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Lee County Courthouse - Sanford, NC 1Photo: Upstateherd · CC BY-SA 4.0
C+
Schools in Sanford · Lee County Schools

Sanford’s public schools score below 60% of North Carolina districts on tests and graduation

Reading proficiency in Sanford’s districts is 42%, below the North Carolina average (50%). The grade covers the public school district serving Sanford, 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.

#221of 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
42%
▼ 8 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
46%
▼ 5 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
86%
▼ 0 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$13.0K
▼ 0% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.9
NC 16.0
Schools in town
15
6,269 students on the public path
In brief

Sanford’s schools, in brief

Against towns with similar incomes

Among the 330 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Sanford’s, its schools beat 28%, lower than their 40% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Results trail the state

In spring 2022, 42% of tested students were proficient in reading and 46% in math, against 50% and 51% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓

Graduation

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

Spending and class size

The district spends $13,003 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Three elementary schools, then three middle and three high schools

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

Choice beyond the district

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County, Rising Leaders Academy, Central Carolina Academy and Lee Christian School (private) are in town. Ascend Leadership Remote 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 Sanford’s grade

C+ Test scoresC+ Graduation

C+: better than 40% of North Carolina school districts, #221 of 290 North Carolina towns. Both inputs trail the North Carolina average; graduation is the closer of the two to typical.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 40%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (330)Better than 28%
C+B−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 4,752 test results and a graduating class of 802 could put Sanford anywhere from C+ to B−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 100% of Sanford’s students in the tested grades sat them (4,575 in math, 4,928 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

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

The path, start to finish
K–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressD to C+
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC− to C+
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A+

Sanford’s public schools are run by Lee County Schools, which also serves Broadway. 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.

Lee County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 16 schools · 9,168 students, down 3% since 2020–21 · 15.9 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$13,003NC $13,045 · FY2024
C+
Test scores · 2021–22

Well below the state in reading

Reading42%
State average 49.9% · 4928 students tested
Math46%
State average 50.8% · 4575 students tested

Sanford vs. its neighbors

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

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
SanfordC+Lee County Schools

Every school in Sanford

16 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).

District schools in Sanfordby address
WB Wicker Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
D
588 students14:1Rate it →
BT Bullock Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
511 students15:1Rate it →
J R Ingram Jr Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
C+
419 students14:1Rate it →
SanLee Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
792 students15:1Rate it →
East Lee Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C−
526 students15:1Rate it →
West Lee Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
C
522 students14:1Rate it →
Lee County High
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,459 students20:1Rate it →
Southern Lee High School
High · Grades 9–12
B−
1,180 students21:1Rate it →
Lee Early College
High · Grades 9–12
A+
272 studentsRate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Floyd L Knight Children Center
Grades PK–12
D−
Special Education
95 students7:1Rate it →
Bragg Street Academy
High · Grades 6–12
D
Alternative Education
40 students6:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County
High · Grades 6–12
B−
Charter
628 students14:1Rate it →
Central Carolina Academy
High · Grades 6–12
Charter
536 students15:1Rate it →
Rising Leaders Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
C−
Charter
282 students10:1Rate it →
Online schools based in Sanfordnot counted as local schools
Ascend Leadership Remote Academy
Middle · Grades 6–8
CharterOnline
27 studentsRate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Lee Christian School
Grades PK–12
Private · Religious
454 students12:1Rate it →

Questions about Sanford’s schools

Are Sanford’s schools good?

On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Sanford children attend score below 60% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #221 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 28%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Sanford in?

Lee County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 9,168 students in 16 schools (2024–25).

Where do Sanford kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Lee County High, Southern Lee High School and Lee Early College.

What is Sanford’s graduation rate?

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

How much does Sanford spend per student?

$13,003 in Lee County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Sanford?

Yes: Lee Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 454 students). Sanford also has 3 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Sanford families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Sanford → 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.