📊 What this ranking measures
Rankings are based on academic achievement — the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NC EOG 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state — not on spending, district size, or staffing. See full methodology →
Top 25 Districts North Carolina
Sorted by rating — highest first
| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools | Carrboro | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Union County Public Schools | Indian Trail | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Watauga County Schools | Banner Elk | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Carteret County Schools | Atlantic | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #5 | Wake County Schools | Apex | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #6 | Mooresville City Schools | Mooresville | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #7 | Cabarrus County Schools | Concord | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #8 | Camden County Schools | Camden | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #9 | Moore County Schools | Eagle Springs | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #10 | Ashe County Schools | Creston | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #11 | Currituck County Schools | Aydlett | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #12 | Polk County Schools | Columbus | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #13 | Chatham County Schools | Bear Creek | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #14 | Clay County Schools | Brasstown | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #15 | Haywood County Schools | Canton | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #16 | New Hanover County Schools | Wilmington | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #17 | Dare County Schools | Avon | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #18 | Lincoln County Schools | Crouse | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #19 | Davie County Schools | Advance | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #20 | Orange County Schools | Cedar Grove | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #21 | Pender County Schools | Atkinson | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #22 | Surry County Schools | Ararat | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #23 | Alexander County Schools | Hiddenite | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #24 | Rutherford County Schools | Bostic | 8/10 Good | 79th |
| #25 | Davidson County Schools | Winston-Salem | 8/10 Good | 78th |
Best School Districts in North Carolina (2026)
This ranking covers 108 rated public school districts in North Carolina, scored using NC EOG 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
North Carolina School Districts at a Glance
- 115 of the 122 regular school districts operating in North Carolina have a published rating on this site.
- 35 districts score 8/10 or higher, the top three rating bands.
- Ratings come from NC EOG 2024–25, and every district is ranked against other districts in North Carolina only — never against districts in another state, because the tests differ.
- The highest-rated district is Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools in Carrboro, rated 10/10.
- Almost every district in North Carolina is unified, meaning one district runs kindergarten through 12th grade for an address.
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best school district in North Carolina? ▼
Based on state reading and math assessment proficiency (NC EOG 2024–25), the top-rated district is Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools in Carrboro, rated 10/10 (Excellent).
How are these rankings calculated? ▼
Rankings use the share of students scoring proficient or above on state reading and math assessments (NC EOG 2024–25), ranked against other districts in the same state, then converted to a 1–10 scale. Full methodology here.
Are ratings based on test scores? ▼
Yes. Ratings are based directly on state reading and math assessment proficiency rates, not on enrollment, spending, or school count. They are a starting point for research, not a final verdict on school quality.
How many school districts are in North Carolina? ▼
North Carolina has 122 regular school districts operating in the 2024–25 school year, according to the NCES Common Core of Data. 115 of them have enough state assessment data to carry a rating on this site.
What test are North Carolina school district ratings based on? ▼
NC EOG 2024–25. The rating is the share of students scoring proficient or above in reading and math, converted to a percentile against other districts in North Carolina and then to a 1–10 scale. Spending, staffing and district size are not part of it.
How many districts in North Carolina are rated 8 out of 10 or higher? ▼
35 of the 115 rated districts in North Carolina score 8/10 or above. Because the scale is a within-state percentile, a high rating means the district outperforms most other districts in North Carolina, not the country.
Does one district cover all grades in North Carolina? ▼
In North Carolina nearly every district is unified, so the same district runs elementary, middle and high school for an address. A few states split those into separate districts; North Carolina is not one of them.