This book, which is in its 24th edition, provides general statistical data to the public, professional educators, and the General Assembly of North Carolina. The profile contains information on North Carolina's 1,247,144 students and 117 local education agencies, school personnel, and finances. Part I presents tables and summaries of statewide data on the following subjects: (1) pupil accounting; (2) nonpromotion rate by grade; (3) projected final average daily membership; (4) exceptional pupils; (5) pupil membership by race/ethnic origin; (6) high school graduates' intentions; (7) projections of high school graduates; (8) public school dropout and retention data; (9) public school personnel summary; (10) experience status of instructional personnel; (11) highest degree held by instructional personnel; (12) selected characteristics of public school teachers; (13) selected statistics of local salary supplements; (14) financial information; (15) transportation; and (16) course membership summary. Part II contains data for each local school system on pupil accounting, high school graduate intentions, public school personnel, and current expense expenditures by source of funds. Part III is a new section added this year to provide information about charter schools. This section includes background information and pupil accounting on the thirty-four charter schools which began operating in North Carolina in the 1997-98 school year. (Contains 38 tables.) (SLD)