Public schools in Wilson, NC
22 open public schools with an address in Wilson, operated by 4 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
22
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
10,244
21 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
15.9:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
3
1 virtual
An overview of Wilson public schools
The federal directory lists 22 public schools in Wilson, NC: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 5 combined or other. The 21 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 10,244 students, an average of 488 per school. The largest campus is Sallie B Howard School (1,228 students), and the largest elementary school is John W Jones Elementary (601).
Wilson County Schools operates the most schools here (18), plus 3 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 15.9:1, 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.
School choice options include 3 charter schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 9 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 5 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 7 of 9 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 95% 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 Wilson
Elementary schools in Wilson
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B O Barnes Elementary Wilson County Schools | KG–05 | 274 | 11.9:1 | |
| Frederick Douglass Elementary Wilson County Schools | KG–05 | 339 | 15.1:1 | |
| John W Jones Elementary Wilson County Schools | PK–05 | 601 | 16.9:1 | |
| Margaret Hearne Elementary Wilson County Schools | PK–05 | 423 | 15.9:1 | |
| New Hope Elementary Wilson County Schools | KG–05 | 460 | 15.6:1 | |
| Rock Ridge Elementary Wilson County Schools | KG–05 | 476 | 16.7:1 | |
| Vick Elementary Wilson County Schools | KG–05 | 359 | 15.4:1 | |
| Vinson-Bynum Elementary Wilson County Schools | KG–05 | 458 | 15.8:1 | |
| Wells Elementary Wilson County Schools | PK–05 | 383 | 16.8:1 |
Middle schools in Wilson
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charles H Darden Middle Wilson County Schools | 06–08 | 378 | 13.6:1 | |
| Forest Hills Middle Wilson County Schools | 06–08 | 654 | 18.3:1 |
High schools in Wilson
6| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beddingfield High Wilson County Schools | 09–12 | 653 | 13.6:1 | |
| Fike High Wilson County Schools | 09–12 | 1,028 | 18.8:1 | |
| James Hunt High Wilson County Schools | 09–12 | 1,115 | 18:1 | |
| Wilson Academy of Applied Technology Wilson County Schools | 09–13 | 280 | 19.3:1 | |
| Wilson Academy of Virtual Education Wilson County Schools · Virtual | 06–12 | 44 | 146.7:1 | |
| Wilson Early College Academy Wilson County Schools | 09–13 | 268 | 20.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Wilson
5| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eastern NC School for the Deaf Eastern NC School for the Deaf · Special Education School | KG–12 | 36 | 1.7:1 | |
| Milton M Daniels Learning Center Wilson County Schools · Alternative School | 02–12 | 62 | 6.9:1 | |
| Sallie B Howard School Sallie B Howard School · Charter | KG–12 | 1,228 | 15.9:1 | |
| Wilson Preparatory Academy Wilson Preparatory Academy · Charter | KG–12 | 725 | 17.7:1 | |
| Wilson Preparatory Remote Academy Wilson Preparatory Academy · Charter | KG–12 | — | — |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White20%
- Hispanic24.2%
- Black49.6%
- Asian1.5%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.3%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.4%
Enrollment-weighted across 21 Wilson schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (10,244 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Wilson
How many public schools are in Wilson, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 22 open public schools with a location address in Wilson: 9 elementary, 2 middle, 6 high, 5 combined or other. Together they reported 10,244 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Wilson?
Schools with an address in Wilson belong to 4 education agencies, led by Wilson County Schools (18 schools), Wilson Preparatory Academy (2 schools), Eastern NC School for the Deaf (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 Wilson?
James Hunt High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Wilson, with 1,115 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Wilson?
Yes. 3 of the 22 public schools in Wilson are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Sallie B Howard School, Wilson Preparatory Academy, Wilson Preparatory Remote Academy. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Wilson schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Wilson public schools is 15.9:1, 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 Wilson 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