Cabarrus Today

The only school district in Stanly County had rising enrollment in the 2022-23 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

There were 8,512 students in the halls of Stanly County Schools, 3.9% 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 public schools are facing a significant funding gap, with a per-student expenditure of $10,519 - well below the national average of $14,295.

This financial strain is further compounded by a significant challenge in staffing with a staggering 58.4% surge in vacant teaching positions in the 2021-22 school year, leaving over 5,000 classrooms without qualified instructors.

School	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	Total Enrollment in 2021-22	Total % Change
West Stanly High School	743	728	2.1%
Gray Stone Day	740	737	0.4%
West Stanly Middle School	633	551	14.9%
North Stanly High School	558	581	-4%
Locust Elementary School	488	428	14%
North Stanly Middle School	475	495	-4%
Badin Elementary School	433	447	-3.1%
Stanfield Elementary School	413	334	23.7%
Albemarle Middle School	411	400	2.8%
South Stanly High School	408	438	-6.8%
Albemarle High School	359	349	2.9%
South Stanly Middle School	353	334	5.7%
Norwood Elementary School	349	345	1.2%
Oakboro Choice STEM	342	335	2.1%
Aquadale Elementary School	340	328	3.7%
Endy Elementary School	337	288	17%
East Albemarle Elementary School	314	309	1.6%
Richfield Elementary School	313	294	6.5%
Millingport Elementary School	196	188	4.3%
Stanly Early College High	182	173	5.2%
Stanly County Virtual Education	162	191	-15.2%
Stanly STEM Early College	146	113	29.2%