Total enrollment
9,471
+380 (+4%) vs SY 2020-21
Stanly County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Public education in Stanly County reaches 9,471 students across 24 schools. Stanly County Schools is the largest district at 8,743 students. By grade band, the county runs 11 elementary, 4 middle, and 8 high schools.
4-year change in Stanly County
SY 2020-21 vs SY 2024-25School count
24
0 (0%) vs SY 2020-21
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
How Stanly County ranks
Among counties| Measure | This county | In North Carolina | In the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| State test proficiency ranked highest first | 55.1% | #28 of 93 | N/A |
| Enrollment ranked largest first | 9,471 | #43 of 98 | #851 of 2,745 |
| Number of schools ranked most first | 24 | #38 of 98 | N/A |
| Students per teacher ranked fewest first | 15.4:1 | #36 of 98 | #1,906 of 2,655 |
| Free or reduced-price lunch share ranked highest first | 98.8% | #24 of 98 | #111 of 2,526 |
| Diversity index ranked most diverse first | 54.8% | #57 of 94 | #851 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.
Stanly County school rankings
Residents
64,651
all ages · ACS 5-yr
Schools
24
2 districts
Enrollment
9,471
students · NCES CCD
Median income
$60,704
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
98.8%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
11
4,183 students
Middle
4
1,890 students
High
8
3,342 students
Combined / other
1
56 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Stanly County Schools
8,743 students · 2 districts in Stanly County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Stanly 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+
19.9%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
10.9%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.1%
civilian labor
Median age
41
21.7% under 18
Test scores in Stanly County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 20 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Oakboro Choice STEM· 72.3%
- Millingport Elementary· 69.4%
- West Stanly High· 68.3%
- Locust Elementary· 66.2%
- West Stanly Middle School· 64.4%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- East Albemarle Elementary· 25.0%
- Central Elementary· 29.9%
- Albemarle Middle· 33.2%
- Stanly County Virtual Education· 35.0%
- Albemarle High· 36.4%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| West Stanly High | Oakboro | High | 09-12 | 800 | · |
| Gray Stone Day | Misenheimer | High | 06-12 | 728 | · |
| West Stanly Middle School | Locust | Middle | 06-08 | 662 | · |
| North Stanly High | New London | High | 09-12 | 568 | · |
| Locust Elementary | Locust | Elementary | KG-05 | 563 | · |
| Central Elementary | Albemarle | Elementary | KG-05 | 525 | · |
| Stanfield Elementary | Stanfield | Elementary | KG-05 | 483 | · |
| North Stanly Middle | New London | Middle | 06-08 | 471 | · |
| South Stanly High | Norwood | High | 09-12 | 442 | · |
| Albemarle High | Albemarle | High | 09-12 | 414 | · |
| Badin Elementary | Badin | Elementary | KG-05 | 411 | · |
| South Stanly Middle | Norwood | Middle | 06-08 | 402 | · |
| Aquadale Elementary | Norwood | Elementary | PK-05 | 379 | · |
| Endy Elementary | Albemarle | Elementary | KG-05 | 360 | · |
| Albemarle Middle | Albemarle | Middle | 06-08 | 355 | · |
| Norwood Elementary | Norwood | Elementary | KG-05 | 354 | · |
| Oakboro Choice STEM | Oakboro | Elementary | KG-08 | 353 | · |
| Richfield Elementary | Richfield | Elementary | KG-05 | 302 | · |
| East Albemarle Elementary | Albemarle | Elementary | KG-05 | 261 | · |
| Millingport Elementary | Albemarle | Elementary | KG-05 | 192 | · |
| Stanly STEM Early College | Albemarle | High | 09-13 | 189 | · |
| Stanly Early College High | Albemarle | High | 09-13 | 188 | · |
| Stanly County Virtual Education | Albemarle | Combined | 01-12 | 56 | · |
| Stanly Academy Learning Center | Albemarle | High | 08-12 | 13 | · |
Cities in Stanly County
About Stanly County
In North Carolina, Stanly County is an average-sized county of about 64,651 residents. 24 public schools across the county serves about 9,471 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $60,704 a year, roughly 20% of adults have completed at least a four-year degree, and roughly 11% of residents live below the federal poverty line.
On the school-mix side, Stanly County is built around 11 elementary schools (4,183 students), 4 middle schools (1,890), 8 high schools (3,342), and 1 combined or other schools.
Stanly County Schools is the biggest district by enrollment, covering about 8,743 students across Stanly County.
Trend over the past 4 years. Total public-school enrollment in Stanly County has climbed 4% since SY 2020-21, moving from about 9,091 students to 9,471.
Within the allk12 community for this area, the community for Stanly County discusses school events, board meetings, and seasonal calendars. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data