The only school district in Stanly County had rising enrollment in the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
There were 8,631 students in Stanly County Schools, 1.4% higher than the year before.
The enrollment numbers in Stanly County amplified the state’s increasing trend, showing a sharper increase in student numbers than the state average.
Stanly County Schools has a main office in Albemarle and is the only school district within Stanly County.
North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.
If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.
| School | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| West Stanly High School | 759 | 743 | 2.2% |
| Gray Stone Day | 751 | 740 | 1.5% |
| West Stanly Middle School | 630 | 633 | -0.5% |
| Central Elementary School | 555 | – | – |
| North Stanly High School | 554 | 558 | -0.7% |
| Locust Elementary School | 531 | 488 | 8.8% |
| Stanfield Elementary School | 459 | 413 | 11.1% |
| North Stanly Middle School | 450 | 475 | -5.3% |
| South Stanly High School | 433 | 408 | 6.1% |
| Albemarle High School | 424 | 359 | 18.1% |
| Badin Elementary School | 416 | 433 | -3.9% |
| Albemarle Middle School | 379 | 411 | -7.8% |
| South Stanly Middle School | 362 | 353 | 2.5% |
| Oakboro Choice STEM | 356 | 342 | 4.1% |
| Endy Elementary School | 352 | 337 | 4.5% |
| Norwood Elementary School | 346 | 349 | -0.9% |
| Aquadale Elementary School | 331 | 340 | -2.6% |
| Richfield Elementary School | 318 | 313 | 1.6% |
| East Albemarle Elementary School | 288 | 314 | -8.3% |
| Millingport Elementary School | 204 | 196 | 4.1% |
| Stanly Early College High | 189 | 182 | 3.8% |
| Stanly STEM Early College | 181 | 146 | 24% |
| Stanly County Virtual Education | 99 | 162 | -38.9% |
| Stanly Academy Learning Center | 15 | – | – |
