Catherine Truitt North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction | https://x.com/ctruittnc?lang=en
Catherine Truitt North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction | https://x.com/ctruittnc?lang=en
Lincoln Charter School registered the highest enrollment among Lincoln County's 24 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 2,251 students.
Despite steady enrollment, North Carolina schools continue to face significant funding challenges. The state's per-student spending remains nearly $5,000 below the national average, limiting resources for teachers, classrooms, and student support programs. In fact, North Carolina ranks 48th out of 50 states in per-student funding (after adjusting for regional costs).
Staffing shortages have also become a growing concern, with teacher turnover rising to 11.5% in the most recent school year. Low salaries and high workloads make it difficult to retain experienced educators, potentially increasing class sizes and affecting learning quality.
| School name | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Charter School | 2,235 | 2,251 | 0.7% |
| North Lincoln High School | 1,056 | 1,121 | 6.2% |
| East Lincoln High School | 1,033 | 1,073 | 3.9% |
| Lincolnton High School | 798 | 777 | -2.6% |
| North Lincoln Middle School | 775 | 745 | -3.9% |
| East Lincoln Middle School | 738 | 742 | 0.5% |
| West Lincoln High School | 735 | 718 | -2.3% |
| St. James Elementary School | 647 | 675 | 4.3% |
| Rock Springs Elementary School | 632 | 641 | 1.4% |
| Lincolnton Middle School | 558 | 575 | 3% |
| West Lincoln Middle School | 548 | 549 | 0.2% |
| Catawba Springs Elementary School | - | 532 | - |
| Battleground Elementary School | 377 | 411 | 9% |
| Childers Elementary School | 398 | 388 | -2.5% |
| West Lake Preparatory Academy | 403 | 357 | -11.4% |
| Iron Station Elementary School | 363 | 348 | -4.1% |
| GE Massey Elementary School | 345 | 325 | -5.8% |
| North Brook Elementary School | 337 | 322 | -4.5% |
| Union Elementary School | 311 | 309 | -0.6% |
| Pumpkin Center Intermediate | 314 | 309 | -1.6% |
| S. Ray Lowder Elementary School | 269 | 277 | 3% |
| Love Memorial Elementary School | 267 | 274 | 2.6% |
| Pumpkin Center Primary | 290 | 255 | -12.1% |
| Asbury Academy | 38 | 29 | -23.7% |
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