For the 2025 school year, there are 19 public elementary schools serving 10,338 students in Lee County, NC.
The top ranked public elementary schools in Lee County, NC are Tramway Elementary School, Greenwood Elementary School and Benhaven Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Lee County, NC public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 45% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 43% (versus the 49% statewide average). Elementary schools in Lee County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public elementary schools.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Elementary Schools in Lee County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Tramway Elementary School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
360 Center Church Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0170
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0170
Grades: K-5
| 559 students
Rank: #22.
Greenwood Elementary School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1127 Greenwood Rd
Lemon Springs, NC 28355
(919) 776-0506
Lemon Springs, NC 28355
(919) 776-0506
Grades: K-5
| 556 students
Rank: #33.
Benhaven Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
520 Olive Farm Dr
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 499-4811
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 499-4811
Grades: PK-5
| 1,031 students
Rank: #44.
Bt Bullock Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1410 Mcneill Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0160
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 718-0160
Grades: K-5
| 487 students
Rank: #55.
Deep River Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4000 Deep River Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-2722
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-2722
Grades: K-5
| 535 students
Rank: #66.
Ascend Leadership Academy Lee County
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
283 Harvey Faulk Road
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 842-5411
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 842-5411
Grades: 6-12
| 599 students
Rank: #77.
J Glenn Edwards Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3115 Cemetery Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 774-3733
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 774-3733
Grades: K-5
| 519 students
Rank: #88.
J R Ingram Jr Elementary School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3309 Wicker St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-3772
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-3772
Grades: K-5
| 400 students
Rank: #99.
Sanlee Middle School
(Math: 49% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2309 Tramway Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 708-7227
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 708-7227
Grades: 6-8
| 791 students
Rank: #1010.
Broadway Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
307 S Main St
Broadway, NC 27505
(919) 258-3828
Broadway, NC 27505
(919) 258-3828
Grades: PK-5
| 482 students
Rank: #1111.
Highland Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
345 Highland School Rd
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 498-3331
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 498-3331
Grades: 6-8
| 803 students
Rank: #1212.
Highland Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1915 Buffalo Lake Road
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 499-2200
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 499-2200
Grades: K-5
| 894 students
Rank: #1313.
Wb Wicker Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
900 S Vance St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 897-5400
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 897-5400
Grades: K-5
| 576 students
Rank: #1414.
West Lee Middle School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3301 Wicker St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7351
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7351
Grades: 6-8
| 583 students
Rank: #1515.
East Lee Middle School
(Math: 30% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1337 Broadway Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-8441
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 776-8441
Grades: 6-8
| 477 students
Rank: #1616.
Mina Charter School Of Lee County
Charter School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
2732 Industrial Drive
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 745-1442
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 745-1442
Grades: K-8
| 427 students
Rank: #1717.
Floyd L Knight Children Center
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
607 W Mcintosh St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-4634
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-4634
Grades: PK-12
| 115 students
Rank: #1818.
Bragg Street Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
504 Bragg Street
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-2686
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-2686
Grades: 6-12
| 54 students
Rank: n/an/a
Central Carolina Academy
Charter School
1801 Douglas Drive
Sanford, NC 27330
(984) 977-9455
Sanford, NC 27330
(984) 977-9455
Grades: 6-11
| 450 students
Lee County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Provisions Academy (Closed 2010)
Alternative School
806 Vance Street
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7800
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-7800
Grades: 6-12
| 92 students
Warren Williams Elementary Alternative (Closed 2023)
Alternative School
901 Lawrence St
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-3529
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 774-3529
Grades: PK-5
| 60 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public elementary schools in Lee County, NC?
The top ranked public elementary schools in Lee County, NC include Tramway Elementary School, Greenwood Elementary School and Benhaven Elementary School.
How many public elementary schools are located in Lee County?
19 public elementary schools are located in Lee County.
What is the racial composition of students in Lee County?
Lee County public elementary schools minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public elementary schools in Lee County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public elementary schools in Lee County include: East Lee Middle School vs. West Lee Middle School, Sanlee Middle School vs. West Lee Middle School, Bragg Street Academy vs. Floyd L Knight Children Center
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
