Public schools in Kinston, NC
12 open public schools with an address in Kinston, operated by 1 education agency. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
12
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
5,181
12 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.2:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
0
0 virtual
An overview of Kinston public schools
The federal directory lists 12 public schools in Kinston, NC: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. The 12 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 5,181 students, an average of 432 per school. The largest campus is Contentnea-Savannah School (789 students).
Every listed school belongs to Lenoir County Public Schools. 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 15.2:1, similar to 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.
Among 3 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 1 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 3 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 99% 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 Kinston
Elementary schools in Kinston
7| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Banks Elementary Lenoir County Public Schools | PK–05 | 436 | 13.5:1 | |
| Contentnea-Savannah School Lenoir County Public Schools | PK–08 | 789 | 14.3:1 | |
| Moss Hill Elementary Lenoir County Public Schools | KG–05 | 371 | 13.3:1 | |
| Northeast Elementary Lenoir County Public Schools | PK–05 | 465 | 17.2:1 | |
| Northwest Elementary Lenoir County Public Schools | KG–05 | 504 | 16.3:1 | |
| Southeast Elementary Lenoir County Public Schools | PK–05 | 326 | 13.6:1 | |
| Southwood Elementary Lenoir County Public Schools | PK–05 | 218 | 11.5:1 |
Middle schools in Kinston
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rochelle Middle Lenoir County Public Schools | 06–08 | 517 | 20.1:1 | |
| Woodington Middle Lenoir County Public Schools | 06–08 | 584 | 16.9:1 |
High schools in Kinston
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kinston High Lenoir County Public Schools | 09–12 | 659 | 16.1:1 | |
| Lenoir County Early College High Lenoir County Public Schools | 09–13 | 246 | 29.8:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Kinston
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lenoir County Learning Academy Lenoir County Public Schools · Alternative School | PK–12 | 66 | 6.7:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White24.6%
- Hispanic13.4%
- Black55.8%
- Asian1.1%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.1%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.9%
Enrollment-weighted across 12 Kinston schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (5,181 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Kinston
How many public schools are in Kinston, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 12 open public schools with a location address in Kinston: 7 elementary, 2 middle, 2 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 5,181 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Kinston?
All listed public schools with an address in Kinston belong to Lenoir County Public Schools. Mailing cities do not always match district boundaries, so confirm the district for a specific home address.
What is the largest public high school in Kinston?
Kinston High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Kinston, with 659 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Kinston?
No school with an address in Kinston is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in North Carolina.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Kinston schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Kinston public schools is 15.2:1, similar to 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 Kinston 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