Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) allocation and expenditures by district in North Carolina

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Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) funding was a series of grants totaling roughly $190 billion that Congress sent to K-12 public schools during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Congress included the funding in three separate spending packages between 2020 and 2021. The first of these occurred in March 27, 2020, when President Donald Trump (R) signed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, releasing $13.2 billion to schools. In an April 23, 2020, letter sent to state education commissioners, then-Education Secretary Betsy DeVos wrote: "The ESSER Fund provides you, and your local educational agencies, with emergency relief funds to address the impact that COVID-19 has had, and continues to have, on elementary and secondary schools."[1]

In response to the pandemic, all 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction between February and April 2020.

At the time, the $190 billion was the largest injection of federal funding into the education system in a one-year period.[2] Trump signed the second ESSER package, providing roughly $54 billion through the Coronavirus Response and Relief Supplemental Appropriations (CRRSA) Act, into law on December 27, 2020. President Joe Biden (D) signed the final ESSER package on March 11, 2021, apportioning $122 billion to schools through the American Rescue Plan (ARP) Act. Each of the three ESSER packages came with their own spending deadlines. Districts had until January 2025 to spend the last round of the funding, known as ESSER III.[3]

Congress placed few strings on the grants, largely relying on districts to make their own spending decisions.[4] The expiration of the ESSER funding posed a challenge to districts that allocated a relatively greater portion to recurring expenses, such as teacher salaries or new staff.[5] An August 2023 School Superintendents Association (AASA) survey found that 53% of respondents said they would need to cut support staff in response to the expiration of ESSER funding.[6] A 2024 survey of district leaders by the management consulting firm McKinsey & Company found that 53% of district leaders "expect a fiscal cliff in their district’s spending when ESSER concludes."[7]

On this page, you will find data on the funding Congress allocated to North Carolina's school districts through the three ESSER grants (I, II, and III). Data is made available by Georgetown University's Edunomics Lab.[8] Navigate the page using the following links:

ESSER I

The table below shows the total amount of ESSER I funding allocated to each district in North Carolina.

North Carolina ESSER I allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER I Allocation
A.C.E. Academy $61,196
Achievement Charter Academy $9,666
Alamance Community School $62,985
Alamance-Burlington Schools $5,673,602
Alexander County Schools $936,492
Alleghany County Schools $425,485
Alpha Academy $238,641
American Renaissance School $36,862
Anson County Schools $1,075,180
Appalachian State U Academy Middle Fork $145,648
Apprentice Academy HS of NC $8,592
Arapahoe Charter School $99,127
Aristotle Preparatory Academy $55,113
Arts Based School $23,622
ArtSpace Charter $36,862
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County $12,171
Ashe County Schools $784,765
Asheboro City Schools $1,158,358
Asheville City Schools $880,668
Asheville PEAK Academy
Avery County Schools $657,371
Bear Grass Charter School $25,769
Beaufort County Schools $1,953,855
Bertie County Schools $937,566
Bethel Hill Charter $36,862
Bladen County Schools $1,593,859
Bonnie Cone Classical Academy $49,745
Bradford Preparatory School $17,896
Brevard Academy $41,872
Bridges Academy $50,578
Brunswick County Schools $2,981,235
Buncombe County Schools $5,679,170
Burke County Schools $2,618,378
Cabarrus Charter Academy $67,279
Cabarrus County Schools $3,480,792
Caldwell County Schools $2,312,061
Camden County Schools $127,756
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry $37,578
Cardinal Charter $17,539
Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls $28,283
Carolina Charter Academy: CFA $23,622
Carolina International School $56,902
Carter Community Charter $105,211
Carter G Woodson School $165,330
Carteret County Schools $1,582,507
Casa Esperanza Montessori $14,676
Caswell County Schools $775,461
Catamount School $720
Catawba County Schools $2,681,360
Central Park School For Children $44,377
Central Wake Charter High School $61,912
Chapel-Hill/Carrboro City Schools $867,428
Charlotte Lab School $17,539
Charlotte Secondary School $43,769
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools $33,649,613
Charter Day School $161,751
Chatham County Schools $1,376,288
Cherokee County Schools $916,811
Children's Village Academy $75,868
CIS Academy $31,853
Clay County Schools $336,040
Cleveland County Schools $3,908,779
Clinton City Schools $814,108
Clover Garden $36,862
Columbus Charter School $160,320
Columbus County Schools $1,995,286
Commonwealth High School $163,183
Concord Lake STEAM Academy $72,141
Corvian Community School $9,973
Craven County Schools $3,941,517
Crosscreek Charter School $45,451
Cumberland County Schools $14,474,539
Currituck County Schools $459,123
D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy $104,958
Dare County Schools $628,027
Davidson Charter Academy $42,230
Davidson County Schools $3,327,991
Davie County Schools $962,787
Dillard Academy $123,462
Discovery Charter School $16,107
Doral Academy North Carolina
Douglass Academy $76,226
Duplin County Schools $3,009,506
Durham County Schools $11,927,439
East Carolina Community School $23,778
East Voyager Academy $13,602
East Wake Academy $29,705
Eastside STREAM Academy $41,104
Edenton-Chowan County Schools $577,571
Edgecombe County Schools $2,250,153
Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County Schools $1,725,190
Elkin City Schools $211,134
Emereau: Bladen $93,402
Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School $30,632
Evergreen Community Charter $25,411
Faith Academy Charter
Falls Lake Academy $22,191
FernLeaf Community Charter School $16,465
Forsyth Academy $164,046
Francine Delany New School $17,539
Franklin County Schools $2,309,913
Gaston College Preparatory $337,455
Gaston County Schools $7,939,794
Gate City Charter Academy $77,929
Gates County Schools $299,165
Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington $61,912
Global Scholars Academy $61,554
Graham County Schools $334,163
Granville County Schools $1,414,288
Greene County Schools $1,451,436
Greensboro Academy $10,766
Guilford County Schools $20,919,803
Guilford Preparatory Academy $107,716
Halifax County Schools $1,763,479
Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School $43,053
Harnett County Schools $5,494,404
Haywood County Schools $1,606,026
Healthy Start Academy $166,761
Henderson Collegiate $467,711
Henderson County Schools $2,677,534
Hertford County Schools $1,064,244
Hickory City Schools $882,815
Hobgood Charter School $18,254
Hoke County Schools $2,302,041
Hyde County Schools $183,222
Innovative School District $46,273
Invest Collegiate $172,845
Invest Collegiate - Imagine $56,902
Iredell Charter Academy $54,755
Iredell-Statesville Schools $3,717,330
Jackson County Schools $935,777
Johnston Charter Academy $24,962
Johnston County Schools $7,488,691
Jones County Schools $405,430
Kannapolis City Schools $1,368,852
Kestrel Heights School
KIPP Durham College Preparatory $143,501
KIPP Halifax College Preparatory $193,958
KIPP: Charlotte $302,028
Lake Lure Classical Academy $45,809
Langtree Charter Academy $18,612
Lee County Schools $2,036,174
Lenoir County Schools $3,149,425
Lexington City Schools $1,194,105
Lincoln Charter School $41,157
Lincoln County Schools $1,832,544
Macon County Schools $1,091,083
Madison County Schools $640,552
Mallard Creek STEM Academy $40,083
Marjorie Williams Academy $214,355
Martin County Schools $1,044,205
Matthews Charter Academy $47,692
Maureen Joy Charter $201,830
McDowell County Schools $1,486,863
MINA Charter School of Lee County $67,995
Mitchell County Schools $455,767
Monroe Charter Academy $22,906
Montgomery County Schools $1,091,441
Moore County Schools $2,010,752
Mooresville City Schools $587,700
Moss Street Partnership School $168,549
Mount Airy City Schools $355,347
Mountain Discovery Charter School $19,328
Mountain Island Charter $26,843
Mountain Island Day Community Charter Sc $0
Movement Charter School $68,711
Movement School Eastland $89,466
Nash County Public Schools $4,208,298
NC Virtual Academy $368,001
Neuse Charter School $79,088
New Hanover County Schools $6,098,451
Newton-Conover City Schools $673,474
Next Generation Academy $56,544
Niner University Elementary School $36,862
North Carolina Cyber Academy $343,180
North East Carolina Preparatory School $170,340
Northampton County Schools $1,084,288
Northeast Academy of Aerospace & AdvTech $25,769
Northeast Regional School - Biotech/Agri
Old Main Stream
Onslow County Schools $5,154,090
Orange County Schools $945,808
Pamlico County Schools $395,784
Paul R Brown Leadership Academy $69,784
PAVE Southeast Raleigh Charter School $148,511
Peak Charter Academy
Pender County Schools $1,564,874
Perquimans County Schools $473,795
Person County Schools $1,113,985
Phoenix Academy Inc $80,162
Piedmont Classical High School $42,946
Piedmont Community Charter $139,923
Pinnacle Classical Academy
Pioneer Springs Community School $5,014
Pitt County Schools $7,789,283
Pocosin Innovative Charter $16,823
Polk County Schools $450,893
PreEminent Charter School $121,301
Quality Education Academy $213,639
Queen City STEM School $40,799
Queen's Grant Community School $22,995
Raleigh Oak Charter School
Randolph County Schools $3,623,947
Reaching All Minds Academy $33,284
Research Triangle Charter $122,375
Research Triangle High School $7,161
Richmond County Schools $2,758,297
Ridgeview Charter School $38,294
Roanoke Rapids City Schools $805,181
Robeson County Schools $11,432,892
Rockingham County Schools $3,076,424
Rocky Mount Preparatory $292,000
Rolesville Charter Academy $26,364
Rowan-Salisbury County Schools $4,753,502
Rutherford County Schools $2,308,840
Sallie B Howard School $396,500
Sampson County Schools $2,192,539
Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss $57,618
Scotland County Schools $2,389,809
Shining Rock Classical Academy: CFA $44,735
Socrates Academy $11,453
South Brunswick Charter School $25,053
Southwest Charlotte STEM Academy $62,627
Stanly County Schools $1,783,161
Steele Creek Preparatory Academy $21,239
Stewart Creek High School $65,132
Stokes County Schools $1,118,637
Success Charter School $41,514
Sugar Creek Charter $439,442
Summerfield Charter Academy $2,278
Summit Creek Academy
Surry County Schools $1,775,503
Swain County Schools $365,144
The Capitol Encore Academy $86,961
The College Preparatory and Leadership A $242,625
The Exploris School
The Franklin School of Innovation $32,926
The Institute for the Development of You $112,603
The Learning Center $39,105
The New Dimensions School $27,201
Thomas Academy $32,210
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy $75,510
Thomasville City Schools $1,103,232
Three Rivers Academy $137,156
Tiller School $28,632
Tillery Charter Academy $11,455
Torchlight Academy $207,198
Transylvania County Schools $907,840
Triad Math and Science Academy $238,689
Triangle Math and Science Academy
Two Rivers Community School $18,612
Tyrrell County Schools $193,958
Union County Schools $4,627,417
Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai $59,765
United Community School $16,823
UpROAR Leadership Academy $52,808
Uwharrie Charter Academy $102,706
Vance Charter School $49,387
Vance County Schools $2,796,587
VERITAS Community School $16,107
Voyager Academy $56,902
Wake County Schools $24,575,124
Wake Forest Charter Academy $8,493
Warren County Schools $910,012
Washington County Schools $762,936
Watauga County Schools $675,263
Wayne County Schools $6,064,456
Wayne Preparatory $120,241
Weldon City Schools $642,620
West Lake Preparatory Academy
Whiteville City Schools $876,007
Wilkes County Schools $2,300,609
Wilmington Preparatory Academy $50,163
Wilmington School of the Arts $26,843
Wilson County Schools $4,257,345
Wilson Preparatory Academy $25,411
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools $16,932,951
Winterville Charter Academy $79,361
Yadkin County Schools $1,033,111
Yancey County Schools $551,448
Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology $64,775


ESSER II

The table below shows the total amount of ESSER II funding allocated to each district in North Carolina.

North Carolina ESSER II allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER II Allocation
A.C.E. Academy $206,809
Achievement Charter Academy $37,596
Alamance Community School $319,166
Alamance-Burlington Schools $22,213,195
Alexander County Schools $3,664,000
Alleghany County Schools $1,666,124
Alpha Academy $869,216
American Renaissance School $143,175
Anson County Schools $4,238,891
Appalachian State U Academy Middle Fork $569,831
Apprentice Academy HS of NC $53,229
Arapahoe Charter School $603,096
Aristotle Preparatory Academy $216,934
Arts Based School $92,421
ArtSpace Charter $122,925
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County $28,760
Ashe County Schools $3,071,924
Asheboro City Schools $4,534,132
Asheville City Schools $3,131,222
Asheville PEAK Academy $137,387
Avery County Schools $2,567,544
Bear Grass Charter School $99,786
Beaufort County Schools $7,648,009
Bertie County Schools $3,667,799
Bethel Hill Charter $137,387
Bladen County Schools $9,288,100
Bonnie Cone Classical Academy $175,360
Bradford Preparatory School
Brevard Academy $146,065
Bridges Academy
Brunswick County Schools $11,668,714
Buncombe County Schools $22,233,912
Burke County Schools $10,249,897
Cabarrus Charter Academy $264,664
Cabarrus County Schools $13,321,831
Caldwell County Schools $9,108,767
Camden County Schools $500,407
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry $125,817
Cardinal Charter $61,222
Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls $156,189
Carolina Charter Academy: CFA $92,553
Carolina International School $234,289
Carter Community Charter $410,738
Carter G Woodson School $653,716
Carteret County Schools $6,195,925
Casa Esperanza Montessori $49,164
Caswell County Schools $3,021,005
Catamount School $2,882
Catawba County Schools $12,121,404
Central Park School For Children $161,977
Central Wake Charter High School $219,826
Chapel-Hill/Carrboro City Schools $3,232,464
Charlotte Lab School $59,287
Charlotte Secondary School $161,977
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools $142,136,037
Charter Day School $543,796
Chatham County Schools $5,387,446
Cherokee County Schools $3,581,742
Children's Village Academy $309,496
CIS Academy $114,044
Clay County Schools $1,314,674
Cleveland County Schools $17,064,850
Clinton City Schools $3,281,605
Clover Garden $124,371
Columbus Charter School $1,245,252
Columbus County Schools $8,067,435
Commonwealth High School $579,955
Concord Lake STEAM Academy $256,241
Corvian Community School
Craven County Schools $15,450,621
Crosscreek Charter School $163,844
Cumberland County Schools $56,689,047
Currituck County Schools $1,796,292
D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy $406,400
Dare County Schools $2,329,973
Davidson Charter Academy $164,867
Davidson County Schools $13,136,706
Davie County Schools $3,596,931
Dillard Academy $483,053
Discovery Charter School $105,571
Doral Academy North Carolina $79,535
Douglass Academy $270,449
Duplin County Schools $11,688,963
Durham County Schools $46,663,237
East Carolina Community School $201,024
East Voyager Academy $53,502
East Wake Academy $99,642
Eastside STREAM Academy $144,148
Edenton-Chowan County Schools $2,260,551
Edgecombe County Schools $8,686,337
Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County Schools $6,750,842
Elkin City Schools $804,129
Emereau: Bladen $313,836
Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School
Evergreen Community Charter $92,553
Faith Academy Charter $234,289
Falls Lake Academy $75,197
FernLeaf Community Charter School $64,980
Forsyth Academy $699,995
Francine Delany New School $60,735
Franklin County Schools $9,037,899
Gaston College Preparatory $1,290,085
Gaston County Schools $31,073,682
Gate City Charter Academy $484,499
Gates County Schools $1,171,487
Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington $428,092
Global Scholars Academy $363,012
Graham County Schools $1,255,308
Granville County Schools $5,960,781
Greene County Schools $5,682,489
Greensboro Academy $59,287
Guilford County Schools $88,775,146
Guilford Preparatory Academy $530,781
Halifax County Schools $6,903,166
Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School $255,135
Harnett County Schools $23,207,565
Haywood County Schools $6,287,041
Healthy Start Academy $756,403
Henderson Collegiate $2,092,782
Henderson County Schools $9,957,745
Hertford County Schools $4,165,326
Hickory City Schools $3,822,552
Hobgood Charter School $72,304
Hoke County Schools $9,111,012
Hyde County Schools $796,899
Innovative School District $360,708
Invest Collegiate $656,608
Invest Collegiate - Imagine $118,586
Iredell Charter Academy $214,041
Iredell-Statesville Schools $14,452,044
Jackson County Schools $3,475,442
Johnston Charter Academy $72,304
Johnston County Schools $29,290,139
Jones County Schools $1,593,809
Kannapolis City Schools $5,359,960
Kestrel Heights School $305,157
KIPP Durham College Preparatory $569,831
KIPP Halifax College Preparatory $759,295
KIPP: Charlotte $1,392,774
Lake Lure Classical Academy $203,917
Langtree Charter Academy $67,966
Lee County Schools $8,463,719
Lenoir County Schools $14,329,901
Lexington City Schools $4,674,421
Lincoln Charter School $160,528
Lincoln County Schools $6,979,818
Macon County Schools $4,681,654
Madison County Schools $2,506,423
Mallard Creek STEM Academy $216,936
Marjorie Williams Academy $838,842
Martin County Schools $4,079,951
Matthews Charter Academy $208,257
Maureen Joy Charter $789,668
McDowell County Schools $5,819,889
MINA Charter School of Lee County $331,190
Mitchell County Schools $1,789,059
Monroe Charter Academy $96,891
Montgomery County Schools $4,224,258
Moore County Schools $7,869,509
Mooresville City Schools $2,327,081
Moss Street Partnership School $590,048
Mount Airy City Schools $1,821,992
Mountain Discovery Charter School $75,197
Mountain Island Charter $105,569
Mountain Island Day Community Charter Sc $46,271
Movement Charter School $652,268
Movement School Eastland $348,548
Nash County Public Schools $16,458,992
NC Virtual Academy $1,462,195
Neuse Charter School $264,664
New Hanover County Schools $25,536,911
Newton-Conover City Schools $2,460,140
Next Generation Academy $413,041
Niner University Elementary School $144,619
North Carolina Cyber Academy $1,343,600
North East Carolina Preparatory School $757,849
Northampton County Schools $4,246,317
Northeast Academy of Aerospace & AdvTech $104,122
Northeast Regional School - Biotech/Agri $41,932
Old Main Stream $89,660
Onslow County Schools $24,412,039
Orange County Schools $3,703,956
Pamlico County Schools $1,550,420
Paul R Brown Leadership Academy $247,308
PAVE Southeast Raleigh Charter School $611,773
Peak Charter Academy
Pender County Schools $7,452,758
Perquimans County Schools $1,855,587
Person County Schools $4,765,540
Phoenix Academy Inc $298,154
Piedmont Classical High School $177,883
Piedmont Community Charter $555,368
Pinnacle Classical Academy $319,621
Pioneer Springs Community School $26,023
Pitt County Schools $30,489,378
Pocosin Innovative Charter $66,519
Polk County Schools $1,762,904
PreEminent Charter School $590,078
Quality Education Academy $921,382
Queen City STEM School $160,528
Queen's Grant Community School $206,438
Raleigh Oak Charter School $23,130
Randolph County Schools $14,186,716
Reaching All Minds Academy $114,247
Research Triangle Charter $551,029
Research Triangle High School
Richmond County Schools $10,472,846
Ridgeview Charter School $419,417
Roanoke Rapids City Schools $3,150,026
Robeson County Schools $44,752,758
Rockingham County Schools $12,500,335
Rocky Mount Preparatory $1,070,251
Rolesville Charter Academy $66,519
Rowan-Salisbury County Schools $20,422,511
Rutherford County Schools $9,831,918
Sallie B Howard School $1,603,934
Sampson County Schools $11,574,852
Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss $201,024
Scotland County Schools $9,366,917
Shining Rock Classical Academy: CFA $150,404
Socrates Academy $26,164
South Brunswick Charter School $89,660
Southwest Charlotte STEM Academy $245,860
Stanly County Schools $7,270,474
Steele Creek Preparatory Academy $534,148
Stewart Creek High School $218,382
Stokes County Schools $4,145,953
Success Charter School $163,421
Sugar Creek Charter $2,056,622
Summerfield Charter Academy $50,610
Summit Creek Academy $293,791
Surry County Schools $6,949,068
Swain County Schools $1,430,107
The Capitol Encore Academy $327,831
The College Preparatory and Leadership A $1,188,845
The Exploris School $27,469
The Franklin School of Innovation $128,709
The Institute for the Development of You $558,990
The Learning Center $154,572
The New Dimensions School $107,015
Thomas Academy $114,249
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy $295,036
Thomasville City Schools $4,321,523
Three Rivers Academy
Tiller School $95,445
Tillery Charter Academy $117,140
Torchlight Academy
Transylvania County Schools $3,206,727
Triad Math and Science Academy $1,194,632
Triangle Math and Science Academy $62,180
Two Rivers Community School $61,959
Tyrrell County Schools $808,469
Union County Schools $17,625,303
Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai $199,580
United Community School $73,751
UpROAR Leadership Academy $191,157
Uwharrie Charter Academy $432,431
Vance Charter School $219,828
Vance County Schools $10,946,888
VERITAS Community School $111,354
Voyager Academy $222,719
Wake County Schools $96,188,484
Wake Forest Charter Academy $39,042
Warren County Schools $3,382,877
Washington County Schools $2,986,592
Watauga County Schools $2,643,820
Wayne County Schools $24,918,241
Wayne Preparatory $470,035
Weldon City Schools $2,496,266
West Lake Preparatory Academy $75,185
Whiteville City Schools $3,687,306
Wilkes County Schools $10,630,271
Wilmington Preparatory Academy
Wilmington School of the Arts $147,512
Wilson County Schools $16,668,563
Wilson Preparatory Academy $163,421
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools $66,342,680
Winterville Charter Academy $269,000
Yadkin County Schools $4,145,078
Yancey County Schools $2,157,864
Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology $253,093

ESSER III

The table below shows the total amount of ESSER III funding allocated to each district in North Carolina.

North Carolina ESSER III allocation and expenditures by district
District Name Total ESSER III Allocation
A.C.E. Academy $464,311
Achievement Charter Academy $84,435
Alamance Community School $717,571
Alamance-Burlington Schools $49,907,508
Alexander County Schools $8,227,555
Alleghany County Schools $3,740,393
Alpha Academy $1,951,379
American Renaissance School $321,455
Anson County Schools $9,513,314
Appalachian State U Academy Middle Fork $1,279,276
Apprentice Academy HS of NC $120,145
Arapahoe Charter School $1,353,953
Aristotle Preparatory Academy $487,039
Arts Based School $207,815
ArtSpace Charter $275,994
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County $64,949
Ashe County Schools $6,893,100
Asheboro City Schools $10,178,917
Asheville City Schools $7,026,221
Asheville PEAK Academy $308,462
Avery County Schools $5,776,178
Bear Grass Charter School $224,049
Beaufort County Schools $17,166,164
Bertie County Schools $8,234,049
Bethel Hill Charter $308,462
Bladen County Schools $20,848,107
Bonnie Cone Classical Academy $435,094
Bradford Preparatory School
Brevard Academy $327,944
Bridges Academy
Brunswick County Schools $26,192,439
Buncombe County Schools $49,904,261
Burke County Schools $23,007,268
Cabarrus Charter Academy $594,190
Cabarrus County Schools $29,903,598
Caldwell County Schools $20,445,494
Camden County Schools $1,123,422
Cape Fear Center for Inquiry $282,487
Cardinal Charter $149,366
Cardinal Charter Acad at Wendell Falls $350,672
Carolina Charter Academy: CFA $207,810
Carolina International School $526,001
Carter Community Charter $922,122
Carter G Woodson School $1,467,593
Carteret County Schools $13,906,316
Casa Esperanza Montessori $110,404
Caswell County Schools $6,818,418
Catamount School $6,505
Catawba County Schools $27,208,702
Central Park School For Children $363,664
Central Wake Charter High School $493,533
Chapel-Hill/Carrboro City Schools $7,256,747
Charlotte Lab School $133,132
Charlotte Secondary School $363,664
Charlotte-Mecklenburg County Schools $319,133,950
Charter Day School $1,220,827
Chatham County Schools $12,091,323
Cherokee County Schools $8,055,472
Children's Village Academy $694,838
CIS Academy $256,512
Clay County Schools $2,951,408
Cleveland County Schools $38,458,472
Clinton City Schools $7,363,888
Clover Garden $275,999
Columbus Charter School $2,795,559
Columbus County Schools $18,107,756
Commonwealth High School $1,302,003
Concord Lake STEAM Academy $584,444
Corvian Community School
Craven County Schools $34,679,730
Crosscreek Charter School $399,374
Cumberland County Schools $127,241,239
Currituck County Schools $4,032,615
D.C. Virgo Preparatory Academy $912,382
Dare County Schools $5,227,460
Davidson Charter Academy $370,152
Davidson County Schools $29,488,001
Davie County Schools $8,071,706
Dillard Academy $1,084,465
Discovery Charter School $237,037
Doral Academy North Carolina $178,588
Douglass Academy $607,177
Duplin County Schools $26,237,894
Durham County Schools $104,746,985
East Carolina Community School $451,323
East Voyager Academy $120,145
East Wake Academy $224,044
Eastside STREAM Academy $431,848
Edenton-Chowan County Schools $5,074,853
Edgecombe County Schools $19,620,794
Elizabeth City/Pasquotank County Schools $15,156,359
Elkin City Schools $1,805,266
Emereau: Bladen $704,578
Essie Mae Kiser Foxx Charter School
Evergreen Community Charter $207,810
Faith Academy Charter $526,001
Falls Lake Academy $168,848
FernLeaf Community Charter School $146,120
Forsyth Academy $1,568,246
Francine Delany New School $136,385
Franklin County Schools $20,286,397
Gaston College Preparatory $2,892,965
Gaston County Schools $69,745,828
Gate City Charter Academy $1,087,711
Gates County Schools $2,629,966
Girls Leadership Academy of Wilmington $961,079
Global Scholars Academy $814,976
Graham County Schools $2,818,283
Granville County Schools $13,396,556
Greene County Schools $12,753,680
Greensboro Academy $133,132
Guilford County Schools $199,263,098
Guilford Preparatory Academy $1,191,611
Halifax County Schools $15,494,031
Haliwa-Saponi Tribal School $584,450
Harnett County Schools $48,274,337
Haywood County Schools $14,110,868
Healthy Start Academy $1,698,120
Henderson Collegiate $4,698,219
Henderson County Schools $22,351,404
Hertford County Schools $9,350,970
Hickory City Schools $8,578,220
Hobgood Charter School $162,354
Hoke County Schools $20,562,379
Hyde County Schools $1,789,032
Innovative School District $712,088
Invest Collegiate $1,474,086
Invest Collegiate - Imagine $266,253
Iredell Charter Academy $480,546
Iredell-Statesville Schools $32,449,133
Jackson County Schools $7,802,218
Johnston Charter Academy $162,354
Johnston County Schools $65,765,175
Jones County Schools $3,578,050
Kannapolis City Schools $12,029,632
Kestrel Heights School $685,097
KIPP Durham College Preparatory $1,279,276
KIPP Halifax College Preparatory $1,704,613
KIPP: Charlotte $3,126,739
Lake Lure Classical Academy $454,576
Langtree Charter Academy $152,614
Lee County Schools $18,997,393
Lenoir County Schools $32,163,416
Lexington City Schools $10,490,620
Lincoln Charter School $360,412
Lincoln County Schools $15,666,114
Macon County Schools $10,510,095
Madison County Schools $5,626,824
Mallard Creek STEM Academy $487,044
Marjorie Williams Academy $1,883,190
Martin County Schools $9,175,641
Matthews Charter Academy $467,563
Maureen Joy Charter $1,772,797
McDowell County Schools $13,065,377
MINA Charter School of Lee County $743,541
Mitchell County Schools $4,013,134
Monroe Charter Academy $217,550
Montgomery County Schools $9,480,844
Moore County Schools $17,669,426
Mooresville City Schools $5,224,209
Moss Street Partnership School $1,480,580
Mount Airy City Schools $4,094,305
Mountain Discovery Charter School $168,848
Mountain Island Charter $237,032
Mountain Island Day Community Charter Sc $103,911
Movement Charter School $1,461,100
Movement School Eastland $782,508
Nash County Public Schools $36,975,263
NC Virtual Academy $3,282,588
Neuse Charter School $594,190
New Hanover County Schools $57,320,092
Newton-Conover City Schools $5,522,919
Next Generation Academy $928,616
Niner University Elementary School $324,697
North Carolina Cyber Academy $3,016,345
North East Carolina Preparatory School $1,701,366
Northampton County Schools $9,532,794
Northeast Academy of Aerospace & AdvTech $233,785
Northeast Regional School - Biotech/Agri $94,170
Old Main Stream $201,316
Onslow County Schools $54,794,033
Orange County Schools $8,311,979
Pamlico County Schools $3,477,404
Paul R Brown Leadership Academy $555,228
PAVE Southeast Raleigh Charter School $1,373,434
Peak Charter Academy
Pender County Schools $16,727,840
Perquimans County Schools $4,165,730
Person County Schools $10,698,413
Phoenix Academy Inc $753,286
Piedmont Classical High School $399,374
Piedmont Community Charter $1,246,807
Pinnacle Classical Academy $714,324
Pioneer Springs Community School $58,455
Pitt County Schools $68,437,338
Pocosin Innovative Charter $149,366
Polk County Schools $3,961,179
PreEminent Charter School $1,324,726
Quality Education Academy $2,107,223
Queen City STEM School $360,412
Queen's Grant Community School $467,563
Raleigh Oak Charter School $51,961
Randolph County Schools $31,841,978
Reaching All Minds Academy $256,512
Research Triangle Charter $1,237,066
Research Triangle High School
Richmond County Schools $22,036,455
Ridgeview Charter School $941,603
Roanoke Rapids City Schools $7,071,672
Robeson County Schools $100,448,146
Rockingham County Schools $28,211,382
Rocky Mount Preparatory $2,402,691
Rolesville Charter Academy $149,366
Rowan-Salisbury County Schools $45,839,194
Rutherford County Schools $22,068,924
Sallie B Howard School $3,600,779
Sampson County Schools $26,172,957
Sandhills Theatre Arts Renaiss $451,323
Scotland County Schools $21,029,931
Shining Rock Classical Academy: CFA $337,684
Socrates Academy $87,677
South Brunswick Charter School $201,316
Southwest Charlotte STEM Academy $551,976
Stanly County Schools $15,666,114
Steele Creek Preparatory Academy $1,811,764
Stewart Creek High School $490,292
Stokes County Schools $9,305,515
Success Charter School $366,906
Sugar Creek Charter $4,613,801
Summerfield Charter Academy $113,652
Summit Creek Academy $701,337
Surry County Schools $15,601,178
Swain County Schools $3,211,156
The Capitol Encore Academy $737,051
The College Preparatory and Leadership A $2,665,686
The Exploris School $61,702
The Franklin School of Innovation $288,981
The Institute for the Development of You $1,259,789
The Learning Center $365,722
The New Dimensions School $240,278
Thomas Academy $256,518
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy $662,375
Thomasville City Schools $9,698,384
Three Rivers Academy $71,667
Tiller School $214,303
Tillery Charter Academy $263,006
Torchlight Academy
Transylvania County Schools $7,350,905
Triad Math and Science Academy $2,681,920
Triangle Math and Science Academy $139,627
Two Rivers Community School $139,627
Tyrrell County Schools $1,815,005
Union County Schools $39,595,481
Union Preparatory Academy at Indian Trai $448,082
United Community School $165,601
UpROAR Leadership Academy $332,706
Uwharrie Charter Academy $970,820
Vance Charter School $493,538
Vance County Schools $24,572,250
VERITAS Community School $250,019
Voyager Academy $500,026
Wake County Schools $215,922,743
Wake Forest Charter Academy $87,682
Warren County Schools $7,591,173
Washington County Schools $6,704,777
Watauga County Schools $5,932,027
Wayne County Schools $55,930,435
Wayne Preparatory $1,055,237
Weldon City Schools $5,659,287
West Lake Preparatory Academy $178,588
Whiteville City Schools $8,279,505
Wilkes County Schools $23,861,189
Wilmington Preparatory Academy
Wilmington School of the Arts $331,190
Wilson County Schools $37,413,588
Wilson Preparatory Academy $366,906
Winston-Salem/Forsyth County Schools $148,917,276
Winterville Charter Academy $603,931
Yadkin County Schools $9,305,515
Yancey County Schools $4,844,327
Z.E.C.A. School of Arts and Technology $568,210

ESSER allocations by state

Click a state below to see a detailed breakdown of ESSER allocations by district in each state.

History of ESSER

Throughout Spring 2020, all 50 states shuttered K-12 public schools to in-person learning. In most states, students would not return to classrooms for the remainder of the academic year. Congress allocated roughly $190 billion to schools between March 2020 and March 2021 through three rounds of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ESSER) Fund grants.[9]

Congress also allocated about 10% of ESSER funding—or about $19 billion—to state education agencies.[10]

Each tranche of ESSER funding came with its own deadline. States had until September 30 to commit money they received in the third round (ARP Act) of ESSER funding—unless they requested and received an extension.[11] Districts were required to have spent the funds by the end of January 2025 (though they could request an extension from the federal government).[12]

According to the U.S. Department of Education, “These Federal emergency resources are available for a wide range of activities to address diverse needs arising from or exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, or to emerge stronger post-pandemic, including responding to students’ social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs and continuing to provide educational services as States, LEAs, and schools respond to and recover from the pandemic.”[13]

Districts, already facing declining public school enrollment, grappled with the loss of billions of dollars in federal aid as ESSER funds expired.[14] To put the loss in perspective, in 2019, the last year before Congress began allocating ESSER grants, the federal government spent a total of $57.9 billion on K-12 public schools—less than a third of what Congress allocated to schools through ESSER.[15]

A 2023 Education Next analysis of 22 states found that districts had spent about half of the money on labor costs, which could include new hires and raises for existing personnel.[16] A December 2023 Education Week survey of 250 district leaders found that a quarter of respondents said they didn’t anticipate finding alternative funding to cover ongoing expenses made with ESSER grants.[17]

Some districts announced staff and teacher layoffs due to losing ESSER funds.[18][19][20] Districts also cut expenses in other ways, including ending after-school programs, tutoring services, and more.[21][22]

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See also

Footnotes

  1. U.S. Department of Education, "ESSER Fund Cover Letter," accessed June 13, 2025
  2. The 74, "ESSER Post-Mortem: How Did Districts Spend $190B in Federal Funds? Did It Work?" June 29, 2025
  3. Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
  4. District Administration, "Learning loss can still be overcome with ESSER," August 15, 2024
  5. Brookings, "The ESSER fiscal cliff will have serious implications for student equity," September 12, 2023
  6. Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
  7. McKinsey & Company, "When the money runs out: K–12 schools brace for stimulus-free budgets," September 18, 2024
  8. Edunomics Lab,"ESSER Expenditure Dashboard," accessed June 29, 2025
  9. K-12 Dive, "ESSER funding: What it is and how to use it before it expires," February 21, 2023
  10. CCSSO, "States Leading: How State Education Agencies Leveraged Pandemic Relief Funds," accessed February 4, 2025
  11. New America, "Size: More Money Than Ever Before," accessed February 4, 2025
  12. School Superintendents Assocation, "The Advocate March 2024: ESSER Late Liquidation," March 8, 2024
  13. U.S. Department of Education, "Frequently Asked Questions," May 2021
  14. Brookings, "Breaking down enrollment declines in public schools," March 14, 2024
  15. United States Census, "K-12 School Spending Up 4.7% in 2019 From Previous Year," May 18, 2021
  16. Education Next, "The Massive ESSER Experiment: Here’s what we’re learning.," April 4, 2023
  17. Education Week, "When ESSER Funds Are Gone, Here’s Where Districts May Turn to Fill Gaps," December 5, 2023
  18. NBC DFW, "Arlington ISD faces layoffs with COVID-era ESSER grants coming to an end," March 25, 2024
  19. K-12 Dive, "Teacher layoffs are growing — and won’t be going away anytime soon," March 26, 2024
  20. CT Insider, "Hartford school board approves $429 million budget with staffing cuts across the district," April 18, 2024
  21. Chalkbeat, "Many schools want to keep tutoring going when COVID money is gone. How will they pay for it?" February 1, 2024
  22. KOSU, "The end of pandemic-era federal dollars may mean the end of some Oklahoma school programs," April 18, 2024