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
Wallace Elementary School registered the highest enrollment among Duplin County's 13 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 1,093 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wallace Elementary School | 1,105 | 1,093 | -1.1% |
| Rose Hill-Magnolia Elementary School | 1,083 | 1,061 | -2% |
| East Duplin High School | 837 | 849 | 1.4% |
| B. F. Grady Elementary School | 845 | 847 | 0.2% |
| Beulaville Elementary School | 808 | 832 | 3% |
| James Kenan High School | 767 | 754 | -1.7% |
| Wallace-Rose Hill High School | 783 | 745 | -4.9% |
| Warsaw Elementary School | 751 | 744 | -0.9% |
| North Duplin Elementary School | 670 | 705 | 5.2% |
| North Duplin Jr. Senior High School | 604 | 620 | 2.6% |
| Kenansville Elementary School | 571 | 567 | -0.7% |
| Chinquapin Elementary School | 509 | 481 | -5.5% |
| Duplin Early College High | 202 | 197 | -2.5% |
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