For the 2026 school year, there are 13 public middle schools serving 6,887 students in Orange County, NC. The top-ranked public middle schools in Orange County, NC are The Expedition School, Woods Charter and Eno River Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Orange County, NC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 62% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 50% statewide average). Middle schools in Orange County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of North Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Orange County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
The Expedition School
Charter School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
437 Dimmocks Mill Rd Ste 33
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-8432
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-8432
Gr: K-8 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
Woods Charter
Charter School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
160 Woodland Grove Ln
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 960-8353
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 960-8353
Gr: K-12 | 515 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #33.
Eno River Academy
Charter School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1212 Nc Highway 57 North
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-6272
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-6272
Gr: K-12 | 828 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #44.
Smith Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9201 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2145
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2145
Gr: 6-8 | 763 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #55.
Margaret B. Pollard Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
185 Granite Mill Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-0070
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-0070
Gr: 6-8 | 736 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #66.
Phillips Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
606 N Estes Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-2188
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-2188
Gr: 6-8 | 600 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #77.
Mcdougle Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
900 Old Fayetteville Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 933-1556
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 933-1556
Gr: 6-8 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #88.
Culbreth Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
225 Culbreth Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-7161
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-7161
Gr: 6-8 | 632 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #99.
Phoenix Academy High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
750 S Merritt Mill Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2300
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2300
Gr: 8-12 | 27 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #1010.
Orange Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
308 Orange High Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6121
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6121
Gr: 6-8 | 514 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1111.
A L Stanback Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3700 Nc 86 South
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-3200
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-3200
Gr: 6-8 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #1212.
Gravelly Hill Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4801 West Ten Road
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4050
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4050
Gr: 6-8 | 415 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Orange County, NC?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Orange County, NC include The Expedition School, Woods Charter and Eno River Academy. Orange County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public middle schools are located in Orange County?
14 public middle schools are located in Orange County.
What is the racial composition of students in Orange County?
Orange County public middle schools minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Orange County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Orange County include: Orange Middle School vs. A L Stanback Middle School, Gravelly Hill Middle School vs. A L Stanback Middle School, A L Stanback Middle School vs. Orange Middle School
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