Total enrollment
10,374
+86 (+1%) vs SY 2017-18
Chatham County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Public K-12 schools in Chatham County number 25, teaching approximately 10,374 North Carolina students against a population of 80,151. That works out to 12 elementary, 3 middle, and 7 high schools.
7-year change in Chatham County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
24
+3 (+14%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
53%
was 55%
% Hispanic
29%
was 29%
% Black
10%
was 11%
% Asian
2%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
80,151
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
25
5 districts
Enrollment
10,374
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$94,317
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
74.0%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
12
4,558 students
Middle
3
1,663 students
High
7
3,047 students
Combined / other
3
1,106 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Chatham County Schools
8,987 students · 5 districts in Chatham County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Chatham 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+
48.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
2.9%
civilian labor
Median age
48
19.4% under 18
Test scores in Chatham County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 18 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Seaforth High· 79.1%
- Chatham Grove Elementary· 75.8%
- Margaret B. Pollard Middle· 74.3%
- Perry W Harrison Elementary· 71.8%
- Bennett School· 70.5%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Virginia Cross Elementary· 31.3%
- Siler City Elementary· 36.2%
- Chatham Middle· 38.6%
- Jordan-Matthews High· 42.9%
- Bonlee School· 45.7%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Seaforth High | Pittsboro | High | 09-12 | 1,088 | · |
| Jordan-Matthews High | Siler City | High | 09-12 | 848 | · |
| Margaret B. Pollard Middle | Chapel Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 736 | · |
| Chatham Grove Elementary | Pittsboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 683 | · |
| Northwood High | Pittsboro | High | 09-12 | 634 | · |
| Chatham Charter | Siler City | Combined | KG-12 | 591 | · |
| Siler City Elementary | Siler City | Elementary | PK-05 | 591 | · |
| North Chatham Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 588 | · |
| Woods Charter | Chapel Hill | Combined | KG-12 | 515 | · |
| Chatham Middle | Siler City | Middle | 06-08 | 513 | · |
| Pittsboro Elementary | Pittsboro | Elementary | PK-04 | 503 | · |
| Virginia Cross Elementary | Siler City | Elementary | PK-05 | 494 | · |
| George M. Horton Middle | Pittsboro | Middle | 05-08 | 414 | · |
| Chatham Central High | Bear Creek | High | 09-12 | 320 | · |
| Bonlee School | Bear Creek | Elementary | KG-08 | 290 | · |
| Silk Hope School | Siler City | Elementary | PK-08 | 281 | · |
| Willow Oak Montessori | Pittsboro | Elementary | KG-08 | 281 | · |
| Perry W Harrison Elementary | Pittsboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 262 | · |
| J S Waters School | Goldston | Elementary | KG-08 | 222 | · |
| Bennett School | Bennett | Elementary | PK-08 | 187 | · |
| Moncure School | Moncure | Elementary | KG-08 | 176 | · |
| Chatham Early College | Siler City | High | 09-13 | 113 | · |
| ONE Academy | Siler City | High | 06-12 | 35 | · |
| Chatham County Schools Virtual Academy | Siler City | High | 09-12 | 9 | · |
| School of the Arts for Boys Acad (SABA) | Pittsboro | Combined | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Chatham County
About Chatham County
Across the middle-population North Carolina county of Chatham County of about 80,151 residents, the public-school footprint covers 25 schools and about 10,374 students.
Stepping back, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $94,317, roughly 49% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 10% of residents live below the federal poverty line. That income level is 49% meaningfully above the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Chatham County covers 12 elementary schools (4,558 students), 3 middle schools (1,663), 7 high schools (3,047), and 3 combined or other schools.
Chatham County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 8,987 students across Chatham County.
Looking at the last 7 years. Across the same 7-year window, public-school enrollment held roughly steady: 10,288 students in SY 2017-18 versus 10,374 in SY 2024-25. The school count climbed from 21 to 24 across the same 7-year window.
On allk12, the community for Chatham County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Chatham County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data