Chatham County Schools: Seaforth High School welcomed most students in 2023-24 school year

Seaforth High School had the highest enrollment among Chatham County schools, welcoming 1,022 students during the 2023-24 school year, according to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction.

Among the 21 schools in Chatham County, Jordan Matthews High School ranked second in enrollment numbers with 851 students, while Margaret B. Pollard Middle School welcomed 743 students and ranked third in the 2023-24 school year.

Seaforth High School is part of Chatham County Schools district, which roughly covers institutions within Chatham County and has a main office in Pittsboro.

In the previous school year, Northwood High School had the highest number of students among Chatham County schools.

North Carolina’s student-teacher ratio is roughly 15.4 students per teacher, aligning with the national average. However, rising teacher turnover threatens to push class sizes higher, making it harder for students to get individualized attention.

If vacancies continue to grow, schools may struggle to maintain this ratio, impacting the quality of instruction. Districts in lower-funded areas face the biggest challenges, as limited budgets make it harder to attract and retain teachers.