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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Orange County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 38 public schools serving 21,683 students in Orange County, NC (there are 7 private schools, serving 909 private students). 96% of all K-12 students in Orange County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%). Orange County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
The top-ranked public schools in Orange County, NC are Chapel Hill High School, East Chapel Hill High School and Carrboro High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Orange County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Orange County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Orange County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Chapel Hill High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
9217 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-2106
Gr: 9-12 | 1,608 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #22.
East Chapel Hill High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
500 Weaver Dairy Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 969-2482
Gr: 9-12 | 1,419 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #33.
Carrboro High School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
201 Rock Haven Rd
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 918-2200
Gr: 9-12 | 885 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #44.
The Expedition School
Charter School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
437 Dimmocks Mill Rd Ste 33
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-8432
Gr: K-8 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #55.
Woods Charter
Charter School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
160 Woodland Grove Ln
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 960-8353
Gr: K-12 | 515 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #66.
Eno River Academy
Charter School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1212 Nc Highway 57 North
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-6272
Gr: K-12 | 828 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 22%
Rank: #77.
Seawell Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
9115 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #88.
Morris Grove Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
215 Eubanks Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-4800
Gr: PK-5 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #99.
Glenwood Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2 Prestwick Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 968-3473
Gr: K-5 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1010.
Cedar Ridge High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1125 New Grady Brown Sch Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,148 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #1111.
Hillsborough Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
402 North Nash Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6137
Gr: PK-5 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #1212.
Smith Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
9201 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2145
Gr: 6-8 | 763 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1313.
Mcdougle Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
890 Old Fayetteville Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-2435
Gr: PK-5 | 497 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1414.
Estes Hills Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
500 N Estes Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-4753
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1515.
Scroggs Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
501 Kildaire Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-7165
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1616.
Margaret B. Pollard Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
185 Granite Mill Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-0070
Gr: 6-8 | 736 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1717.
Ephesus Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1495 Ephesus Church Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 929-8715
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1818.
Phillips Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
606 N Estes Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-2188
Gr: 6-8 | 600 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1919.
Carrboro Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
400 Shelton St
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 968-3652
Gr: PK-5 | 515 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #2020.
North Chatham Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3380 Lystra Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 967-3094
Gr: PK-5 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2121.
Orange High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
500 Orange High Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6133
Gr: 9-12 | 1,161 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #2222.
Mcdougle Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
900 Old Fayetteville Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 933-1556
Gr: 6-8 | 659 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #2323.
Culbreth Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
225 Culbreth Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-7161
Gr: 6-8 | 632 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #2424.
Rashkis Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
601 Meadowmont Ln
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 918-2160
Gr: PK-5 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2525.
Fpg Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
101 Smith Level Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-6491
Gr: PK-5 | 536 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2626.
River Park Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
240 St. Mary's Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9326
Gr: PK-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #2727.
Phoenix Academy High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
750 S Merritt Mill Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2300
Gr: 8-12 | 27 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2828.
Orange Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
308 Orange High Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6121
Gr: 6-8 | 514 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2929.
Partnership Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
920 Corporate Drive
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4030
Gr: 9-12 | 40 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #3030.
Northside Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
350 Caldwell St
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2220
Gr: PK-5 | 412 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #3131.
Pathways Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
431 Strouds Creek Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9136
Gr: PK-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #3232.
A L Stanback Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
3700 Nc 86 South
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-3200
Gr: 6-8 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #3333.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 New Hope Church Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-9696
Gr: PK-5 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #3434.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
154 Hayes St
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-3622
Gr: PK-5 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #3535.
Grady Brown Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
1100 New Grady Brown Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6138
Gr: PK-5 | 406 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Show 3 more public schools in Orange County, NC (out of 38 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Orange County, NC?
The top-ranked public schools in Orange County, NC include Chapel Hill High School, East Chapel Hill High School and Carrboro High School. Orange County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public schools are located in Orange County?
40 public schools are located in Orange County.
What percentage of students in Orange County go to public school?
96% of all K-12 students in Orange County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Orange County?
Orange County public schools minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Orange County are often viewed compared to one another?

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