Public schools in Denver, NC
7 open public schools with an address in Denver, operated by 3 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
7
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
6,374
7 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
16.5:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
2
0 virtual
An overview of Denver public schools
The federal directory lists 7 public schools in Denver, NC: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. The 7 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 6,374 students, an average of 911 per school. The largest campus is Lincoln Charter School (2,316 students), and the largest elementary school is St James Elementary (653).
Lincoln County Schools operates the most schools here (5), plus 2 charter, service, or other agencies. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 16.5:1, higher than the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 charter schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 31% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Denver
Elementary schools in Denver
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Catawba Springs Elementary Lincoln County Schools | PK–05 | 543 | 16.4:1 | |
| Rock Springs Elementary Lincoln County Schools | PK–05 | 639 | 16.1:1 | |
| St James Elementary Lincoln County Schools | PK–05 | 653 | 15.3:1 |
Middle schools in Denver
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Lincoln Middle Lincoln County Schools | 06–08 | 774 | 17.2:1 |
High schools in Denver
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Lincoln High Lincoln County Schools | 09–12 | 1,047 | 19:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Denver
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lincoln Charter School Lincoln Charter School · Charter | KG–12 | 2,316 | 16.5:1 | |
| West Lake Preparatory Academy West Lake Preparatory Academy · Charter | KG–09 | 402 | 54.3:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White74.1%
- Hispanic12%
- Black6.4%
- Asian1.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.4%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial5.3%
Enrollment-weighted across 7 Denver schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (6,374 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Denver
How many public schools are in Denver, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 7 open public schools with a location address in Denver: 3 elementary, 1 middle, 1 high, 2 combined or other. Together they reported 6,374 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Denver?
Schools with an address in Denver belong to 3 education agencies, led by Lincoln County Schools (5 schools), Lincoln Charter School (1 school), West Lake Preparatory Academy (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Denver?
East Lincoln High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Denver, with 1,047 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Denver?
Yes. 2 of the 7 public schools in Denver are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Lincoln Charter School, West Lake Preparatory Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Denver schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Denver public schools is 16.5:1, higher than the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Denver guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities