North Carolina Education: A Comprehensive Overview of Rankings, History, and Challenges
North Carolina's education system has a rich history and faces ongoing challenges. Understanding its evolution, current standing, and the factors influencing its performance is crucial for stakeholders, including parents, educators, and policymakers. This article provides a detailed analysis of North Carolina's education landscape, encompassing historical context, recent rankings, funding disparities, and key issues shaping the state's educational future.
A Historical Perspective on Education in North Carolina
The development of education in North Carolina reflects broader societal shifts and priorities.
Early Education
During the colonial period, education was not a high priority and was largely limited to wealthy families who could afford private tutors for their children. Some local Anglican Churches maintained small schools, and a few private academies in towns offered basic instruction in reading, writing, and arithmetic-the "3Rs." A single teacher often managed grades 1 through 8 in a single room. The first small public school opened in New Bern in 1749, intended as a charity for poor families unable to afford private tuition.
The Rise of Public Education in the 19th Century
Conditions remained poor in the early 19th century; textbooks were scarce, and homework and exams were not common. Teachers typically had only a year or two of schooling beyond the 8th grade. By 1852, there were forty-two private academies and 30 private colleges operating, though most survived only a few years. There was no comprehensive public school system, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the state's only public university, was small, with only 230 students in 1850.
Dramatic Changes in the 1850s
Dramatic changes occurred in the 1850s under the leadership of Calvin H. Wiley, a Whig modernizer. As state superintendent of education from 1853 to 1865, Wiley overcame traditional opposition from small farmers who saw little value in formal schooling for their children. Wiley promoted the Whig vision of progress, establishing the South's first modern public education system. He founded the state education association to build local support, helped establish teacher training institutions, set standards and examining boards for teachers, mandated annual teacher certification, coordinated county school units with superintendents and boards, and advocated for universal white education as a means of ensuring the state's economic prosperity.
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The 20th Century: Progress and Challenges
North Carolina was a leader among Southern states in promoting public and higher education throughout the 20th century. In the 1900 gubernatorial election, Charles Aycock launched a successful campaign to upgrade public education. Aycock increased school funding, raised teacher salaries, and oversaw the construction of over a thousand new schoolhouses, emphasizing education's importance for social and economic progress.
Current Rankings and Performance
Despite historical progress, North Carolina's education system faces significant challenges in the 21st century.
National Rankings
In 2021, the Education Week Chance-for-Success Index ranked North Carolina 28th out of 50 states and the District of Columbia. This index combines 13 indicators spanning a person’s life from cradle to career. In 2014, the state ranked as average in most indicators.
A recent nationwide public school ranking placed North Carolina at No. 22. The study compared state education systems across 11 key metrics, including test scores, class sizes, staffing, school availability, safety, and digital readiness. The report found that Northeastern states like Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, and Connecticut dominated the top of the list, with North Carolina falling in the middle.
School Report Cards
North Carolina’s school report cards provide comprehensive data at the school and district levels, covering student performance, academic growth, school and student characteristics, and other details. These report cards are available for all public schools in North Carolina, including charter and alternative schools, and are designed to be interactive and easy to navigate.
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Top Performing High Schools
Despite the overall middling ranking, some North Carolina public high schools have received national recognition. According to U.S. News & World Report, three public high schools landed in the top 100 nationally: The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro (No. 31), STEM Early College at N.C. A&T (No. 44) in Greensboro, and Onslow Early College in Jacksonville (No. 76). Other high-ranking public schools in the Charlotte and Raleigh metro areas include Raleigh Charter High School (No. 206), Green Level High (No. 332), and Highland School of Technology (No. 392).
Funding Disparities and Educational Neglect
Recent reports highlight significant funding disparities and concerns about the state's commitment to public education.
The Education Law Center's "Making the Grade" Report
The Education Law Center’s Making the Grade 2025 report gave North Carolina failing grades for school funding. The report ranked North Carolina 50th out of 51 states (including the District of Columbia) for education funding, with only Idaho ranking worse.
Funding Level
North Carolina received a grade of "F" for funding level, determined by dividing combined state and local revenue for PK-12 education by student enrollment and adjusting for regional variations in labor market costs. In the 2022-23 school year, North Carolina spent $5,660 less per student than the national average ($12,193 in NC compared to the $17,853 national average).
Funding Distribution
The state received a "C" grade and ranked 17th out of 48 for funding distribution, which measures the relationship between district-level, per-pupil funding and student poverty. This assesses how effectively education funding addresses inequities created by varying levels of poverty across communities. This is a drop from last year’s report which gave NC a B and a rank of 12.
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Funding Effort
North Carolina received an "F" grade and ranked 50th out of 50 for funding effort, which ranks states based on PK-12 spending as a percentage of the state’s gross domestic product (GDP).
NCAE's Stance
North Carolina Association of Educators (NCAE) President Tamika Walker Kelly has criticized the state's underfunding of public schools, stating that North Carolina’s failing grades reflect years of deliberate neglect. She highlighted lawmakers' refusal to fully fund public schools, denial of meaningful raises for educators, and the Supreme Court's allowance of the Leandro case to languish.
Per-Student Spending and Teacher Pay
As of 2025, North Carolina's public schools rank 48th in the nation in per-student spending. The state ranks 39th for starting teacher pay ($42,500 on average) and 43rd for average teacher pay ($58,300).
Key Issues and Challenges
Several key issues and challenges persist within North Carolina's education system.
Leandro Case
The Leandro school funding case remains a significant point of contention. The NCAE has condemned the lack of action in addressing the Leandro case, which concerns equitable funding for all students in the state.
Teacher Shortages and Compensation
Low teacher pay and inadequate funding contribute to teacher shortages and dissatisfaction. Addressing these issues is crucial for attracting and retaining qualified educators.
Impact of Standardized Testing
Previously the SAT was the dominant university entrance examination students took. In 2004 76% of NC high school students took the SAT. In 2012 state law changed which required 11th grade students to take the ACT. The SAT testing rate fell to 46% in 2019. Because students now can take that test for free, the ACT became the dominant university entrance examination.
Segregation
North Carolina Schools were segregated until the Brown v. Board of Education Supreme Court ruling in 1954.
Higher Education
North Carolina has a robust higher education system, comprising both public and private institutions.
Public Universities
In 1795, North Carolina opened the first public university in the United States-the University of North Carolina (now named the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill). The University of North Carolina system encompasses 16 public universities, including North Carolina State University, North Carolina A&T State University, North Carolina Central University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, East Carolina University, Western Carolina University, Winston-Salem State University, the University of North Carolina at Asheville, the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, the University of North Carolina at Pembroke, University of North Carolina at Wilmington, Elizabeth City State University, Appalachian State University, Fayetteville State University, and UNC School of the Arts, and 1 public, boarding high school, the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics.
Community Colleges
Along with its public universities, North Carolina has 58 public community colleges in its community college system, providing accessible education and workforce training opportunities.
Private Institutions
North Carolina is home to several prominent private universities, including Duke University and Wake Forest University.
The Role of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction
Elementary and secondary public schools are overseen by the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. The North Carolina Superintendent of Public Instruction is the secretary of the North Carolina State Board of Education, but the board, rather than the superintendent, holds most of the legal authority for making public education policy. In 2009, the board's chairman also became the "chief executive officer" for the state's school system. North Carolina has 115 public school systems, each of which is overseen by a local school board. A county may have one or more systems within it. The largest school systems in North Carolina are the Wake County Public School System, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, Guilford County Schools, Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools, and Cumberland County Schools. In total there are 2,425 public schools in the state, including over 200 charter schools.
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