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Lillington, NCPhoto: Dincher · CC BY-SA 3.0
C+
Schools in Lillington · Harnett County Schools

Lillington’s public schools score below 64% of North Carolina districts on tests and graduation

In Lillington, 38% of tested students are proficient in math, below the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Lillington, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.

#240of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.

Reading proficiency
41%
▼ 9 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
38%
▼ 13 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
87%
▲ 0 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$10.9K
▼ 16% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
17.3
NC 16.0 · larger classes
Schools in town
1
19,112 students on the public path
In brief

Lillington’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 262 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Lillington’s, its schools beat 15%, lower than their 36% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 41% of tested students were proficient in reading and 38% in math, against 50% and 51% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina. Districts ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $10,916 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

14 elementary schools, then six middle and five high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Harnett Virtual Academy, an online school, is based here too; it isn’t counted as a local school. Every school ↓

Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.

The School Grade

What’s behind Lillington’s grade

C Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 36% of North Carolina school districts, #240 of 290 North Carolina towns. Graduation is above the North Carolina average; test scores are below it.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 36%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (262)Better than 15%
CC+A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 10,040 test results and a graduating class of 1,551 could put Lillington anywhere from C to C+. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Lillington’s students in the tested grades sat them (9,589 in math, 10,490 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Lillington, with each school’s own grade.

14 schools teach K in Lillington’s district. Which one depends on your address. Their grades range from D to B, so check the specific school.
The path, start to finish
PK–514 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to B
6–86 middle schoolsDepends on your addressD to C+
9–125 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A

Lillington’s public schools are run by Harnett County Schools, which also serves Angier, Coats, Dunn and Erwin. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.

The district

Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.

Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading41%
State average 49.9% · 10490 students tested
Math38%
State average 50.8% · 9589 students tested

Lillington vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Lillington’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
LillingtonC+Harnett County Schools

Every school in Lillington

27 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).

Also serving Lillingtonin other towns
Benhaven Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Sanford
B
1,065 students16:1Rate it →
Overhills Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Spring Lake
C
866 students16:1Rate it →
Highland Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Sanford
C+
854 students15:1Rate it →
Dunn Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Dunn
D
813 students14:1Rate it →
Lillington-Shawtown Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
695 students15:1Rate it →
Northwest Harnett Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Fuquay-Varina
B
645 students18:1Rate it →
Erwin Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Erwin
D
637 students15:1Rate it →
Coats Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Coats
C−
633 students14:1Rate it →
Anderson Creek Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Bunnlevel
553 students15:1Rate it →
Boone Trail Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C−
545 students15:1Rate it →
Johnsonville Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5 · Cameron
C−
489 students16:1Rate it →
North Harnett Primary
Elementary · Grades PK–2 · Angier
329 students13:1Rate it →
Buies Creek Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Buies Creek
B−
267 students17:1Rate it →
LaFayette Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5 · Fuquay-Varina
179 students17:1Rate it →
Harnett Central Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Angier
C
1,059 students17:1Rate it →
Highland Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Sanford
C+
762 students15:1Rate it →
Overhills Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Spring Lake
C
758 students16:1Rate it →
Western Harnett Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
700 students15:1Rate it →
Coats-Erwin Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dunn
C
589 students16:1Rate it →
Dunn Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8 · Dunn
D
388 students14:1Rate it →
Overhills High
High · Grades 9–12 · Spring Lake
A−
1,981 students27:1Rate it →
Harnett Central High
High · Grades 9–12 · Angier
B
1,522 students25:1Rate it →
Western Harnett High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,324 students23:1Rate it →
Triton High
High · Grades 9–12 · Erwin
B−
1,274 students22:1Rate it →
Harnett County Early College
High · Grades 9–12 · Dunn
A
185 students34:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Online schools based in Lillingtonnot counted as local schools

Questions about Lillington’s schools

Are Lillington’s schools good?

On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Lillington children attend score below 64% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #240 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 15%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Lillington in?

Harnett County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 20,095 students in 29 schools (2024–25).

Where do Lillington kids go to high school?

One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: Overhills High, Harnett Central High, Western Harnett High, Triton High and Harnett County Early College.

What is Lillington’s graduation rate?

87% of the class of 2023 in Harnett County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Lillington spend per student?

$10,916 in Harnett County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Parents talk

What Lillington families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Lillington → They have their own page.

School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.