North Triangle News

There were 10,894 students enrolled in Franklin County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 19% more than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Wake Preparatory Academy registered the highest enrollment among Franklin County's 19 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 2,141 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
Wake Preparatory Academy	1,822	2,141	17.5%
Franklinton High School	1,133	1,172	3.4%
Bunn High School	-	836	-
Bunn Middle School	598	588	-1.7%
Bunn Elementary School	543	570	5%
Louisburg High School	503	565	12.3%
Youngsville Academy	508	539	6.1%
Cedar Creek Middle School	514	515	0.2%
Edward Best Elementary School	-	493	-
Franklinton Elementary School	510	476	-6.7%
Youngsville Elementary School	380	410	7.9%
Long Mill Elementary School	390	407	4.4%
Louisburg Elementary School	400	403	0.8%
Terrell Lane Middle School	397	391	-1.5%
Crosscreek Charter School	395	388	-1.8%
Royal Elementary School	338	338	0%
Laurel Mill Elementary School	292	259	-11.3%
Franklinton Middle School	247	227	-8.1%
Franklin County Early College	181	176	-2.8%