Back-to-school season is getting more expensive for North Carolina families, and parents say they are increasingly being asked to help cover costs that extend beyond their own children.
Parents, educators and elected leaders highlighted the growing burden during a virtual press conference titled “The Cost We Carry” on August 31, pointing to rising prices and continued unmet needs in North Carolina’s public schools.
The 2026–27 school year is expected to cost families nearly $4,000 per child, 10.7% more than last year, according to an analysis from Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation. A typical basket of school supplies costs 7.7% more, while lunch items are up 10.9%.
Wake County parent and former public school educator Brittany Gregory saw that burden firsthand when shopping for her daughter’s first day of kindergarten. Her supply list included Clorox wipes, prompting her husband to ask why they needed to buy them.
“I explained that Clorox wipes were not just for our daughter or just for the kids in the class, but they were the supplies for her classroom because our schools and teachers do not always have everything that they need,” Gregory said.
The pressure extends beyond individual families. In Watauga County, School Board Member Adam Hege said higher prices are increasing costs for basic school operations, including supplies, bus maintenance, facility upkeep and cafeteria meals. Western North Carolina schools are facing those expenses while communities continue to recover from Hurricane Helene.
At the state level, Rep. Zack Hawkins said the problem reflects an “education priority crisis.” He pointed to the expansion of North Carolina’s Opportunity Scholarship private-school voucher program while public schools continue facing unmet needs.
“We continue to fund private schools at an alarming rate, while our public schools are continuing to suffer,” Hawkins said during the event.
