Total enrollment
11,001
-563 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Sampson County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Across 23 public schools, Sampson County, North Carolina serves roughly 11,001 K-12 students, roughly 1 in 5 residents. By grade band, the county runs 12 elementary, 5 middle, and 6 high schools.
7-year change in Sampson County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
23
0 (0%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
29%
was 35%
% Hispanic
45%
was 37%
% Black
20%
was 23%
% Asian
0%
was 0%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Residents
59,470
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
23
2 districts
Enrollment
11,001
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$52,432
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
98.7%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
12
5,299 students
Middle
5
2,483 students
High
6
3,219 students
Combined / other
0
schools
LARGEST DISTRICT
Sampson County Schools
7,986 students · 2 districts in Sampson County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Sampson 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+
16.2%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
15.0%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
5.3%
civilian labor
Median age
40
24.5% under 18
Test scores in Sampson County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 20 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Sampson Early College High· 90.0%
- Midway High· 66.9%
- Clement Elementary· 62.6%
- Lakewood High· 57.6%
- Hargrove Elementary· 54.9%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Union Intermediate· 31.3%
- Salemburg Elementary· 34.0%
- Roseboro Elementary· 35.9%
- Roseboro-Salemburg Middle· 36.1%
- Union Middle· 38.8%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clinton High | Clinton | High | 09-12 | 828 | · |
| Midway High | Newton Grove | High | 09-12 | 726 | · |
| Sampson Middle | Clinton | Middle | 06-08 | 703 | · |
| Sunset Avenue Elementary | Clinton | Elementary | 03-05 | 649 | · |
| Midway Middle | Dunn | Middle | 06-08 | 584 | · |
| Midway Elementary | Dunn | Elementary | PK-05 | 539 | · |
| Salemburg Elementary | Salemburg | Elementary | PK-05 | 502 | · |
| Union High | Rose Hill | High | 09-12 | 494 | · |
| Lakewood High | Salemburg | High | 09-12 | 475 | · |
| Butler Avenue Elementary | Clinton | Elementary | 01-02 | 469 | · |
| Hobbton High | Newton Grove | High | 09-12 | 467 | · |
| Union Elementary | Clinton | Elementary | PK-02 | 466 | · |
| Hobbton Elementary | Newton Grove | Elementary | KG-05 | 453 | · |
| Hobbton Middle | Newton Grove | Middle | 06-08 | 428 | · |
| Union Intermediate | Clinton | Elementary | 03-05 | 396 | · |
| Roseboro-Salemburg Middle | Roseboro | Middle | 06-08 | 394 | · |
| Union Middle | Clinton | Middle | 06-08 | 374 | · |
| Roseboro Elementary | Roseboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 369 | · |
| Clement Elementary | Autryville | Elementary | PK-05 | 367 | · |
| Langdon C Kerr Elementary | Clinton | Elementary | PK-KG | 366 | · |
| Plain View Elementary | Dunn | Elementary | KG-05 | 362 | · |
| Hargrove Elementary | Faison | Elementary | PK-05 | 361 | · |
| Sampson Early College High | Clinton | High | 09-13 | 229 | · |
Cities in Sampson County
About Sampson County
Sampson County is a small North Carolina county of about 59,470 residents, home to 23 public schools and roughly 11,001 students.
Zooming out, census numbers show the median household earns about $52,432 a year, 16% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 15%. That income level is 17% noticeably below the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Sampson County spans 12 elementary schools (5,299 students), 5 middle schools (2,483), and 6 high schools (3,219).
The largest single district in Sampson County is Sampson County Schools, which alone enrolls about 7,986 students.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 11,001 students, contracted 5% from the 11,564 reported in SY 2017-18. The Hispanic share of public-school enrollment climbed from 37% to 45%.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Sampson County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Anyone with firsthand knowledge of these schools is welcome to weigh in.
Frequently asked questions
Sampson County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data