Harnett County Schools

1008 South Eleventh St
Lillington, NC 27546
(District boundaries shown in map)
3/
10
Bottom 50%

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 12 public preschools serving 8,124 students in Harnett County Schools. This district's average pre testing ranking is 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Harnett County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 41% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 39% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 61% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Overview

This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
29 Schools
1,007 Schools
# Students
20,091 Students
477,947 Students
# Teachers
1,152 Teachers
32,759 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.
This School District
State Average (NC)
#241 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(21-22)
38%
51%
41%
50%
54%
63%
(21-22)
86%
86%

Students by Ethnicity:

0.71
0.73
% American Indian
1%
1%
% Asian
1%
4%
% Hispanic
28%
24%
% Black
24%
25%
% White
39%
40%
% 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.
This School District
This State (NC)
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 Preschools (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Benhaven Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
520 Olive Farm Dr
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 499-4811
Gr: PK-5 | 1,065 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #22.
Northwest Harnett Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
736 Rollins Road
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 552-4547
Gr: PK-5 | 645 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #33.
Highland Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1915 Buffalo Lake Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 499-2200
Gr: PK-5 | 854 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #44.
Dunn Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
800 W Harnett St
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-0126
Gr: PK-5 | 813 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #55.
Boone Trail Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1425 Adcock Road
Mamers, NC 27552
(910) 893-4013
Gr: PK-5 | 545 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #66.
Overhills Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
2626 Ray Road
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-3545
Gr: PK-5 | 866 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #77.
Lillington-shawtown Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
855 Old Us 421
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3483
Gr: PK-5 | 695 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #88.
Johnsonville Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
18495 Nc Hwy 27 West
Cameron, NC 28326
(919) 499-4912
Gr: PK-5 | 489 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #99.
Coats Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
585 Brick Mill Road
Coats, NC 27521
(910) 897-8353
Gr: PK-5 | 633 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1010.
Erwin Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
405 Denim Dr.
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-7178
Gr: PK-5 | 637 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: n/an/a
Anderson Creek Primary
914 Anderson Creek Sch Rd
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-4523
Gr: PK-2 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: n/an/a
North Harnett Primary
282 N Harnett School Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-4480
Gr: PK-2 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 75%

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Quick Facts (2026)

  • District size: 29 schools
  • Grades: PK-13
  • Enrollment: 20,091 students
  • Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 61%
  • : 86% (Top 50% in NC)
  • : Bottom 50%
  • : 38% (Btm 50%)
  • : 41% (Btm 50%)
  • : 54% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

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