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.
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
0.73
% 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.
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)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Benhaven Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
520 Olive Farm Dr
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 499-4811
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:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
736 Rollins Road
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 552-4547
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:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1915 Buffalo Lake Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 499-2200
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:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
800 W Harnett St
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-0126
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:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1425 Adcock Road
Mamers, NC 27552
(910) 893-4013
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:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2626 Ray Road
Spring Lake, NC 28390
(910) 436-3545
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:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
855 Old Us 421
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3483
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:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
18495 Nc Hwy 27 West
Cameron, NC 28326
(919) 499-4912
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:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
585 Brick Mill Road
Coats, NC 27521
(910) 897-8353
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:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
405 Denim Dr.
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-7178
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-7178
Gr: PK-5 | 637 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: n/an/a
914 Anderson Creek Sch Rd
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-4523
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-4523
Gr: PK-2 | 553 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: n/an/a
282 N Harnett School Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-4480
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-4480
Gr: PK-2 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Recent Articles
How Public Schools Train Staff Each Year
Learn how public schools train staff each year through professional development, safety training, technology instruction, and ongoing educational support.
What Substitute Teachers Experience in Public Schools
Discover what substitute teachers experience in public schools, including daily responsibilities, challenges, rewards, and their role in student success.
How Teachers Collaborate Across Departments in Public Schools
Learn how teachers collaborate across departments to improve student outcomes, strengthen instruction, and prepare students for real-world success.
