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.
- ESSER hub page
- Alabama
- Alaska
- Arizona
- Arkansas
- California
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Delaware
- Florida
- Georgia
- Hawaii
- Idaho
- Illinois
- Indiana
- Iowa
- Kansas
- Kentucky
- Louisiana
- Maine
- Maryland
- Massachusetts
- Michigan
- Minnesota
- Mississippi
- Missouri
- Montana
- Nebraska
- Nevada
- New Hampshire
- New Jersey
- New Mexico
- New York
- North Carolina
- North Dakota
- Ohio
- Oklahoma
- Oregon
- Pennsylvania
- Rhode Island
- South Carolina
- South Dakota
- Tennessee
- Texas
- Utah
- Vermont
- Virginia
- Washington
- West Virginia
- Wisconsin
- Wyoming
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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- State takeovers of K-12 public school districts
Footnotes
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "ESSER Fund Cover Letter," accessed June 13, 2025
- ↑ The 74, "ESSER Post-Mortem: How Did Districts Spend $190B in Federal Funds? Did It Work?" June 29, 2025
- ↑ Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
- ↑ District Administration, "Learning loss can still be overcome with ESSER," August 15, 2024
- ↑ Brookings, "The ESSER fiscal cliff will have serious implications for student equity," September 12, 2023
- ↑ Intercultural Development Research Association, "How Schools Will Be Impacted by the End of Federal COVID-19 Relief Funding," October 8, 2024
- ↑ McKinsey & Company, "When the money runs out: K–12 schools brace for stimulus-free budgets," September 18, 2024
- ↑ Edunomics Lab,"ESSER Expenditure Dashboard," accessed June 29, 2025
- ↑ K-12 Dive, "ESSER funding: What it is and how to use it before it expires," February 21, 2023
- ↑ CCSSO, "States Leading: How State Education Agencies Leveraged Pandemic Relief Funds," accessed February 4, 2025
- ↑ New America, "Size: More Money Than Ever Before," accessed February 4, 2025
- ↑ School Superintendents Assocation, "The Advocate March 2024: ESSER Late Liquidation," March 8, 2024
- ↑ U.S. Department of Education, "Frequently Asked Questions," May 2021
- ↑ Brookings, "Breaking down enrollment declines in public schools," March 14, 2024
- ↑ United States Census, "K-12 School Spending Up 4.7% in 2019 From Previous Year," May 18, 2021
- ↑ Education Next, "The Massive ESSER Experiment: Here’s what we’re learning.," April 4, 2023
- ↑ Education Week, "When ESSER Funds Are Gone, Here’s Where Districts May Turn to Fill Gaps," December 5, 2023
- ↑ NBC DFW, "Arlington ISD faces layoffs with COVID-era ESSER grants coming to an end," March 25, 2024
- ↑ K-12 Dive, "Teacher layoffs are growing — and won’t be going away anytime soon," March 26, 2024
- ↑ CT Insider, "Hartford school board approves $429 million budget with staffing cuts across the district," April 18, 2024
- ↑ Chalkbeat, "Many schools want to keep tutoring going when COVID money is gone. How will they pay for it?" February 1, 2024
- ↑ KOSU, "The end of pandemic-era federal dollars may mean the end of some Oklahoma school programs," April 18, 2024
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