Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives

Lincoln County Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
23
Schools
11,629
Students
$11,236
Per-Pupil Spend
-22% nat'l
47.8%
Free Lunch Rate
≈ nat'l avg
91.0%
Graduation Rate
+4.5pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Lincoln County Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 11,629 students across 23 schools. It includes 13 elementary, 4 middle, 5 high schools. Its graduation rate of 91.0% is above the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $11,236 is below the national average for a US public school district. 48% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 36/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (23)
Middle Schools4 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
East Lincoln Middle06–08728
Lincolnton Middle06–08560
North Lincoln Middle06–08776
West Lincoln Middle06–08554
High Schools5 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Asbury Academy06–1234
East Lincoln High09–121,047
Lincolnton High09–12813
North Lincoln High09–121,079
West Lincoln High09–12756
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
LCSTUG–UG0
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$11,236-22% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
59%
22%
State
58.7%
Local (property tax)
22.4%
Federal
18.8%

State funding accounts for 59% 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
23
Schools
11,629
Students
48%
Free Lunch
$11K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate91.0%
Opportunity Score36/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Strong graduation outcomes
91.0% graduation rate — 4.5 points above the national average of 86.5%.
Range of school options
With 23 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
Below-average per-pupil spending
At $11,236, spending is 22% below the national average — which can limit staffing and resources.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lincoln County Schools?
Lincoln County Schools has 23 public schools, serving a total of 11,629 students.
What is the graduation rate for Lincoln County Schools?
The graduation rate is 91.0%, which is above the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Lincoln County Schools spend per student?
Lincoln County Schools spends $11,236 per pupil — 22% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Lincoln County Schools?
48% of students in Lincoln County Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Lincoln County Schools?
No, Lincoln County Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Lincoln County Schools serve?
Lincoln County Schools serves grades PK through UG, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Lincoln County Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Lincoln County Schools is 36/100. 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.