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22 schools in Sanford

North Carolina · Public K-12

Across the city, Sanford hosts 22 public K-12 schools teaching roughly 12,832 North Carolina students (about 583 per campus).

7-year change in Sanford

SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25
Total enrollment
12,832
+694 (+6%) vs SY 2017-18
School count
22
+4 (+22%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
36%
was 41%
% Hispanic
37%
was 32%
% Black
19%
was 21%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
NameLevelGradesEnrollment
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee CountyHigh06-12628
Ascend Leadership Remote AcademyMiddle06-0827
Benhaven ElementaryElementaryPK-051,065
Bragg Street AcademyHigh06-1240
BT Bullock ElementaryElementaryKG-05511
Central Carolina AcademyHigh06-12536
Deep River ElementaryElementaryKG-05557
East Lee MiddleMiddle06-08526
Floyd L Knight Children CenterCombinedPK-1295
Greenwood ElementaryElementaryKG-05571
Highland ElementaryElementaryPK-05854
Highland MiddleMiddle06-08762
J Glenn Edwards ElementaryElementaryKG-05587
J R Ingram Jr ElementaryElementaryKG-05419
Lee County HighHigh09-121,459
Lee Early CollegeHigh09-13272
Rising Leaders AcademyElementaryKG-08282
SanLee Middle SchoolMiddle06-08792
Southern Lee High SchoolHigh09-121,180
Tramway ElementaryElementaryKG-05559
WB Wicker ElementaryElementaryKG-05588
West Lee MiddleMiddle06-08522

About Sanford

Public education in Sanford, North Carolina runs across 22 schools that enrolls roughly 12,832 students. By footprint, Sanford sits in the mid-sized bracket.

Looking at the level breakdown, the city is built around 10 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high, and 1 other.

Over the past 7-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 12,832 students, grew 6% from the 12,138 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Sanford added 4 schools, going from 18 to 22. Demographically, the Hispanic share of enrollment increased from 32% to 37%.

On this page, the community for Sanford discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.

Frequently asked questions

How many public schools are in Sanford?
Sanford, North Carolina has 22 public K-12 schools serving approximately 12,832 students.
How many elementary, middle, and high schools are in Sanford?
Sanford has 10 elementary, 5 middle, 6 high, 1 combined-grade public schools.
What is the largest public school in Sanford?
Lee County High is the largest public school in Sanford by enrollment, with approximately 1,459 students.
What school districts serve Sanford?
Sanford is served by 5 public school districts, including Lee County Schools, Harnett County Schools, Rising Leaders Academy, Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County, Central Carolina Academy.
What grade levels do public schools in Sanford cover?
Public schools in Sanford serve students from pre-K through grade 13.
Are there charter schools in Sanford?
4 of the 22 public schools in Sanford are charter schools.