| # | District | City | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | Chapel Hill | 9/10 Great |
| #2 | Wake County Public School System | Cary | 8/10 Good |
| #3 | Alamance-Burlington Schools | Alamance-Burlington | 6/10 Average |
| #4 | Alexander County Schools | Alexander | 6/10 Average |
| #5 | Alleghany County Schools | Alleghany | 6/10 Average |
| #6 | Anson County Schools | Anson | 6/10 Average |
| #7 | Ashe County Schools | Ashe | 6/10 Average |
| #8 | Asheboro City Schools | Asheboro | 6/10 Average |
| #9 | Avery County Schools | Avery | 6/10 Average |
| #10 | Beaufort County Schools | Beaufort | 6/10 Average |
| #11 | Bertie County Schools | Bertie | 6/10 Average |
| #12 | Bladen County Schools | Bladen | 6/10 Average |
| #13 | Brunswick County Schools | Brunswick | 6/10 Average |
| #14 | Buncombe County Schools | Asheville | 6/10 Average |
| #15 | Burke County Schools | Burke | 6/10 Average |
| #16 | Cabarrus County Schools | Cabarrus | 6/10 Average |
| #17 | Caldwell County Schools | Caldwell | 6/10 Average |
| #18 | Camden County Schools | Camden | 6/10 Average |
| #19 | Camp Lejeune Schools | Camp Lejeune | 6/10 Average |
| #20 | Carteret County Schools | Carteret | 6/10 Average |
| #21 | Caswell County Schools | Caswell | 6/10 Average |
| #22 | Catawba County Schools | Catawba | 6/10 Average |
| #23 | Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools | Chapel Hill-Carrboro | 6/10 Average |
| #24 | Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools | Charlotte-Mecklenburg | 6/10 Average |
| #25 | Chatham County Schools | Chatham | 6/10 Average |
Best School Districts in North Carolina (2025)
This ranking covers all 97 public school districts in North Carolina, scored using the NCES Common Core of Data for the 2024–2025 school year. Four metrics are combined into the final 1–10 rating: student enrollment, per-pupil expenditure, number of operational schools, and grade span coverage.
Higher-rated districts tend to have stable, larger enrollment bases, above-average per-pupil spending, and full Pre-K–12 grade coverage. These are administrative and resource metrics — not direct measures of teaching quality, test scores, or parent satisfaction. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip codes and enter your address to confirm your assignment. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.