Math and Science Academy	1,321	$13,131	96.2%	28.4%	41
156	Vance Charter School	954	$10,081	—	15.6%	41
157	Kestrel Heights School	424	$12,620	50.2%	32.8%	41
158	Willow Oak Montessori	283	$11,585	—	29.1%	41
159	Stewart Creek High School	238	$13,328	—	13.5%	41
160	Falls Lake Academy	1,104	$10,939	—	24.9%	40
161	The Exploris School	447	$11,508	—	28.3%	40
162	A.C.E. Academy	419	$13,197	57.0%	26.3%	40
163	Crosscreek Charter School	396	$10,355	—	22.0%	40
164	United Community School	247	$11,352	—	27.3%	40
165	Commonwealth High School	241	$18,861	—	20.1%	40
166	Johnston County Public Schools	37,286	$11,360	54.3%	20.7%	39
167	Pender County Schools	10,941	$12,071	51.1%	22.0%	39
168	Invest Collegiate - Imagine	1,248	$11,584	—	27.2%	39
169	Shining Rock Classical Academy	604	$10,744	—	24.9%	39
170	Pioneer Springs Community School	527	$12,700	—	32.4%	39
171	Washington Montessori	403	$11,150	—	27.5%	39
172	The Experiential School of Greensboro	339	$10,666	—	20.7%	39
173	Moore County Schools	13,008	$11,884	45.9%	23.6%	38
174	The Capitol Encore Academy	725	$9,528	57.2%	14.5%	38
175	Woods Charter School	508	$12,160	—	35.7%	38
176	Southeastern Academy	218	$8,950	—	7.9%	38
177	Lincoln County Schools	11,629	$11,236	49.9%	22.4%	37
178	The College Preparatory and Leadership A	821	$11,501	96.2%	20.0%	37
179	Gray Stone Day School	751	$12,708	—	19.3%	37
180	Millennium Charter Academy	687	$9,709	—	18.6%	37
181	Lake Lure Classical Academy	442	$12,221	—	19.8%	37
182	The Expedition School	361	$11,863	—	31.4%	37
183	Summit Charter	292	$14,714	—	42.2%	37
184	Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County	547	$9,785	—	21.5%	36
185	The New Dimensions School	535	$10,479	—	19.4%	36
186	Discovery Charter School	332	$12,743	—	31.9%	36
187	Central Wake Charter High School	220	$14,114	—	18.3%	36
188	Onslow County Schools	27,921	$11,413	46.7%	21.1%	35
189	Iredell-Statesville Schools	20,721	$12,479	46.9%	24.6%	35
190	Alpha Academy	1,126	$11,496	54.6%	17.2%	35
191	Arts Based School	579	$11,556	—	29.3%	35
192	Youngsville Academy	526	$8,936	—	20.3%	35
193	Lakeside Charter Academy	235	$11,543	—	30.5%	35
194	Currituck County Schools	4,514	$13,201	31.9%	30.7%	34
195	KIPP: Charlotte	944	$11,416	96.6%	26.0%	34
196	American Renaissance School	757	$10,093	42.3%	24.4%	34
197	Carolina International School	731	$11,658	—	26.9%	34
198	Cabarrus County Schools	34,810	$12,307	45.4%	30.2%	33
199	North Carolina Cyber Academy	2,372	$8,974	—	7.7%	33
200	Evergreen Community Charter	441	$12,699	—	34.0%	33
201	Eno River Academy	782	$10,695	—	31.7%	32
202	River Mill Academy	771	$12,227	—	24.4%	32
203	Roxboro Community School	688	$9,862	—	22.9%	32
204	Faith Academy	601	$8,998	—	21.0%	32
205	The Hawbridge School	585	$9,746	—	26.7%	32
206	Longleaf School of the Arts	406	$10,245	—	29.4%	32
207	Magellan Charter	406	$11,380	—	33.5%	32
208	Iredell Charter Academy	627	$10,886	45.3%	22.3%	31
209	Alamance Community School	532	$10,706	—	16.7%	31
210	Raleigh Oak Charter School	303	$12,256	—	35.5%	31
211	Union County Public Schools	41,497	$11,790	39.9%	28.9%	30
212	Voyager Academy	1,361	$10,742	23.1%	36.4%	30
213	Community Public Charter	607	$8,771	—	16.9%	30
214	Chatham Charter	574	$10,926	22.3%	31.1%	30
215	Invest Collegiate	324	$14,549	—	25.0%	30
216	Old Main Stream	280	$8,784	36.4%	13.8%	30
217	Mallard Creek STEM Academy	961	$11,139	48.7%	28.6%	29
218	Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss	809	$9,165	—	24.5%	29
219	Northeast Academy of Aerospace & AdvTech	756	$11,063	28.6%	19.8%	29
220	Clover Garden	685	$12,070	—	21.7%	29
221	Excelsior Classical Academy	987	$17,300	—	32.4%	28
222	Forsyth Academy	759	$12,742	78.0%	—	28
223	NC Virtual Academy	3,047	$7,460	—	8.4%	27
224	Langtree Charter Academy	1,531	$10,918	24.9%	26.7%	27
225	Charlotte Lab School	991	$11,244	32.4%	32.5%	27
226	Envision Science Academy	741	$9,667	—	29.6%	27
227	Cape Fear Center for Inquiry	409	$11,363	—	38.1%	27
228	Bradford Preparatory School	1,511	$10,053	—	32.7%	26
229	Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai	1,060	$10,574	35.0%	27.8%	26
230	Wilson Preparatory Academy	807	$8,777	59.2%	16.8%	26
231	The Academy of Moore County	473	$10,392	—	19.7%	26
232	Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy	1,360	$10,186	—	21.4%	25
233	Summit Creek Academy	560	$12,475	66.8%	—	25
234	Piedmont Classical High School	426	$11,088	—	31.3%	25
235	Brevard Academy	413	$12,335	—	26.4%	25
236	The Institute for the Development of You	397	$12,415	—	25.8%	25
237	East Wake Academy	1,227	$9,884	—	28.1%	24
238	Bethany Community School	649	$8,319	—	16.9%	24
239	Raleigh Charter High School	564	$9,547	—	94.3%	24
240	Uwharrie Charter Academy	1,910	$8,747	—	21.0%	23
241	Piedmont Community Charter	1,906	$9,880	—	25.8%	23
242	Neuse Charter School	904	$9,383	—	19.1%	23
243	Endeavor Charter	767	$10,227	—	33.1%	23
244	Telra Institute	467	$13,150	7.5%	31.1%	23
245	Lincoln Charter School	2,263	$9,397	—	21.3%	22
246	Franklin Academy	1,651	$8,499	—	30.1%	22
247	Socrates Academy	864	$9,807	—	29.9%	22
248	Cardinal Charter	700	$9,925	34.4%	26.3%	22
249	Research Triangle Charter	693	$12,065	68.3%	—	22
250	Anderson Creek Academy	288	$8,073	—	15.6%	22
251	Moore Montessori Community School	210	$11,755	—	34.6%	22
252	Jackson Day School	817	$11,656	—	37.2%	21
253	Davidson Charter Academy	589	$9,464	—	26.0%	21
254	Carolina Charter Academy: CFA	755	$8,444	—	21.7%	20
255	Concord Lake STEAM Academy	603	$9,939	59.2%	25.6%	20
256	Research Triangle High School	582	$9,695	—	32.1%	20
257	Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy	390	$10,810	—	39.5%	20
258	Pinnacle Classical Academy	1,132	$8,646	—	18.5%	19
259	Classical Charter Schools of Leland	1,000	$11,611	—	26.9%	19
260	Southwest Charlotte STEM Academy	817	$10,025	43.8%	27.5%	19
261	The Math and Science Academy of Charlott	790	$11,015	37.6%	27.4%	19
262	Pine Lake Preparatory	1,879	$11,066	—	35.9%	17
263	Phoenix Academy Inc	1,258	$9,266	—	22.8%	17
264	PreEminent Charter School	702	$10,955	77.8%	—	17
265	Gate City Charter Academy	683	$10,610	74.2%	34.5%	17
266	Union Day School	552	$8,665	—	28.6%	17
267	Mountain Island Charter	1,703	$10,122	21.4%	32.6%	16
268	Community School of Davidson	1,501	$10,781	—	34.3%	16
269	Sterling Montessori Academy	620	$10,966	—	31.0%	16
270	Casa Esperanza Montessori	615	$11,306	—	39.1%	16
271	Steele Creek Preparatory Academy	513	$10,868	54.0%	31.0%	16
272	Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls	786	$9,709	37.8%	27.0%	15
273	Cornerstone Charter Academy	1,337	$9,170	—	31.6%	13
274	Classical Charter Schools of Southport	614	$10,529	—	28.5%	13
275	Winterville Charter Academy	592	$10,451	56.1%	—	13
276	Triangle Math and Science Academy	1,276	$11,432	—	35.0%	12
277	Wake Forest Charter Academy	636	$9,861	36.3%	—	12
278	Union Academy Charter School	2,129	$8,907	—	32.5%	11
279	Corvian Community School	1,294	$10,621	—	37.3%	11
280	Pine Springs Preparatory Academy	1,243	$9,294	—	32.9%	11
281	American Leadership Academy-Coastal	777	$10,484	—	30.2%	11
282	NC Leadership Charter Academy	1,123	$8,534	—	30.3%	10
283	Matthews Charter Academy	759	$10,008	48.7%	—	10
284	Lake Norman Charter	2,215	$9,745	—	39.7%	9
285	Revolution Academy	724	$9,475	—	29.8%	9
286	Unity Classical Charter School	606	$9,487	—	30.5%	9
287	Rolesville Charter Academy	632	$9,508	40.7%	—	8
288	Summerfield Charter Academy	777	$9,306	14.5%	—	6
289	Peak Charter Academy	767	$9,420	11.3%	—	5
290	Johnston Charter Academy	679	$9,086	38.9%	—	5
291	Greensboro Academy	766	$9,228	—	—	4
292	Bonnie Cone Classical Academy	879	$8,513	—	32.8%	3
293	Queen's Grant Community School	1,331	$8,443	34.8%	—	2

How the Equity Score Works

The equity score (0-100) evaluates four dimensions of school funding fairness:

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.