Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Lee County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
16
Schools
9,143
Students
$12,597
Per-Pupil Spend
-12% nat'l
67.3%
Free Lunch Rate
+15pp vs nat'l
87.3%
Graduation Rate
≈ nat'l avg
District Overview

Lee County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 9,143 students across 16 schools. It includes 8 elementary, 3 middle, 4 high schools. Its graduation rate of 87.3% is near the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,597 is below the national average for a US public school district. 67% 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 38/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (16)
Elementary Schools8 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Broadway ElementaryPK–05483
BT Bullock ElementaryKG–05485
Deep River ElementaryKG–05473
Greenwood ElementaryKG–05530
J Glenn Edwards ElementaryKG–05532
J R Ingram Jr ElementaryKG–05408
Tramway ElementaryKG–05545
WB Wicker ElementaryKG–05575
Middle Schools3 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
East Lee Middle06–08531
SanLee Middle School06–08809
West Lee Middle06–08607
High Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Bragg Street Academy06–1246
Lee County High09–121,508
Lee Early College09–13272
Southern Lee High School09–121,234
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Floyd L Knight Children CenterPK–12105
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,597-12% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
60%
17%
State
59.9%
Local (property tax)
16.8%
Federal
23.3%

State funding accounts for 60% 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
16
Schools
9,143
Students
67%
Free Lunch
$13K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate87.3%
Opportunity Score38/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 16 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
67% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
23% 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 Lee County Schools?
Lee County Schools has 16 public schools, serving a total of 9,143 students.
What is the graduation rate for Lee County Schools?
The graduation rate is 87.3%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Lee County Schools spend per student?
Lee County Schools spends $12,597 per pupil — 12% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Lee County Schools?
67% of students in Lee County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Lee County Schools?
No, Lee County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Lee County Schools serve?
Lee County Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Lee County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Lee County Schools is 38/100. 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.