RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina ranks last in the nation on public school open enrollment for the third straight year , according to a Reason Foundation report released Oct. 13. The report gave North Carolina zero of 100 possible points and a grade of F, the same score as Alaska, Maine, and Maryland.
North Carolina has no statewide open enrollment law, so transfer decisions are up to local school boards. Most districts allow transfers case by case, and many require families to show a hardship. A few districts, including Union County, run their own open enrollment programs.
North Carolina earned no points in any category. The report knocked the Tar Heel State for a number of factors, including the Department of Public Instructions failure to publish data on transfer students. Districts are also not required to post their transfer policies or available seats by grade level.
The Tar Heel State does not have any codified open enrollment options. North Carolina scored 0 points—a grade of F—ranking dead last overall with three other states. Reason Foundation analysts said North Carolina policymakers can improve their open enrollment options in three main ways, including: Require all school districts to participate in cross- and within-district open enrollment, and making public schools free and open to transfer students.
The General Assembly has ordered a study of the policy. The state budget Gov. Josh Stein signed July 7 directs the North Carolina Collaboratory at UNC-Chapel Hill to study how districts could let students attend any school within their home district, including capacity, waitlists, transportation, and appeals. The report, with any recommended legislation, is due to the Joint Legislative Education Oversight Committee by June 1, 2027.
Seventy-nine percent of likely North Carolina voters supported within-district open enrollment in a January statewide poll, underscoring interest as lawmakers await the Collaboratory findings during the 2027 long session.
