Western Harnett High

Summary:

Western Harnett High is a public high school located in Lillington, North Carolina, serving 1,386 students in grades 9-12. The school is part of the Harnett County Schools district, which is ranked 188 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 1-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Western Harnett High has consistently ranked in the bottom half of North Carolina high schools, with a 1- or 2-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating it is performing below average compared to other high schools in the state. The school's diverse student population is 47.69% White, 17.17% African American, and 27.27% Hispanic, with a higher percentage of Hispanic students compared to nearby schools. Academically, Western Harnett High's performance on End-of-Course tests is consistently below the state and district averages across all subject areas, with particularly low proficiency rates in Math I.

The school's performance varies significantly across different student subgroups, with multi-racial and military-connected students performing relatively better than other subgroups. However, the school's lowest-performing subgroups are English Language Learners and students with disabilities, who rank in the bottom 10-20% of North Carolina high schools in their respective categories. Additionally, the sharp increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 31.62% to 59.67% in just two years, may be contributing to the school's overall academic struggles.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 10637 NC Hwy 27 West
       Lillington, NC  27546-9600


(919) 499-5113

District: Harnett County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
496th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $8,173 Help


Feeder schools for Western Harnett High:

Elementary:    Benhaven Elementary
    Boone Trail Elementary
    Johnsonville Elementary
Middle:    Highland Middle
    Western Harnett Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  18.8 Help
Number of students:  1,386

Racial breakdown:

White:
47.7%
Hispanic:
27.3%
African American:
17.2%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  59.7% Help


 See top rated North Carolina high schools

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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Western Harnett High ranks worse than 77.5% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 4th among 5 ranked high schools in the Harnett County Schools District. (See more...)
Help
Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 23.22. (See more...)
Student Body
Help
Compare Details Student population at Western Harnett High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (47.7%), Hispanic (27.3%), African American (17.2%). (See more...)
Help
Compare Details 59.7% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Western Harnett High is 18.8. 3 high schools in the Harnett County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Western Harnett High employs 73.4 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Western Harnett High is $8,173. 3 high schools in the Harnett County Schools District spend more per student.
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Western Harnett High:

SchoolDigger ranks Western Harnett High 496th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Western Harnett High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Military Connected students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Harnett County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Harnett County Schools 188th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)


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Rank History for Western Harnett High

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Compare

Rank History for all students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 46.06 266th 431 38.3%
2007 45.82 265th 453 41.5%
2008 48.91 259th 477 45.7%
2009 51.28 244th 490 50.2%
2010 40.98 346th 499 30.7%
2011 46.81 312th 506 38.3%
2012 41.16 301st 502 40.0%
2013 44.05 193rd 505 61.8%
2014 26.83 302nd 451 33.0%
2015 33.28 317th 531 40.3%
2016 33.33 291st 507 42.6%
2017 32.02 301st 476 36.8%
2018 35.45 292nd 469 37.7%
2019 37.00 298th 514 42.0%
2021 37.24 354th 594 40.4%
2022 24.65 466th 621 25.0%
2023 23.75 489th 626 21.9%
2024 23.22 496th 640 22.5%
See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 14.18 168th 185 9.2%
2019 32.59 141st 195 27.7%
2021 46.26 109th 199 45.2%
2022 30.32 165th 226 27.0%
2023 34.60 175th 249 29.7%
2024 31.17 196th 261 24.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 12.63 146th 147 0.7%
2019 28.98 143rd 173 17.3%
2021 30.61 89th 124 28.2%
2022 22.96 141st 156 9.6%
2023 33.21 142nd 226 37.2%
2024 12.05 262nd 262 0.0%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 29.05 299th 424 29.5%
2019 33.69 265th 446 40.6%
2021 37.45 212th 432 50.9%
2022 29.82 375th 544 31.1%
2023 23.70 476th 597 20.3%
2024 24.03 473rd 613 22.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 31.34 319th 449 29.0%
2019 34.47 310th 475 34.7%
2021 38.12 255th 475 46.3%
2022 21.87 469th 594 21.0%
2023 25.09 447th 588 24.0%
2024 23.90 465th 602 22.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 25.69 277th 349 20.6%
2019 47.75 148th 364 59.3%
2021 38.16 189th 334 43.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 39.65 238th 325 26.8%
2021 72.99 67th 337 80.1%
2022 50.18 255th 398 35.9%
2023 27.89 351st 403 12.9%
2024 34.82 329th 403 18.4%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Military Connected students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 45.22 19th 32 40.6%
2019 32.98 23rd 33 30.3%
2021 51.98 15th 41 63.4%
2022 20.47 46th 47 2.1%
2023 25.19 41st 48 14.6%
2024 34.36 32nd 49 34.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Military Connected Students!

Rank History for Male students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.40 306th 463 33.9%
2019 35.48 289th 488 40.8%
2021 33.77 278th 481 42.2%
2022 26.11 438th 585 25.1%
2023 21.07 486th 602 19.3%
2024 21.52 488th 607 19.6%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 38.27 195th 359 45.7%
2019 27.32 282nd 369 23.6%
2021 34.92 194th 364 46.7%
2022 30.03 293rd 430 31.9%
2023 27.16 325th 434 25.1%
2024 29.23 310th 437 29.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 35.97 214th 340 37.1%
2019 39.93 178th 354 49.7%
2021 38.38 189th 370 48.9%
2022 25.78 340th 436 22.0%
2023 19.51 392nd 449 12.7%
2024 19.10 401st 454 11.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Western Harnett High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 28.99 326th 427 23.7%
2019 36.51 270th 444 39.2%
2021 35.49 253rd 439 42.4%
2022 18.72 464th 534 13.1%
2023 18.70 469th 537 12.7%
2024 18.78 475th 553 14.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Western Harnett High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

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Enrollment information for Western Harnett High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 671 306 5 4 8 n/a n/a 0 994
1989 685 314 6 9 11 n/a n/a 0 1025
1990 677 296 3 10 7 n/a n/a -3 990
1991 678 299 8 14 9 n/a n/a -6 1002
1992 736 283 6 15 4 n/a n/a -3 1041
1993 723 278 10 26 7 n/a n/a 0 1044
1994 697 299 11 14 7 n/a n/a 0 1028
1995 768 334 11 29 13 n/a n/a 0 1155
1996 768 334 11 29 13 n/a n/a 0 1155
1997 829 360 11 43 13 n/a n/a 0 1256
1998 883 420 16 51 16 n/a n/a 0 1386
1999 942 417 12 60 11 n/a n/a 0 1442
2000 960 484 12 69 20 n/a n/a 0 1545
2001 1038 545 18 92 19 n/a n/a 0 1712
2002 1135 632 13 109 13 n/a n/a 0 1902
2003 1135 632 13 109 13 n/a n/a 0 1902
2004 1137 668 16 131 16 n/a n/a 0 1968
2005 718 329 5 88 8 n/a n/a 0 1148
2006 725 346 3 90 11 n/a n/a 0 1175
2007 709 307 2 118 13 n/a n/a 50 1199
2008 698 292 4 122 17 n/a n/a 53 1186
2009 736 378 2 138 21 n/a n/a 0 1275
2010 713 368 5 162 15 n/a n/a 0 1263
2011 732 288 2 196 18 3 35 0 1274
2012 730 270 6 202 18 4 41 0 1271
2013 720 261 4 212 14 4 53 0 1268
2014 783 305 8 213 16 5 73 0 1403
2015 769 269 5 208 15 4 68 0 1338
2016 803 284 9 244 12 6 92 0 1450
2017 814 301 11 248 12 5 86 0 1477
2018 795 280 11 278 13 3 82 0 1462
2019 735 252 11 286 17 4 83 0 1388
2020 654 233 6 295 16 1 86 0 1291
2021 650 242 5 317 14 2 78 0 1308
2022 648 225 8 341 9 4 87 0 1322
2023 661 238 11 378 10 2 86 0 1386

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Western Harnett High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 994 65.0 15.2 21.3
1989 1025 65.0 15.7 28.8
1990 990 65.0 15.2 24.5
1991 1002 65.0 15.4 24.3
1992 1041 65.0 16.0 14.9
1993 1044 58.0 18.0 24.4
1994 1028 59.0 17.4 22.9
1995 1155 64.0 18.0 20.9
1996 1155 64.0 18.0 20.9
1997 1256 76.0 16.5 22.8
1998 1386 85.0 16.3 22.1
1999 1442 85.0 17.0 33.1
2000 1545 85.0 18.2 31.2
2001 1712 85.0 20.1 30.4
2002 1902 103.0 18.5 40
2003 1902 103.0 18.5 40
2004 1968 103.0 19.1 46.6
2005 1148 93.0 12.3 41.9
2006 1175 71.0 16.5 n/a
2007 1199 74.2 16.2 47.3
2008 1186 80.3 14.8 47
2009 1275 81.3 15.7 45.4
2010 1263 80.3 15.7 48.9
2011 1274 73.2 17.3 47.2
2012 1271 74.5 17.0 51.1
2013 1268 77.4 16.3 53.2
2014 1403 80.7 17.3 54
2015 1338 76.0 17.6 52.8
2016 1450 73.0 19.8 56.2
2017 1477 75.6 19.5 53.8
2018 1462 77.4 18.8 49.2
2019 1388 69.7 19.9 48.6
2020 1291 71.5 18.0 47.1
2021 1308 73.4 17.8 36.2
2022 1322 72.4 18.2 31.6
2023 1386 73.4 18.8 59.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Western Harnett High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 994 65.0 15.2 21.3
1989 1025 65.0 15.7 28.8
1990 990 65.0 15.2 24.5
1991 1002 65.0 15.4 24.3
1992 1041 65.0 16.0 14.9
1993 1044 58.0 18.0 24.4
1994 1028 59.0 17.4 22.9
1995 1155 64.0 18.0 20.9
1996 1155 64.0 18.0 20.9
1997 1256 76.0 16.5 22.8
1998 1386 85.0 16.3 22.1
1999 1442 85.0 17.0 33.1
2000 1545 85.0 18.2 31.2
2001 1712 85.0 20.1 30.4
2002 1902 103.0 18.5 40
2003 1902 103.0 18.5 40
2004 1968 103.0 19.1 46.6
2005 1148 93.0 12.3 41.9
2006 1175 71.0 16.5 n/a
2007 1199 74.2 16.2 47.3
2008 1186 80.3 14.8 47
2009 1275 81.3 15.7 45.4
2010 1263 80.3 15.7 48.9
2011 1274 73.2 17.3 47.2
2012 1271 74.5 17.0 51.1
2013 1268 77.4 16.3 53.2
2014 1403 80.7 17.3 54
2015 1338 76.0 17.6 52.8
2016 1450 73.0 19.8 56.2
2017 1477 75.6 19.5 53.8
2018 1462 77.4 18.8 49.2
2019 1388 69.7 19.9 48.6
2020 1291 71.5 18.0 47.1
2021 1308 73.4 17.8 36.2
2022 1322 72.4 18.2 31.6
2023 1386 73.4 18.8 59.7

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Western Harnett High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $760 (9.3%) $7,413 (90.7%) $8,173

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Western Harnett High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 298th of 514 High schoolsRanks 489th of 626 High schools
 20.1%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Western Harnett High)56.736.8
 19.9%
   End of Course Biology (Harnett County Schools)5245.5
 6.5%
   End of Course Biology (North Carolina)59.654.1
 5.5%
End of Course English II (Western Harnett High)55.147.6
 7.5%
   End of Course English II (Harnett County Schools)51.948.7
 3.2%
   End of Course English II (North Carolina)59.758.5
 1.2%
End of Course Math I (Western Harnett High)42.526.2
 16.3%
   End of Course Math I (Harnett County Schools)38.326.6
 11.7%
   End of Course Math I (North Carolina)41.235.9
 5.3%
End of Course Math III (Western Harnett High)25.436.5
 11.1%
   End of Course Math III (Harnett County Schools)27.343.3
 16%
   End of Course Math III (North Carolina)46.858.3
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students13881386
 0.1%
African American252238
 5.6%
American Indian1710
 41.2%
Asian1111
Hispanic286378
 32.2%
Pacific Islander42
 50%
White735661
 10.1%
Two or More Races8386
 3.6%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients48.6%59.7%
 11%


Schools Near Western Harnett High









Frequently Asked Questions about Western Harnett High

Western Harnett High ranks in the bottom 22.5% of North Carolina high schools.

Students at Western Harnett High are 48% White, 27% Hispanic, 17% African American, 6% Two or more races.

Western Harnett High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Benhaven Elementary
Elementary : Boone Trail Elementary
Elementary : Johnsonville Elementary
Middle : Highland Middle
Middle : Western Harnett Middle

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,386 students attended Western Harnett High.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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