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Harnett County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
28
Schools
20,050
Students
$11,473
Per-Pupil Spend
-20% nat'l
64.1%
Free Lunch Rate
+12pp vs nat'l
87.1%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Harnett County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 20,050 students across 28 schools. It includes 15 elementary, 6 middle, 6 high schools. Its graduation rate of 87.1% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $11,473 is below the national average for a US public school district. 64% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 33/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (28)
Middle Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Coats-Erwin Middle06–08606
Dunn Middle06–08412
Harnett Central Middle06–081,024
Highland Middle06–08875
Overhills Middle06–08799
Western Harnett Middle06–08820
High Schools6 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Harnett Central High09–121,474
Harnett County Early College09–13102
Overhills High09–121,971
STAR Academy06–1218
Triton High09–121,287
Western Harnett High09–121,386
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Harnett Virtual AcademyKG–12122
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,473-20% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
62%
13%
State
62.0%
Local (property tax)
13.4%
Federal
24.6%

State funding accounts for 62% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
28
Schools
20,050
Students
64%
Free Lunch
$11K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate87.1%
Opportunity Score33/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 28 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average per-pupil spending
At $11,473, spending is 20% below the national average — which can limit staffing and resources.
Low opportunity scores
Median opportunity score of 33/100, below the national median of 50, which can correlate with weaker long-term economic mobility for students.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
25% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Harnett County Schools?
Harnett County Schools has 28 public schools, serving a total of 20,050 students.
What is the graduation rate for Harnett County Schools?
The graduation rate is 87.1%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Harnett County Schools spend per student?
Harnett County Schools spends $11,473 per pupil — 20% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Harnett County Schools?
64% of students in Harnett County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Harnett County Schools?
No, Harnett County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Harnett County Schools serve?
Harnett County Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Harnett County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Harnett County Schools is 33/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.