Lincoln County Schools School District
School District · Lincolnton, North Carolina
Avg Rating
6.1
out of 10
Schools
22
13 elem, 4 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
11,642
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
Avg Rating
6.1
out of 10
Schools
22
13 elem, 4 mid, 5 high
Enrollment
11,642
Student-Teacher Ratio
15.5:1
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#72 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
-0.2
below North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$10,722
$2,390 vs North Carolina median
District size
11,642 students
Much larger than North Carolina median
The short answer
Lincoln County Schools ranks #72 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Lincoln County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.0/10 across 20 schools. Its top-rated schools are Battleground Elementary (9.0/10), Iron Station Elementary (8.6/10), and East Lincoln High (7.2/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 9.0/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 3.0 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Lincoln County Schools schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +24.7 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Lincoln County Schools schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Lincoln County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (20 of 22). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Battleground Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 2 | Iron Station Elementary | 8.6 / 10 |
| 3 | East Lincoln High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 4 | West Lincoln High | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Lincolnton High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Rock Springs Elementary | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | North Lincoln High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Catawba Springs Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | North Brook Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | S Ray Lowder Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
See all 22 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Lincoln County Schools
Lincoln County Schools is a Lincolnton, North Carolina school district serving 22 schools.The district educates 11,642 students with a student-teacher ratio of 15.5:1. District-level spending was $10,722 per student in fiscal year 2023 (NCES F-33).
With an average rating of 6.1/10, Lincoln County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Battleground Elementary, which has a composite score of 9.0/10.
In standardized testing, Lincoln County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 61.0% and ELA proficiency of 54.9%.
The district includes 13 elementary schools, 4 middle schools, and 5 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Lincoln County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Lincoln County Schools with test data.
Schools in Lincoln County Schools
22 schoolsElementary Schools13
Middle Schools4
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Lincolnton
- Total Enrollment
- 11,642
- Teachers (FTE)
- 753
- District spending per student
- $10,722NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- Child poverty rate
- 11.7%Census SAIPE · 2024
- District directory year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Lincoln County Schools?
Lincoln County Schools has 22 schools in total — 13 elementary, 4 middle, and 5 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Lincoln County Schools?
The average composite rating for Lincoln County Schools is 6.1/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the district spending per student in Lincoln County Schools?
Lincoln County Schools's district-level spending was $10,722 per student in fiscal year 2023, according to NCES F-33. This is district context, not an individual-school expense.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lincoln County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Lincoln County Schools is 15.5:1.
What is the top-rated school in Lincoln County Schools?
Battleground Elementary is the highest-rated school in Lincoln County Schools with a composite score of 9.0/10.
What are the test scores in Lincoln County Schools?
Across schools in Lincoln County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 61.0% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 54.9%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Lincoln County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Lincoln County Schools has an average school rating of 6.1/10 across 22 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.1/10
- Math Proficiency
- 61.0%
- ELA Proficiency
- 54.9%
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Lincoln County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-Burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-Statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-Salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.
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