Mahadev Maitri Foundation
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Wayne County Public Schools

North Carolina · Public School District
32
Schools
17,431
Students
$12,270
Per-Pupil Spend
-14% nat'l
98.5%
Free Lunch Rate
+46pp vs nat'l
82.7%
Graduation Rate
-3.8pp vs nat'l
District Overview

Wayne County Public Schools is a public school district in North Carolina serving 17,431 students across 32 schools. It includes 13 elementary, 9 middle, 9 high schools. Its graduation rate of 82.7% is below the national average of 86.5%. Per-pupil spending of $12,270 is below the national average for a US public school district. 99% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, reflecting significant economic need in the community. Opportunity scores across its schools are limited, with a district median of 40/100.

⇄ Compare with another district
All Schools (32)
Middle Schools9 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Brogden Middle05–08588
Dillard Middle06–08350
Eastern Wayne Middle06–08465
Grantham Middle05–08334
Greenwood Middle05–08413
Mount Olive Middle05–08377
Norwayne Middle06–08886
Rosewood Middle06–08322
Spring Creek Middle05–08624
High Schools9 schools
SchoolGradesStudents
Charles B Aycock High09–121,122
Eastern Wayne High09–12826
Edgewood Cmty Developmental05–1259
Goldsboro High09–12470
Rosewood High09–12469
Southern Wayne High09–121,066
Spring Creek High09–12753
Wayne Early / Middle College High09–13228
Wayne School of Engineering06–13433
Other School1 school
SchoolGradesStudents
Wayne Middle / High AcademyKG–1237
District Finances
Per-Pupil Expenditure$12,270-14% nat'l avg
National avg $14,347
Revenue Sources
61%
State
60.6%
Local (property tax)
11.3%
Federal
28.0%

State funding accounts for 61% of the budget — this district relies more on state aid than local tax revenue.

Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey. District-level data.
District Snapshot
32
Schools
17,431
Students
99%
Free Lunch
$12K
Per-Pupil
Graduation Rate82.7%
Opportunity Score40/100
StateNorth Carolina →
School Rankings
Strengths & Considerations
Range of school options
With 32 schools, families have meaningful choice across programs and grade levels.
High economic need in community
99% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch — above the national rate of 52.2% — reflecting broader economic challenges.
Heavy reliance on federal aid
28% of revenue comes from federal sources. High federal reliance typically signals a limited local tax base or high concentration of low-income families.
Location
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Wayne County Public Schools?
Wayne County Public Schools has 32 public schools, serving a total of 17,431 students.
What is the graduation rate for Wayne County Public Schools?
The graduation rate is 82.7%, which is below the national average of 86.5%.
How much does Wayne County Public Schools spend per student?
Wayne County Public Schools spends $12,270 per pupil — 14% below the national average of $14,347.
What percentage of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch in Wayne County Public Schools?
99% of students in Wayne County Public Schools qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, compared to the national rate of 52.2%.
Are there charter schools in Wayne County Public Schools?
No, Wayne County Public Schools does not currently include any charter schools.
What grade levels does Wayne County Public Schools serve?
Wayne County Public Schools serves grades PK through 13, covering elementary level.
What is the opportunity score for Wayne County Public Schools?
The median opportunity score across schools in Wayne County Public Schools is 40/100. The national median is 50/100. Opportunity scores reflect long-term economic mobility prospects for children who grow up in these communities.
About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.