Total enrollment
7,417
-305 (-4%) vs SY 2020-21
Edgecombe County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Edgecombe County's public schools, 27 in all, serve approximately 8,573 K-12 students inside North Carolina, with Edgecombe County Public Schools the largest district by enrollment. The level mix is 14 elementary, 6 middle, and 6 high schools.
4-year change in Edgecombe County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
20
+1 (+5%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Edgecombe County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 8,573 | #46 of 98 | #902 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 24 | #36 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.8:1 | #50 of 98 | #2,006 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 98.5% | #35 of 98 | #129 of 2,526 |
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.
Edgecombe County school rankings
Residents
48,736
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
27
3 districts
Enrollment
8,573
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$51,265
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
98.5%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
14
4,061 students
Middle
6
1,507 students
High
6
1,898 students
Combined / other
1
1,107 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Edgecombe County Public Schools
6,310 students · 3 districts in Edgecombe County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Edgecombe 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+
17.5%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
18.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
8.7%
civilian labor
Median age
42
22.9% under 18
Test scores in Edgecombe County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 14 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- EDGE Academy of Health Sciences· 76.7%
- South Edgecombe Middle· 44.9%
- G W Carver Elementary· 43.7%
- Martin Millennium Academy· 39.2%
- Phillips Middle· 35.2%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Tarboro High· 16.3%
- SouthWest Edgecombe High· 26.9%
- North Edgecombe High· 27.3%
- Coker-Wimberly Elementary· 27.6%
- West Edgecombe Middle· 27.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North East Carolina Prep | Tarboro | Combined | PK-12 | 1,107 | · |
| SouthWest Edgecombe High | Pinetops | High | 09-12 | 798 | · |
| G W Carver Elementary | Pinetops | Elementary | PK-05 | 550 | · |
| Martin Millennium Academy | Tarboro | Elementary | KG-08 | 548 | · |
| G W Bulluck Elementary | Rocky Mount | Elementary | PK-05 | 535 | · |
| Tarboro High | Tarboro | High | 09-12 | 496 | · |
| Stocks Elementary | Tarboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 389 | · |
| North Edgecombe High | Tarboro | High | 09-12 | 358 | · |
| J W Parker Middle | Rocky Mount | Middle | 06-08 | 336 | · |
| D S Johnson Elementary | Rocky Mount | Elementary | 03-05 | 332 | · |
| Baskerville Elementary | Rocky Mount | Elementary | KG-05 | 321 | · |
| W A Pattillo Middle | Tarboro | Middle | 06-08 | 289 | · |
| South Edgecombe Middle | Pinetops | Middle | 06-08 | 271 | · |
| Fairview Elementary | Rocky Mount | Elementary | KG-02 | 259 | · |
| Fairview Elementary | Rocky Mount | Elementary | PK-02 | 255 | · |
| West Edgecombe Middle | Rocky Mount | Middle | 06-08 | 249 | · |
| J W Parker Middle | Rocky Mount | Middle | 06-08 | 244 | · |
| Coker-Wimberly Elementary | Battleboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 236 | · |
| Baskerville Elementary | Rocky Mount | Elementary | KG-05 | 225 | · |
| D S Johnson Elementary | Rocky Mount | Elementary | 03-05 | 206 | · |
| Princeville Elementary | Tarboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 205 | · |
| Edgecombe Early College High | Tarboro | High | 09-13 | 171 | · |
| Phillips Middle | Battleboro | Middle | 06-08 | 118 | · |
| EDGE Academy of Health Sciences | Rocky Mount | High | 09-11 | 75 | · |
| NE Carolina Prep School Remote Academy | Tarboro | High | 09-12 | 0 | · |
| Connections Learning Academy | Tarboro | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| Connections Virtual Academy | Tarboro | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Edgecombe County
About Edgecombe County
Edgecombe County is a small North Carolina county of about 48,736 residents, home to 27 public schools and roughly 8,573 students.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $51,265 a year, 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 19%. That income level is 19% lower than the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Edgecombe County consists of 14 elementary schools (4,061 students), 6 middle schools (1,507), 6 high schools (1,898), and 1 combined or other schools.
The largest single district in Edgecombe County is Edgecombe County Public Schools, which alone enrolls about 6,310 students.
Looking at the last 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Edgecombe County has shrank 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 7,722 students to 7,417. Over that span, Edgecombe County added 1 school, going from 19 to 20.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Edgecombe County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data