Below Average
#2046 of 2,648 schools in NC
Southern Lee High School
High School · Lee County Schools · Sanford, NC
A Lee County Schools high school where students score 26 points below what's typical for similar communities.
2301 Tramway Road, Sanford, NC 27332
- Math 21% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 42% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 90.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
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Students at Southern Lee High School score 31% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 58%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↓ DecliningProficiency has fallen 5 points since 2019, to 31% in 2025, across a 17-year record (2009–2025).
Show all 14 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 40% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 28 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
63.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Southern Lee High School sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 4Car-Dependent
- Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Average358/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$73,075
Median home value
$224,000
Median rent
$1,086/mo
College educated
22.9%
Homeownership
74.7%
Poverty rate
9.5%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27332; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grace Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 3.9private | K–12 | 2.1 mi | 749 | Compare → |
| Lee Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 6.6private | PK–12 | 2.1 mi | 297 | Compare → |
| Floyd L Knight Children CenterEnrollment path unverified | 4.1 | PK–12 | 2.2 mi | 115 | Compare → |
| Calvary Education CenterPrivate · tuition | 6.3private | K–12 | 2.4 mi | 44 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Lee County Schools
- Schools in district
- 16
- Rank in district
- #11 of 16
- District spending per student
- $13,241NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 18.2%Census SAIPE · 2024
Southern Lee High School is listed in Lee County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern Lee High School
Southern Lee High School is a public high school in Sanford, NC, part of Lee County Schools, serving approximately 1,185 students in grades 9th-12th with a 15.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10 and ranks #2,046 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern Lee High School
What grades does Southern Lee High School serve?
Southern Lee High School serves students in grades 9th through 12th.
How many students attend Southern Lee High School?
Southern Lee High School has an enrollment of approximately 1,185 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Lee High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Lee High School is 15.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern Lee High School rank in NC?
Southern Lee High School ranks #2,046 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Southern Lee High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern Lee High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 4.9 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Southern Lee High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Lee High School has 40% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 44% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southern Lee High School a charter school?
No, Southern Lee High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Southern Lee High School a Title I school?
No, Southern Lee High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Southern Lee High School?
63.4% of students at Southern Lee High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 1,185
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 76
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Distant Town
- County
- Lee County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 21.9%
- Phone
- (919) 718-2400
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90.0%
- Area population (ZIP 27332)
- 34,378
- Area average commute
- 29.5 min
- Area median age
- 40
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27332; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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