Hickory Sun

There were 4,352 students enrolled in Alexander County schools in the 2022-23 school year, 0.9% less than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Alexander Central High School registered the highest enrollment among Alexander County's 12 schools in the 2022-23 school year, welcoming 1,262 students.

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 name	Total Enrollment in 2021-22	Total Enrollment in 2022-23	% Change
Alexander Central High School	1,228	1,262	2.8%
East Alexander Middle School	572	556	-2.8%
West Alexander Middle School	465	463	-0.4%
Bethlehem Elementary School	427	443	3.7%
Hiddenite Elementary School	364	354	-2.7%
Wittenburg Elementary School	274	272	-0.7%
Taylorsville Elementary School	217	224	3.2%
Ellendale Elementary School	209	212	1.4%
Sugar Loaf Elementary School	212	205	-3.3%
Stony Point Elementary School	189	184	-2.6%
Alexander Early College	188	164	-12.8%
Alexander Virtual Academy	46	13	-71.7%