Best North Carolina School Districts (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 348 top school districts in North Carolina, serving 1,549,621 students.

The most diverse district is Research Triangle High School District, with a diversity score of 0.77.

The largest school district is Wake County Schools, serving 163,075 students.

The highest graduation rate school district is Bradford Preparatory School District, with 95% graduation rate.

Top North Carolina School Districts (2026)

School District

# Students

Diversity Score

Graduation %

Of Robeson County School District

20,839

0.75

79%

A.C.E. Academy School District

421

0.39

n/a

Achievement Charter Academy School District

211

0.65

n/a

Agape Achievement Academy School District

n/a

Aggie Academy School District

0.2

n/a

Ala Charlotte School District

277

0.42

n/a

Ala Monroe School District

237

0.73

n/a

Alamance Community School District

736

0.71

n/a

Alamance-Burlington Schools

22,661

0.73

85%

Alexander County Schools

4,344

0.41

84%

Alleghany County Schools

1,352

0.44

87%

Alpha Academy School District

960

0.66

80%

American Leadership Academy - Johnston School District

2,082

0.66

n/a

American Leadership Academy-Coastal School District

1,002

0.36

n/a

American Renaissance School District

823

0.65

n/a

Anderson Academy School District

n/a

Anderson Creek Academy School District

305

0.63

n/a

Anson County Schools

2,914

0.62

76%

Appalachian State U Academy Middle Fork School District

295

0.66

n/a

Arapahoe Charter School District

498

0.52

80%

Arts Based School District

663

0.57

n/a

Artspace Charter School District

402

0.28

n/a

Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County School District

655

0.64

75%

Ashe County Schools

2,674

0.3

87%

Asheboro City Schools

4,405

0.64

84%

Asheville City Schools

3,960

0.57

90%

Asheville Peak Academy School District

161

0.51

n/a

Aspire Trade High School District

270

0.72

n/a

Avery County Schools

1,782

0.33

87%

Bear Grass Charter School District

445

0.19

90%

Beaufort County Schools

5,575

0.69

86%

Bertie County Schools

1,708

0.31

84%

Bethany Community School District

640

0.43

87%

Bethel Hill Charter School District

344

0.43

n/a

Bladen County Schools

3,927

0.72

90%

Show 100 more school districts in North Carolina (out of 348 total school districts)

Recent Articles

July 22, 2026

Media Literacy as a Core Skill: How to Tell if a School Teaches It Well

Learn how to evaluate whether a public school teaches media literacy effectively, from fact-checking and source evaluation to digital citizenship and critical thinking.

July 22, 2026

Screen Time, Paper Learning, and the New Back-to-Basics Debate

Explore why some public schools are reducing screen time, bringing back paper learning, and rethinking the balance between technology and traditional instruction.