Lee County High

Summary:

Lee County High is a public high school located in Sanford, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a student population of 1,508. The school is part of the Lee County Schools district, which is ranked 132 out of 242 districts in the state.

Despite its diverse student population, Lee County High has consistently struggled academically, ranking between 355 and 496 out of 451 to 640 North Carolina high schools over the past 10 years. The school's performance on End-of-Course (EOC) exams is significantly below the state and district averages, with proficiency rates as low as 16.5% in Math I. The school's subgroup performance is also concerning, with the school ranking in the bottom half of North Carolina high schools for most subgroups, including African American, Hispanic, and Gifted and Talented students.

Interestingly, Lee County High's performance is generally lower than that of the nearby Southern Lee High School and Lee Early College, which have higher academic performance and better subgroup outcomes. However, the school does outperform the nearby Bragg Street Academy, which is a much smaller school with significantly lower academic outcomes. The school's high percentage of students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds and the relatively low spending per student may be contributing factors to its academic challenges.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 1708 Nash Street
       Sanford, NC  27330


(919) 776-7541

District: Lee County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
477th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,332 Help


Feeder schools for Lee County High:

Elementary:    Broadway Elementary
    BT Bullock Elementary
    Deep River Elementary
Middle:    East Lee Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  16.6 Help
Number of students:  1,469

Racial breakdown:

Hispanic:
43.2%
White:
28.8%
African American:
23.6%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  61.6% Help


 See top rated North Carolina high schools

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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Lee County High ranks worse than 74.5% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks last among 3 ranked high schools in the Lee County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 25.74. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Lee County High has the largest high school student body size in the Lee County Schools District. Student population at Lee County High is diverse. Racial makeup is: Hispanic (43.2%), White (28.8%), African American (23.6%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 61.6% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Lee County High is 16.6. 2 high schools in the Lee County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Lee County High employs 88 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Lee County High is $9,332. 2 high schools in the Lee County Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Lee County High:

SchoolDigger ranks Lee County High 477th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Lee County High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Homeless students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Lee County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Lee County Schools 132nd of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Lee County High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 40.40 301st 431 30.2%
2007 47.74 247th 453 45.5%
2008 52.77 224th 477 53.0%
2009 50.66 250th 490 49.0%
2010 48.65 296th 499 40.7%
2011 53.31 257th 506 49.2%
2012 30.70 371st 502 26.1%
2013 27.78 327th 505 35.2%
2014 19.45 355th 451 21.3%
2015 19.19 404th 531 23.9%
2016 22.26 368th 507 27.4%
2017 15.33 393rd 476 17.4%
2018 21.52 366th 469 22.0%
2019 22.23 388th 514 24.5%
2021 22.65 459th 594 22.7%
2022 20.53 496th 621 20.1%
2023 26.62 463rd 626 26.0%
2024 25.74 477th 640 25.5%
See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 34.84 130th 185 29.7%
2019 34.97 135th 195 30.8%
2021 8.87 194th 199 2.5%
2022 21.74 199th 226 11.9%
2023 48.18 121st 249 51.4%
2024 22.73 226th 261 13.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 32.89 96th 147 34.7%
2019 30.13 139th 173 19.7%
2022 26.56 124th 156 20.5%
2023 25.73 184th 226 18.6%
2024 26.04 225th 262 14.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 22.75 307th 349 12.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 16.23 374th 424 11.8%
2019 19.41 376th 446 15.7%
2021 25.52 312th 432 27.8%
2022 24.78 429th 544 21.1%
2023 23.26 482nd 597 19.3%
2024 25.76 461st 613 24.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Homeless students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2022 34.11 25th 34 26.5%
2023 38.20 28th 45 37.8%
2024 22.87 44th 47 6.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Homeless Students!

Rank History for Female students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 21.22 365th 449 18.7%
2019 18.36 400th 475 15.8%
2021 20.95 366th 475 22.9%
2022 20.44 482nd 594 18.9%
2023 25.22 445th 588 24.3%
2024 21.08 483rd 602 19.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 28.51 275th 364 24.5%
2021 28.54 250th 334 25.1%
2022 22.88 276th 330 16.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 15.00 303rd 325 6.8%
2021 19.55 296th 337 12.2%
2022 8.86 379th 398 4.8%
2023 34.13 331st 403 17.9%
2024 18.60 373rd 403 7.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2023 51.30 21st 48 56.3%
2024 37.91 30th 49 38.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 17.75 389th 463 16.0%
2019 22.24 379th 488 22.3%
2021 22.40 362nd 481 24.7%
2022 19.81 476th 585 18.6%
2023 27.21 444th 602 26.2%
2024 28.51 442nd 607 27.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 13.29 339th 359 5.6%
2019 21.84 312th 369 15.4%
2021 27.36 259th 364 28.8%
2022 22.82 357th 430 17.0%
2023 22.93 358th 434 17.5%
2024 26.03 335th 437 23.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 10.04 333rd 340 2.1%
2019 14.22 335th 354 5.4%
2021 22.52 303rd 370 18.1%
2022 19.15 386th 436 11.5%
2023 26.07 349th 449 22.3%
2024 28.50 336th 454 26.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Lee County High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.09 307th 427 28.1%
2019 28.25 325th 444 26.8%
2021 24.96 319th 439 27.3%
2022 25.51 420th 534 21.3%
2023 41.38 312th 537 41.9%
2024 34.70 378th 553 31.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Lee County High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Lee County High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1134 444 9 5 2 n/a n/a 0 1594
1989 1052 452 12 4 4 n/a n/a 0 1524
1990 994 413 8 6 5 n/a n/a 0 1426
1991 937 429 10 16 4 n/a n/a 0 1396
1992 950 414 5 13 6 n/a n/a 0 1388
1993 1294 631 7 38 5 n/a n/a 0 1975
1994 1312 639 6 33 7 n/a n/a 0 1997
1995 1295 593 6 85 10 n/a n/a 0 1989
1996 1295 593 6 85 10 n/a n/a 0 1989
1997 1374 620 15 98 7 n/a n/a 0 2114
1998 1339 612 20 135 4 n/a n/a 0 2110
1999 1384 607 19 141 8 n/a n/a 0 2159
2000 1414 581 22 194 7 n/a n/a 0 2218
2001 1438 629 20 221 10 n/a n/a 0 2318
2002 1461 632 19 321 8 n/a n/a 0 2441
2003 1461 632 19 321 8 n/a n/a 0 2441
2004 1434 698 20 363 7 n/a n/a 0 2522
2005 1430 715 21 402 7 n/a n/a 0 2575
2006 949 477 11 324 1 n/a n/a 0 1762
2007 779 348 8 290 5 n/a n/a 30 1460
2008 734 301 9 294 7 n/a n/a 32 1377
2009 725 364 12 305 10 n/a n/a 0 1416
2010 724 357 10 312 5 n/a n/a 0 1408
2011 675 319 6 348 5 0 32 0 1385
2012 661 316 7 377 5 1 35 0 1402
2013 684 314 5 365 9 2 34 0 1413
2014 682 315 9 387 7 4 40 0 1444
2015 704 300 8 430 9 2 40 0 1493
2016 694 321 10 450 10 1 37 0 1523
2017 661 330 10 485 9 0 45 0 1540
2018 626 305 10 543 10 0 58 0 1552
2019 597 264 12 495 7 0 61 0 1436
2020 572 244 9 521 11 0 99 0 1456
2021 521 281 9 518 5 0 64 0 1398
2022 504 306 5 552 7 0 60 0 1434
2023 487 329 7 618 8 0 59 0 1508
2024 423 346 9 634 5 1 51 0 1469

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Lee County High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1594 105.0 15.1 10.5
1989 1524 105.0 14.5 13.8
1990 1426 105.0 13.5 14.7
1991 1396 105.0 13.2 15
1992 1388 105.0 13.2 8.4
1993 1975 120.0 16.5 9.1
1994 1997 124.0 16.1 16.2
1995 1989 119.0 16.7 15.5
1996 1989 119.0 16.7 15.5
1997 2114 125.0 16.9 11.3
1998 2110 140.0 15.1 12.5
1999 2159 140.0 15.4 17
2000 2218 140.0 15.8 14.5
2001 2318 140.0 16.6 14.6
2002 2441 160.0 15.3 27.4
2003 2441 160.0 15.3 27.4
2004 2522 174.0 14.5 31.4
2005 2575 174.0 14.8 31.8
2006 1762 174.0 10.1 44.6
2007 1460 102.0 14.3 41.6
2008 1377 102.8 13.4 40.2
2009 1416 101.2 14.0 40.3
2010 1408 97.8 14.3 42
2011 1385 92.7 14.9 49.4
2012 1402 93.0 15.0 49.7
2013 1413 92.5 15.2 52.7
2014 1444 94.5 15.2 52.8
2015 1493 94.0 15.8 51.6
2016 1523 96.0 15.8 55.7
2017 1540 101.0 15.2 58
2018 1552 101.0 15.3 52.2
2019 1436 100.8 14.2 56.1
2020 1456 95.7 15.2 51.9
2021 1398 95.6 14.6 42.3
2022 1434 98.0 14.6 35.3
2023 1508 95.5 15.7 60.2
2024 1469 88.0 16.6 61.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Lee County High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1594 105.0 15.1 10.5
1989 1524 105.0 14.5 13.8
1990 1426 105.0 13.5 14.7
1991 1396 105.0 13.2 15
1992 1388 105.0 13.2 8.4
1993 1975 120.0 16.5 9.1
1994 1997 124.0 16.1 16.2
1995 1989 119.0 16.7 15.5
1996 1989 119.0 16.7 15.5
1997 2114 125.0 16.9 11.3
1998 2110 140.0 15.1 12.5
1999 2159 140.0 15.4 17
2000 2218 140.0 15.8 14.5
2001 2318 140.0 16.6 14.6
2002 2441 160.0 15.3 27.4
2003 2441 160.0 15.3 27.4
2004 2522 174.0 14.5 31.4
2005 2575 174.0 14.8 31.8
2006 1762 174.0 10.1 44.6
2007 1460 102.0 14.3 41.6
2008 1377 102.8 13.4 40.2
2009 1416 101.2 14.0 40.3
2010 1408 97.8 14.3 42
2011 1385 92.7 14.9 49.4
2012 1402 93.0 15.0 49.7
2013 1413 92.5 15.2 52.7
2014 1444 94.5 15.2 52.8
2015 1493 94.0 15.8 51.6
2016 1523 96.0 15.8 55.7
2017 1540 101.0 15.2 58
2018 1552 101.0 15.3 52.2
2019 1436 100.8 14.2 56.1
2020 1456 95.7 15.2 51.9
2021 1398 95.6 14.6 42.3
2022 1434 98.0 14.6 35.3
2023 1508 95.5 15.7 60.2
2024 1469 88.0 16.6 61.6

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Lee County High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $595 (6.4%) $8,737 (93.6%) $9,332

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Lee County High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 388th of 514 High schoolsRanks 463rd of 626 High schools
 1.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Lee County High)40.445.6
 5.2%
   End of Course Biology (Lee County Schools)49.549.6
 0.1%
   End of Course Biology (North Carolina)59.654.1
 5.5%
End of Course English II (Lee County High)44.737.7
 7%
   End of Course English II (Lee County Schools)47.938.9
 9%
   End of Course English II (North Carolina)59.758.5
 1.2%
End of Course Math I (Lee County High)31.520.1
 11.4%
   End of Course Math I (Lee County Schools)35.427
 8.4%
   End of Course Math I (North Carolina)41.235.9
 5.3%
End of Course Math III (Lee County High)23.157.7
 34.6%
   End of Course Math III (Lee County Schools)34.956.1
 21.2%
   End of Course Math III (North Carolina)46.858.3
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students14361508
 5%
African American264329
 24.6%
American Indian78
 14.3%
Asian127
 41.7%
Hispanic495618
 24.8%
Pacific Islander00
White597487
 18.4%
Two or More Races6159
 3.3%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients56.1%60.2%
 4.2%


Schools Near Lee County High









Frequently Asked Questions about Lee County High

Lee County High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Broadway Elementary
Elementary : BT Bullock Elementary
Elementary : Deep River Elementary
Middle : East Lee Middle

In the 2023-24 school year, 1,469 students attended Lee County High.

Students at Lee County High are 43% Hispanic, 29% White, 24% African American, 3% Two or more races.

Lee County High ranks 477th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 1 star out of 5.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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