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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best North Carolina Blue Ribbon Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 33 blue ribbon public preschools serving 13,941 students in North Carolina.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this national school awards program and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top-ranked blue ribbon public preschools in North Carolina are Hawk Ridge Elementary School, Pearsontown Elementary School and Shoals Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina blue ribbon public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 64% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 51% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Blue Ribbon Public Preschools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Hawk Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
9201 Bryant Farms Rd
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-5927
Gr: PK-5 | 640 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #22.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #33.
Shoals Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1800 Shoals Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
(336) 325-2518
Gr: PK-5 | 235 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #44.
Mckee Road Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4101 Mckee Rd
Charlotte, NC 28270
(980) 343-3970
Gr: PK-5 | 534 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #55.
Lucama Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6260 Blalock Road
Lucama, NC 27851
(252) 239-1257
Gr: PK-5 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #66.
Saluda Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
214 E Main Street
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040
Gr: PK-5 | 142 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 12%
Rank: #77.
Briarcliff Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1220 Pond St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Gr: PK-5 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #88.
Weatherstone Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1000 Olde Weatherstone Way
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Gr: PK-5 | 730 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #99.
Chocowinity Primary
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
606 Gray Road
Chocowinity, NC 27817
(252) 946-3881
Gr: PK-4 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1010.
Eastover-central Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5174 Dunn Road
Fayetteville, NC 28312
(910) 483-8997
Gr: PK-5 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1111.
East Robeson Primary
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4840 7th Street Road
Lumberton, NC 28358
(910) 671-6055
Gr: PK-3 | 556 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1212.
Tryon Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
100 School Place
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1313.
Union Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4875 Reepsville Rd
Vale, NC 28168
(704) 276-1493
Gr: PK-5 | 342 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #1414.
Sedgefield Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
715 Hartford Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5830
Gr: PK-6 | 485 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1515.
Kitty Hawk Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
16 Dogwood Trail
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-2313
Gr: PK-5 | 487 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
Rank: #1616.
District No 7 Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5721 Smithfield Road
Wade, NC 28395
(910) 483-0001
Gr: PK-5 | 211 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1717.
W A Bess Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Gr: PK-5 | 674 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #1818.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1166 Wyke Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Gr: PK-5 | 439 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #1919.
Sunny View Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
86 Sunny View School Road
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050
Gr: PK-5 | 120 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 4%
Rank: #2020.
Claxton Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3720 Pinetop Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 545-2010
Gr: PK-5 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2121.
West Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
500 W Mountain Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Gr: PK-4 | 289 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #2222.
Isaac Dickson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
125 Hill Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 350-6800
Gr: PK-5 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2323.
Clement Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
3220 Maxwell Rd
Autryville, NC 28318
(910) 567-2112
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2424.
East Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
600 N Cleveland Avenue
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Gr: PK-4 | 199 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2525.
Collettsville School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
4690 Collettsville School Rd
Collettsville, NC 28611
(828) 754-6913
Gr: PK-8 | 321 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
Rank: #2626.
Iron Station Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4207 Hwy 27 E
Iron Station, NC 28080
(704) 736-4292
Gr: PK-5 | 367 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2727.
Clear Creek Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
737 N Clear Creek Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 697-4760
Gr: PK-5 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #2828.
Shadybrook Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
503 Shadybrook Rd
High Point, NC 27265
(336) 819-2950
Gr: PK-5 | 319 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #2929.
Pisgah Forest Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1076 Ecusta Rd
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 877-4481
Gr: PK-5 | 431 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #3030.
Laurel Hill Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
11340 Old Wire Road
Laurel Hill, NC 28351
(910) 462-2111
Gr: PK-5 | 662 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #3131.
Walker-spivey Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
500 Fisher Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 483-5656
Gr: PK-5 | 345 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3232.
North Hills Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
340 Alspaugh Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27105
(336) 703-4176
Gr: PK-5 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: n/an/a
Fairview Elementary School
720 N Fairview Road
Rocky Mount, NC 27801
(252) 462-2005
Gr: PK-2 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked blue ribbon public preschools in North Carolina?
The top-ranked blue ribbon public preschools in North Carolina include Hawk Ridge Elementary School, Pearsontown Elementary School and Shoals Elementary School.
How many blue ribbon public preschools are located in North Carolina?
33 blue ribbon public preschools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina blue ribbon public preschools minority enrollment is 51% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

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