Lee County Schools faces rapid growth, falling grades, and critical $42M elementary school grant deadline

Lee County Schools faced growth trends with short deadlines and failing schools at the Sept. 9 meeting.

The board reviewed North Carolina’s state demographer Dr. Michael Cline’ growth statistics.

North Carolina’s population is projected to reach 11.7 million by 2030, enough to add a congressional seat, and grow to 14.2 million by 2050, according to state demographer Michael Cline.

Lee County is expected to gain nearly 10,000 residents by 2035, pushing enrollment up by as many as 1,800 students and requiring one to two new schools.

Lee County Schools plans to open an 850-seat elementary school by 2029 and purchase land for future campuses, while also preparing for middle and high school capacity needs after 2030. Officials will soon present a grant request for a new elementary school, with industrial and commercial taxes expected to help offset costs not covered by residential property values.

Lee County is well positioned to support new school construction and student costs with industrial and commercial taxes picking up the deficit from lower-priced housing.

To cover the cost of one student for a school year, not the cost of building a school, a school district in the tri-county area needs the property taxes of one $450,000 evaluated property. Most single-family homes in Lee County are valued at around $300,000.

Read details here.

SCHOOL GRADES

Lee County School’s grade comparisons from 2023-2024 into 2024-2025 revealed Southern Lee dropped from C to D.

Lee Early College maintained an A.

Tramway Elementary School maintained a B.

Bullock, Deep River, Edwards, Greenwoood, Ingram and SanLee maintained a C.

Broadway and Wicker maintained a D.

West Lee improved from F to D.

East Lee dropped from D to F.

The grades were based not solely on proficiency, but included growth, which cushioned the scores.

GROWTH PRESENTATION

School planners with North Carolina State University’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education presented a full picture of growth and development in Lee County.

The study, led by ITRE’s Operations Research and Education Laboratory (OREd) division, used interviews, GIS analysis, and modeling to forecast school enrollment and facility needs. Findings highlighted rapid residential growth with nearly 80 planned developments and more than 15,600 new housing units. The report projected steady enrollment increases across all grade levels and identified schools expected to exceed capacity in coming years. Board members reviewed the data and discussed future planning needs.

“Sanford has deliberately tried to encourage infield development within the city,” OREd’s land use planner Brian Godfrey said about Sanford’s higher than normal density.

The land use study suggests continued municipal growth from annexations.

NEW ELEMENTARY SCHOOL GRANT APPLICATION WITH CRITICAL DEADLINE

Based on data, the board moved to approve commercial real estate land searching for a new elementary school and to apply for a grant.

Lee County Schools agreed to apply for a $42 million grant from the state’s Needs-Based Public School Capital Fund to build a new elementary school with 850 students, not including land, estimated at $56 million.

“To even apply for this grant, the county needs to agree to the $14.2 million,” Superintendent Christoper P. Dossenbach said.

Chair Sherry Womack said the county commissioners needed more time to make a decision.

“This decision, they’re gonna have to make Monday night,” Dossenbach said about the grant’s Oct. 3 deadline.

The recent study by N.C. State’s Institute for Transportation Research and Education found a new elementary school will be needed by the 2028–29 school year to meet rising enrollment. District leaders say the project is critical to keep pace with growth and ensure safe, modern learning spaces.

STATE BOARD

Lee County Schools nominated Chair Sherry Womack for the North Carolina State Board Association (NCSBA).

The NCSBA is governed by a 28-member board that includes officers, elected members from the annual Delegate Assembly, and school board members with national or regional leadership experience. The board oversees the Delegate Assembly, directs the association’s affairs between sessions, and holds elections for officers and directors each November at the annual conference.

As a nonpartisan membership group, it has no authority over local boards, cannot intervene in student or district matters, and does not endorse political candidates. Instead, it promotes transparent governance, community engagement and works with elected officials to advance public education.

Sept. 10, 2025

Stephanie M. Sellers

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