EC North Carolina News

There were 8,234 students enrolled in Lenoir County schools in the 2023-24 school year, three students less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

North Lenoir High School registered the highest enrollment among Lenoir County's 18 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 942 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
North Lenoir High School	935	942	0.7%
Contentnea-Savannah School	844	848	0.5%
South Lenoir High School	713	704	-1.3%
Kinston High School	675	673	-0.3%
Woodington Middle School	576	582	1%
E. B. Frink Middle School	538	524	-2.6%
La Grange Elementary School	480	499	4%
Banks Elementary School	444	459	3.4%
Northwest Elementary School	471	456	-3.2%
Rochelle Middle School	448	432	-3.6%
Pink Hill Elementary School	440	422	-4.1%
Northeast Elementary School	409	407	-0.5%
Moss Hill Elementary School	389	386	-0.8%
Southwood Elementary School	246	231	-6.1%
Lenoir County Early College High	213	229	7.5%
Southeast Elementary School	186	212	14%
Children's Village Academy	155	143	-7.7%
Lenoir County Learning Academy	75	85	13.3%