Top Rankings
Harnett County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Diversity
Most diverse schools (Top 1%)
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026 school year, there are 8 public middle schools serving 4,387 students in Harnett County Schools. This district's average middle testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public middle schools in North Carolina.
Public Middle Schools in Harnett County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 36% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 41% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
29 Schools
875 Schools
# Students
20,091 Students
497,279 Students
# Teachers
1,152 Teachers
31,075 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
17:1
17:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Harnett County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#241 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)38%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
41%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
54%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)86%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.71
0.71
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
28%
21%
% Black
24%
25%
% White
39%
43%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $9,495 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $9,641 is less than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$191 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$194 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$9,495
$11,168
Spending / Student
$9,641
$11,592
Best Harnett County Schools Public Middle Schools (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Western Harnett Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
11135 Nc Hwy 27 West
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-4497
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-4497
Gr: 6-8 | 700 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #22.
Overhills Middle School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2711 Ray Road
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-0009
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-0009
Gr: 6-8 | 758 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #33.
Highland Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
345 Highland School Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 498-3331
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 498-3331
Gr: 6-8 | 762 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #44.
Harnett Virtual Academy
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
900 11th Strrt
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Gr: K-12 | 100 students Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #55.
Harnett Central Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2529 Harnett Central Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6000
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6000
Gr: 6-8 | 1,059 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #66.
Coats-erwin Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2833 Nc Hwy 55e
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 230-0300
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 230-0300
Gr: 6-8 | 589 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #77.
Dunn Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1301 Meadowlark Road
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1016
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1016
Gr: 6-8 | 388 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #88.
Star Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
900 11th Street
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Gr: 6-12 | 31 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
