Total enrollment
15,069
+1,408 (+10%) vs SY 2020-21
Brunswick County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Brunswick County number 22 per the most recent NCES data, averaging about 685 students per school. That works out to 12 elementary, 5 middle, and 5 high schools.
4-year change in Brunswick County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
22
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Brunswick County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 54.1% | #34 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 15,069 | #26 of 98 | #594 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 22 | #41 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 16.5:1 | #66 of 98 | #2,190 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 99.5% | #2 of 98 | #64 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 58.6% | #51 of 94 | #647 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.
Brunswick County school rankings
Residents
152,568
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
22
3 districts
Enrollment
15,069
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$77,024
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
99.5%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
12
7,336 students
Middle
5
3,065 students
High
5
4,668 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Brunswick County Schools
13,561 students · 3 districts in Brunswick County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Brunswick 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+
34.7%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
6.2%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.7%
civilian labor
Median age
56
14.0% under 18
Test scores in Brunswick County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 19 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Brunswick County Early College· 94.3%
- Town Creek Elementary· 63.2%
- Union Elementary· 63.1%
- Shallotte Middle· 58.6%
- Belville Elementary· 56.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Supply Elementary· 34.5%
- Lincoln Elementary· 39.0%
- Cedar Grove Middle· 41.7%
- Leland Middle· 42.9%
- Bolivia Elementary· 47.9%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Brunswick High | Leland | High | 09-12 | 1,620 | · |
| West Brunswick High | Shallotte | High | 09-12 | 1,466 | · |
| South Brunswick High | Southport | High | 09-12 | 1,154 | · |
| Classical Charter Schools of Leland | Leland | Elementary | KG-08 | 935 | · |
| Belville Elementary | Leland | Elementary | PK-05 | 812 | · |
| Leland Middle | Leland | Middle | 06-08 | 806 | · |
| Lincoln Elementary | Leland | Elementary | PK-05 | 738 | · |
| Town Creek Elementary | Winnabow | Elementary | KG-04 | 702 | · |
| Union Elementary | Shallotte | Elementary | KG-05 | 654 | · |
| Shallotte Middle | Shallotte | Middle | 06-08 | 627 | · |
| Virginia Williamson Elem | Bolivia | Elementary | PK-05 | 610 | · |
| South Brunswick Middle | Southport | Middle | 06-08 | 585 | · |
| Supply Elementary | Supply | Elementary | PK-05 | 580 | · |
| Classical Charter Schools of Southport | Bolivia | Elementary | KG-08 | 573 | · |
| Town Creek Middle | Winnabow | Middle | 05-08 | 540 | · |
| Bolivia Elementary | Bolivia | Elementary | PK-05 | 514 | · |
| Cedar Grove Middle | Supply | Middle | 06-08 | 507 | · |
| Waccamaw | Ash | Elementary | KG-08 | 415 | · |
| Southport Elementary | Southport | Elementary | KG-05 | 413 | · |
| Jessie Mae Monroe Elementary | Ash | Elementary | PK-05 | 390 | · |
| Brunswick County Early College | Bolivia | High | 09-13 | 332 | · |
| The COAST | Bolivia | High | 06-12 | 96 | · |
Cities in Brunswick County
About Brunswick County
Brunswick County is an average-sized North Carolina county of about 152,568 residents, home to 22 public schools and roughly 15,069 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show median household income runs near $77,024, about 35% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 6%. That income level is 22% above the North Carolina median.
On the school-mix side, Brunswick County consists of 12 elementary schools (7,336 students), 5 middle schools (3,065), and 5 high schools (4,668).
Brunswick County Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 13,561 students on its own.
Over the past 4-year window. Across the same 4-year window, public-school enrollment expanded 10%: 13,661 students in SY 2020-21 versus 15,069 in SY 2024-25.
On this page, the community for Brunswick County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data