South North Carolina News

There were 4,567 students enrolled in Bladen County schools in the 2023-24 school year, 1.4% more than the previous year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

West Bladen High School registered the highest enrollment among Bladen County's 14 schools in the 2023-24 school year, welcoming 680 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
West Bladen High School	687	680	-1%
Emereau: Bladen	565	569	0.7%
East Bladen High School	525	545	3.8%
Elizabethtown Primary School	442	442	0%
Bladenboro Primary School	377	395	4.8%
Tar Heel Middle School	288	389	35.1%
Elizabethtown Middle School	326	308	-5.5%
Bladenboro Middle School	276	274	-0.7%
Dublin Primary School	197	238	20.8%
Paul R. Brown Leadership Academy	143	204	42.7%
Clarkton School of Discovery	209	185	-11.5%
Bladen Lakes Primary School	117	147	25.6%
Bladen Early College	135	125	-7.4%
East Arcadia Elementary School	55	66	20%