Hickory Sun

There were 4,241 students enrolled in Alexander County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 2.6% 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 11 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 1,209 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
Alexander Central High School	1,262	1,209	-4.2%
East Alexander Middle School	556	547	-1.6%
West Alexander Middle School	463	460	-0.6%
Bethlehem Elementary School	443	439	-0.9%
Hiddenite Elementary School	354	353	-0.3%
Wittenburg Elementary School	272	260	-4.4%
Taylorsville Elementary School	224	226	0.9%
Ellendale Elementary School	212	201	-5.2%
Sugar Loaf Elementary School	205	193	-5.9%
Stony Point Elementary School	184	187	1.6%
Alexander Early College	164	166	1.2%