Total enrollment
10,999
-707 (-6%) vs SY 2017-18
Surry County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Surry County's public schools total 30 across the county, with enrollment of about 11,139 and Surry County Schools the largest single district. By grade band, the county runs 15 elementary, 6 middle, and 7 high schools.
7-year change in Surry County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
28
+1 (+4%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
66%
was 71%
% Hispanic
26%
was 22%
% Black
3%
was 3%
% Asian
1%
was 1%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
30
5 districts
Enrollment
11,139
NCES CCD
Median income
$55,656
Below North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
92.7%
Above North Carolina avg
Elementary
15
4,835 students
Middle
6
2,129 students
High
7
3,426 students
Combined / other
2
749 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Surry County Schools
7,318 students · 5 districts in Surry County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Surry 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+
20.4%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
13.3%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
4.4%
civilian labor
Median age
44
21.1% under 18
Test scores in Surry County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 26 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- Surry Early College· 94.0%
- Shoals Elementary· 80.0%
- Elkin High· 77.2%
- Pilot Mountain Middle· 69.7%
- East Surry High· 66.0%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Flat Rock Elementary· 41.1%
- Westfield Elementary· 42.2%
- Surry Online Magnet School· 46.1%
- Copeland Elementary· 46.3%
- Central Middle· 47.1%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Surry High | Mount Airy | High | 09-12 | 792 | · |
| Surry Central High | Dobson | High | 09-12 | 679 | · |
| Elkin Elementary | Elkin | Elementary | PK-06 | 673 | · |
| Millennium Charter Academy | Mount Airy | Combined | KG-12 | 628 | · |
| Mount Airy High | Mount Airy | High | 09-12 | 620 | · |
| East Surry High | Pilot Mountain | High | 09-12 | 576 | · |
| Central Middle | Dobson | Middle | 06-08 | 502 | · |
| Franklin Elementary | Mount Airy | Elementary | PK-05 | 473 | · |
| Bruce H. Tharrington Primary | Mount Airy | Elementary | PK-02 | 432 | · |
| Elkin High | Elkin | High | 09-12 | 401 | · |
| Pilot Mountain Middle | Pilot Mountain | Middle | 06-08 | 401 | · |
| Mount Airy Middle | Mount Airy | Middle | 06-08 | 395 | · |
| Pilot Mountain Elementary | Pilot Mountain | Elementary | PK-05 | 353 | · |
| Dobson Elementary | Dobson | Elementary | PK-05 | 350 | · |
| Cedar Ridge Elementary | Lowgap | Elementary | PK-05 | 348 | · |
| Jones Intermediate | Mount Airy | Elementary | 03-05 | 339 | · |
| Rockford Elementary | Dobson | Elementary | PK-05 | 335 | · |
| White Plains Elementary | Mount Airy | Elementary | PK-05 | 328 | · |
| J Sam Gentry Middle | Mount Airy | Middle | 06-08 | 320 | · |
| Meadowview Magnet Middle | Mount Airy | Middle | 06-08 | 318 | · |
| Surry Early College | Dobson | High | 09-13 | 296 | · |
| Copeland Elementary | Dobson | Elementary | PK-05 | 274 | · |
| Shoals Elementary | Pinnacle | Elementary | PK-05 | 235 | · |
| Flat Rock Elementary | Mount Airy | Elementary | PK-05 | 217 | · |
| Westfield Elementary | Pilot Mountain | Elementary | PK-05 | 212 | · |
| Elkin Middle | Elkin | Middle | 07-08 | 193 | · |
| Mountain Park Elementary | State Road | Elementary | PK-05 | 188 | · |
| Surry Online Magnet School | Dobson | Combined | KG-12 | 121 | · |
| Appalachian State Univ Academy at Elkin | Elkin | Elementary | 02-04 | 78 | · |
| Global E-Learning Academy | Elkin | High | 06-12 | 62 | · |
Cities in Surry County
About Surry County
Surry County is an average-sized North Carolina county of about 71,425 residents, home to 30 public schools and roughly 11,139 students.
Looking at the wider area, census numbers show typical household earnings sit around $55,656, about 20% of adults have a bachelor's degree or above, and the federal-poverty share is near 13%. That income level is 12% below the North Carolina median.
On the school-mix side, Surry County consists of 15 elementary schools (4,835 students), 6 middle schools (2,129), 7 high schools (3,426), and 2 combined or other schools.
Surry County Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 7,318 students on its own.
Five-year track record. Combined enrollment now sits at 10,999 students, decreased 6% from the 11,706 reported in SY 2017-18. Over that span, Surry County added 1 school, going from 27 to 28. The White share of public-school enrollment decreased from 71% to 66%.
In the discussion threads here, the community for Surry County discusses comparison threads between local schools and program reviews. Parents, students, and educators in the area can post or comment.
Frequently asked questions
Surry County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data