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Public high school · Lee County Schools · Sanford, North Carolina

Southern Lee High School

Southern Lee High School rates 6.7, above the middle of Lee County Schools's high schools, whose rated median is 5.8.

High schools, 1 to 10This campus against public high schools around it that are rated on verified state test data.
6.7this school

6.7 on a one-to-ten scale; the Lee County Schools median is 5.8.

#1,095 of 2,660 schools in North Carolina · Lee County Schools: 4 high schools rated, median 5.8

The brief

A Lee County Schools high school where students score 13 points below what's typical for similar communities.

It ranks 1,095 of 2,660 schools in North Carolina and 7 of 16 in Lee County Schools.

Southern Lee High School is listed in Lee County Schools, and a district label does not verify attendance for an address: confirm the zoned campus with the district before you commit to a street.

Math58%11 points below the North Carolina average of 69%298 students tested · 2026 NC
Reading40%24 points below the North Carolina average of 64%353 students tested · 2026 NC
In 2026, 58% of students were proficient in math and 40% in reading, against North Carolina averages of 69% and 64%.2026 NC; 34 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).

What the rating is made of, each out of 10

Student Progress
9.1
25% of the rating
Academics
4.4
25% of the rating
College Readiness
6.0
30% of the rating
Resources & Environment
7.5
20% of the rating
About this school's data1 correction under review · rating: low confidence · 7 sources, 2019–2026

Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, an estimate, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named here.

Attendance data is under correction. This existing Resources & Environment score and overall rating may still reflect an unverified attendance input.

Full Profile · 4/4 metrics

Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 44% (multi-year average, 2009-2026) · reading/ELA 43% (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

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 · 2026 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 · 2026 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)
State assessments · 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, 2009-2026; directory SY 2023–24

The neighborhood

Where it sits, and what the area looks like.
Southern Lee High School and the 20 nearest high schools, each pin colored by its score.Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Verify the enrollment path with the district.

The area

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%

U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27332; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.

Getting around

Walk Score
4
Car-Dependent
Bike Score
25
Somewhat Bikeable

Walk, transit and bike scores byWalk Score

Programs and who goes here

What the campus offers, and who it enrolls.

Programs

AP and IB
3 AP courses
6.2% participation · state average 3 AP courses · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Athletics
15 sports
7 boys' · 8 girls' · 44 teams (incl. JV) · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Advanced STEM courses
5 of 5
Algebra II, Advanced Math, Calculus, Chemistry, Physics · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22
Gifted and talented
Available
A program for qualifying students · CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22

Who goes here

Free or reduced lunch
63.4%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance. Shown separately, never in the score.

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD).

Compare nearby

Grade-compatible schools using the same rating model.
Public-school ratings. Grade-compatible schools within 5 miles, best rated first.
  1. Central Carolina Academy4.3 mi · charter
    7.1Compare →
  2. Southern Lee High Schoolthis school
    6.7
  3. 5.9Compare →
  4. 5.4Compare →
  5. 4.5Compare →
  6. 2.8Compare →
Five grade-compatible schools using the same rating model sit within 5 miles, and one rates higher than Southern Lee High School.Public-school ratings. Straight-line distance from this campus. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries; verify the enrollment path with the district.

Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.

Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.

Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.

The record

What is on file, and where each number came from.

Questions families ask

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 #1,095 of 2,660 schools in NC.

What is Southern Lee High School's MySchoolScout rating?

Southern Lee High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.7 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 44% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2026) and 43% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2026).

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 facts

Grades
9th – 12th
Enrollment
1,185
Student-teacher ratio
15.6:1
Teachers (FTE)
76
Type
Regular
Title I
No
Setting
Distant Town
County
Lee County
4-year graduation
88.0%
Class of 2023
Rank in district
#7 of 16
Schools in district
16
District spending per student
$13,241
NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
District child poverty rate
18.2%
Census SAIPE · 2024
Area population (ZIP 27332)
34,378
Area average commute
29.5 min
Area median age
40

NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24).

Related reading

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.