Baldwin's Mill · Photo: Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD · CC BY-SA 3.0Briar Chapel’s public schools outscore 68% of North Carolina districts
On the state math tests, 59% of Briar Chapel’s students scored proficient, above the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Briar Chapel, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.
From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 100% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Briar Chapel’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 27 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Briar Chapel’s, its schools beat 44%, lower than their 68% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 57% and math 59% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 89% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $14,187 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
11 elementary schools, then five high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Woods Charter and Willow Oak Montessori are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Briar Chapel’s grade
B+: better than 68% of North Carolina school districts, #51 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Briar Chapel, with each school’s own grade.
6th grade in Briar Chapel
Margaret B. Pollard Middle
Grades 6–8 · 736 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Chapel Hill
7th grade in Briar Chapel
Margaret B. Pollard Middle
Grades 6–8 · 736 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Chapel Hill
8th grade in Briar Chapel
Margaret B. Pollard Middle
Grades 6–8 · 736 students · 17:1 students per teacher · in Chapel Hill
Briar Chapel’s public schools are run by Chatham County Schools, which also serves Goldston, Pittsboro and Siler City. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Briar Chapel vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Briar Chapel’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Briar Chapel | B+ | Chatham County Schools |
Every school in Briar Chapel
19 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Questions about Briar Chapel’s schools
Are Briar Chapel’s schools good?
By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Briar Chapel children attend outscore 68% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a B+ Schools grade, #51 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 44%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Briar Chapel in?
Chatham County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 8,987 students in 21 schools (2024–25).
Where do Briar Chapel kids go to high school?
One of 5 high schools, depending on your address: Seaforth High, Jordan-Matthews High, Northwood High, Chatham Central High and Chatham Early College.
What is Briar Chapel’s graduation rate?
89% of the class of 2023 in Chatham County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.
How much does Briar Chapel spend per student?
$14,187 in Chatham County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Parents talk
What Briar Chapel families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Briar Chapel → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.