Private School Review - Established 2003

Best Lee County Private Schools (2026-27)

For the 2026-27 school year, there are 5 private schools serving 1,288 students in Lee County, NC (there are 23 public schools, serving 13,222 public students). 9% of all K-12 students are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
The average acceptance rate is 90%, which is higher than the North Carolina private school average acceptance rate of 85%.
80% of private schools in Lee County, NC are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Pentecostal).

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Quick Facts (2026-27)

Top Ranked Lee County Private Schools (2026-27)

Map of Grace Christian School
Grace Christian School
Gr: K-12 | 804 students
Avg. class size: 15 students
Sports: 8 | Extracurriculars: 4
Christian
2601 Jefferson Davis Hwy
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 774-4415
View Profile
Map of Lee Christian School
Lee Christian School
Gr: PK-12 | 389 students
Christian
3220 Keller Andrews Rd
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 708-5115
View Profile
Map of Calvary Education Center
Calvary Education Center
Gr: K-12 | 50 students
Avg. class size: 12 students
Pentecostal
6416 Lemon Springs Road
Sanford, NC 27332
(919) 774-1903
(2)
View Profile
Map of Carolina Christian Academy
Carolina Christian Academy
Gr: K-12 | 13 students
Christian
Po Box 958
Sanford, NC 27331
(919) 292-1999
(1)
View Profile
Map of The Montessori School Of Sanfo
The Montessori School Of Sanfo
Gr: PK-3 | 32 students
Montessori School
P.o. Box 1471
Sanford, NC 27331
(919) 718-5479
View Profile

Overview

Category
This State (NC)
US
# Schools
5 Schools

Trends in Total Number of Private Schools

YearLee County Total Schools
20255
20245
20235
20223
20213
20203
20193
20183
20173
20163
20154
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# Students
1,288 Students
137,049 Students

Trends in the Average Number of Students Per Private School

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025258179179
2024256171172
2023178169174
2022329173185
2021332166180
2020328157171
2019297162175
2018297158172
2017294175180
2016285172178
2015178164167
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% Average Students of Color
14%
24%

Percentage of Students of Color Trends (2015-2025)

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202514%24%34%
202414%23%34%
202318%23%33%
202245%21%33%
202145%21%32%
202045%20%32%
201914%20%31%
201814%19%31%
201713%21%32%
201613%21%32%
201515%21%32%
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Academics and Faculty:

# Teachers
95 Teachers
13,662 Teachers
Average Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
10:1

Student-Teacher Ratio Trends (2015-2025)

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202514:110:111:1
202413:110:111:1
202312:110:111:1
202218:110:111:1
202118:110:111:1
202018:110:112:1
201917:110:112:1
201817:110:112:1
201716:110:112:1
201616:110:112:1
201512:110:112:1
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% Average Faculty w/Advanced Degree
40%
48%

Percentage of Faculty With Advanced Degrees Trends (2021-2025)

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202540%47%55%
202440%47%54%
202340%48%54%
202240%47%54%
202133%48%54%
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Average Class Size
14 students
15 students

Class Size Trends (2016-2025)

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025141515
2024141515
2023141515
2022141515
2021141515
2020141515
2019151515
2018151515
2017151515
2016151515
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Tuition and Acceptance Rate:

Average Yearly Tuition Cost
$5,943
$12,005

Tuition Cost Trends (2017-2025)

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
2025$5,943$13,414$15,012
2024$4,200$11,105$13,254
2023$4,200$10,360$12,626
2022$4,200$9,667$12,187
2021$3,800$9,687$11,800
2020$3,600$9,867$11,512
2019$3,500$9,799$11,293
2018$3,500$9,218$11,017
2017$3,500$8,839$10,708
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Average % on Financial Aid
10%
31%

Percent on Financial Aid Trends (2016-2025)

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202510%30%34%
202410%28%34%
202310%28%34%
202210%27%33%
202110%27%33%
202010%25%32%
201910%24%31%
201810%21%30%
201710%21%30%
201610%20%29%
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Average Acceptance Rate
90%
85%

Acceptance Rate Trends (2016-2025)

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202590%81%81%
202490%86%85%
202390%87%85%
202290%87%85%
202190%86%85%
202090%86%85%
201990%86%85%
201890%86%85%
201790%86%85%
201690%87%85%
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Students by Ethnicity:

0.45
0.58

Diversity Score Trends

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
20250.450.580.65
20240.440.580.65
20230.560.580.65
20220.670.560.64
20210.670.550.64
20200.670.540.64
20190.550.530.63
20180.550.530.63
20170.570.510.61
20160.560.510.61
20150.440.500.61
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# American Indian Students
7 Students
641 Students
% American Indian Students
1%
1%
# Asian Students
15 Students
4,214 Students
% Asian Students
1%
3%

Asian Student Percentage Trends

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
20251%4%5%
20241%4%5%
20232%4%5%
20222%3%4%
20212%3%4%
20202%4%4%
20192%3%4%
20182%3%4%
20172%3%4%
20162%2%4%
20152%2%4%
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# Hispanic Students
62 Students
5,801 Students
% Hispanic Students
5%
4%

Hispanic Student Percentage Trends

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
20255%5%9%
20245%5%9%
20235%4%9%
20223%3%8%
20213%3%9%
20203%3%9%
20194%3%8%
20184%3%8%
20175%2%8%
20165%2%8%
20156%2%8%
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# Black Students
69 Students
9,647 Students
% Black Students
5%
7%

Black Student Percentage Trends

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
20255%7%7%
20245%7%7%
20234%7%8%
202218%7%7%
202117%7%7%
202018%7%8%
20194%7%7%
20184%7%7%
20174%6%7%
20164%7%7%
20155%7%8%
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# White Students
936 Students
79,820 Students
% White Students
73%
59%

White Student Percentage Trends

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202573%59%52%
202473%60%52%
202361%59%52%
202238%62%54%
202138%63%54%
202038%64%54%
201959%64%56%
201859%65%56%
201758%66%58%
201659%66%58%
201573%67%58%
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# Hawaiian Students
5 Students
496 Students
% Hawaiian Students
n/a
n/a
# Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
% of Two or more races Students
n/a
n/a
# Others Students
194 Students
34,481 Students
% of Others Students
15%
26%

Other Races Student Percentage Trends

YearLee County AverageNorth Carolina (NC) AverageNational Average
202515%25%26%
202415%24%26%
202326%26%25%
202238%25%25%
202139%24%25%
202038%22%24%
201931%23%24%
201831%22%23%
201731%23%22%
201630%23%22%
201514%21%21%
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All Ethnic Groups

Extracurriculars and Sports:

Average Number of Extracurriculars
4 extracurriculars
9 extracurriculars
Average Number of Sports
8 sports
8 sports

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked private schools in Lee County, NC?
The top ranked private schools in Lee County, NC include Lee Christian School and Grace Christian School.
How many private schools are located in Lee County?
5 private schools are located in Lee County.
How diverse are private schools in Lee County?
Lee County private schools are approximately 14% minority students, which is lower than the North Carolina private school average of 24%.
What percentage of students in Lee County go to private school?
9% of all K-12 students in Lee County are educated in private schools (compared to the NC state average of 8%).
What percentage of private schools are religiously affiliated in Lee County?
80% of private schools in Lee County are religiously affiliated (most commonly Christian and Pentecostal).
Which private schools in Lee County are often viewed compared to one another?

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