There were 13,676 students enrolled in Nash County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 12.7% more than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.
Southern Nash High School registered the highest enrollment among Nash County’s 24 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 1,041 students.
Despite steady enrollment, North Carolina schools continue to face significant funding challenges. The state’s per-student spending remains nearly $5,000 below the national average, limiting resources for teachers, classrooms, and student support programs. In fact, North Carolina ranks 48th out of 50 states in per-student funding (after adjusting for regional costs).
Staffing shortages have also become a growing concern, with teacher turnover rising to 11.5% in the most recent school year. Low salaries and high workloads make it difficult to retain experienced educators, potentially increasing class sizes and affecting learning quality.
| School name | Total Enrollment in 2022-23 | Total Enrollment in 2023-24 | % Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Southern Nash High School | 1,042 | 1,041 | -0.1% |
| Northern Nash High School | 1,044 | 1,000 | -4.2% |
| Rocky Mount High School | 1,047 | 956 | -8.7% |
| Nash Central High School | 903 | 858 | -5% |
| Rocky Mount Preparatory | 960 | 841 | -12.4% |
| Red Oak Middle School | 802 | 807 | 0.6% |
| Southern Nash Middle School | – | 789 | – |
| Nashville Elementary School | 667 | 660 | -1% |
| Red Oak Elementary School | 226 | 657 | 190.7% |
| Benvenue Elementary School | 581 | 606 | 4.3% |
| Coopers Elementary School | 548 | 565 | 3.1% |
| Englewood Elementary School | 568 | 552 | -2.8% |
| Winstead Avenue Elementary School | 548 | 547 | -0.2% |
| Bailey Elementary School | – | 544 | – |
| Nash Central Middle School | 556 | 523 | -5.9% |
| Rocky Mount Middle School | 418 | 445 | 6.5% |
| G. R. Edwards Middle School | 410 | 432 | 5.4% |
| M. B. Hubbard Elementary School | 409 | 412 | 0.7% |
| NRM Early College High School | 384 | 402 | 4.7% |
| Spring Hope Elementary School | – | 352 | – |
| Middlesex Elementary School | 323 | 341 | 5.6% |
| Williford Elementary School | 149 | 174 | 16.8% |
| CITI High School | 107 | 86 | -19.6% |
| Tar River Academy | 82 | 86 | 4.9% |
