Total enrollment
4,756
-45 (-1%) vs SY 2020-21
Bladen County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Of the public K-12 schools operating across North Carolina, 15 sit inside Bladen County, collectively enrolling roughly 4,756 students (7 elementary, 3 middle, and 4 high).
4-year change in Bladen County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
14
-1 (-7%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Bladen County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 36.7% | #89 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 4,756 | #66 of 98 | #1,382 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 14 | #58 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.3:1 | #62 of 98 | #2,132 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 97.9% | #47 of 98 | #155 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 71.2% | #8 of 94 | #67 of 2,707 |
Counties need at least 3 schools and 1,000 students to be ranked. Test proficiency is ranked within the state only, since each state gives a different test. Each rank links to the full list.
Bladen County school rankings
Residents
29,566
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
15
3 districts
Enrollment
4,756
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$42,422
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
97.9%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
7
2,477 students
Middle
3
706 students
High
4
1,573 students
Combined / other
1
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Bladen County Schools
3,928 students · 3 districts in Bladen County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Bladen County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
19.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.7%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.4%
civilian labor
Median age
45
20.6% under 18
Test scores in Bladen County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 12 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Bladen Early College· 65.8%
- West Bladen High· 48.4%
- Clarkton School of Discovery· 46.1%
- Dublin Primary· 39.4%
- Bladenboro Primary· 39.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- East Arcadia Elementary· 25.0%
- Elizabethtown Primary· 31.4%
- Bladen Lakes Primary· 31.5%
- Elizabethtown Middle· 31.8%
- Tar Heel School· 32.2%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Bladen High | Bladenboro | High | 09-12 | 720 | · |
| Emereau: Bladen | Elizabethtown | Elementary | KG-08 | 629 | · |
| East Bladen High | Elizabethtown | High | 09-12 | 525 | · |
| Elizabethtown Primary | Elizabethtown | Elementary | PK-04 | 483 | · |
| Tar Heel School | Tar Heel | Elementary | PK-08 | 449 | · |
| Bladenboro Primary | Bladenboro | Elementary | PK-04 | 448 | · |
| Elizabethtown Middle | Elizabethtown | Middle | 05-08 | 305 | · |
| Bladenboro Middle | Bladenboro | Middle | 05-08 | 254 | · |
| Dublin Primary | Dublin | Elementary | PK-05 | 234 | · |
| Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy | Elizabethtown | High | 06-12 | 199 | · |
| Bladen Lakes Primary | Elizabethtown | Elementary | PK-05 | 166 | · |
| Clarkton School of Discovery | Clarkton | Middle | 05-08 | 147 | · |
| Bladen Early College | Dublin | High | 09-13 | 129 | · |
| East Arcadia Elementary | Riegelwood | Elementary | KG-05 | 68 | · |
| Plain View Primary | Tar Heel | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Bladen County
About Bladen County
In North Carolina, Bladen County is a thinly populated county of about 29,566 residents. 15 public schools across the county enrolls about 4,756 students between them.
For perspective, census numbers show the median household earns about $42,422 a year, 20% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and roughly 19% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 33% lower than the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Bladen County spans 7 elementary schools (2,477 students), 3 middle schools (706), 4 high schools (1,573), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Bladen County is Bladen County Schools, which alone enrolls about 3,928 students.
Over the past 4-year window. Combined enrollment now sits at 4,756 students, remained close to its prior level from the 4,801 reported in SY 2020-21. Bladen County now counts 14 public schools, down from 15 in SY 2020-21.
On allk12, the community for Bladen County discusses enrollment trends, district policy changes, and bus-route updates. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data