North Carolina Fast Facts

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  • 32%

    North Carolina residents think K–12 education in North Carolina is headed in the right direction.

EdChoice Public Opinion Tracker

ESA Program

  1. Safe environment
  2. The school’s reputation
  3. Individual, one-on-one attention
Most Influential Factors When North Carolina Parents Choose a School

Opportunity Scholarship

  1. Academics
  2. Safe environment
  3. Religious environment/instruction

Out-of-Pocket Private School

  1. Religious environment/instruction
  2. Academics
  3. The school’s reputation

Traditional Public School

  1. This is my assigned neighborhood school
  2. Close to home and/or work
  3. The school’s reputation

Charter School

  1. Academics
  2. Safe environment
  3. Close to home or work

Homeschool

  1. Individual, one-on-one attention
  2. Safe environment
  3. Moral/character/values instruction

Families’ Schooling Experiences in North Carolina

North Carolina K–12 Education Spending

$16.4 Billion

Total North Carolina Public Education Revenue

U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Common Core of Data (CCD)

Data last updated 6/2022.

North Carolina Student Transportation

  • $744

    Avg. District Busing Expenditure Per Pupil

  • 6.8%

    Total Spending Per Pupil

U.S. Department of Education, NCES, Common Core of Data (CCD)

Data last updated 6/2022.

Inter-District

North Carolina does not have mandatory open enrollment policies.

Charter School

North Carolina does not provide support for nor requires transportation of charter school students.

Private School

Students with special needs may be transported by public school buses to and from the nearest appropriate private school having a special education program approved by the State Board of Education if the child is publicly placed by the state or local school administrative unit.

State Student Transportation Statutes

Inter-District: N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 115C-240

Charter Schools: N.C. Gen. Stat. Ann. § 115C-218.40

Private Schools: N.C. Gen. Stat. §115c-242(1)

Transporting School Choice Students, 2020