Guest, Sign inJoin

Post to Chapel Hill

We’ll email a one-tap link to publish your post. No password, and nothing is public until you click it.
Already a member? Sign in
Franklin Street Chapel Hill NCPhoto: (User:Wgreaves) · CC BY 3.0
A
Schools in Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools

Chapel Hill’s public schools outscore 87% of North Carolina districts

70% of students in Chapel Hill’s public schools are proficient in reading, above the North Carolina average (50%). The grade covers the public school district serving Chapel Hill, 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.

#1of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 95% 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.

Reading proficiency
70%
▲ 20 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
69%
▲ 18 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
95%
▲ 8 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$17.9K
▲ 37% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
13.2
NC 16.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
17
8,387 students on the public path
In brief

Chapel Hill’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 244 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Chapel Hill’s, its schools beat 99%, higher than their 87% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓

Above the state on both counts

Reading proficiency is 70% and math 69% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 95% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓

Spending and class size

The district spends $17,880 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓

Eight elementary schools, then three middle and two high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

St. Thomas More Catholic School (private), Montessori Community School (private) and Montessori Day School (private) 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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Chapel Hill’s grade

A Test scoresA Graduation

A: better than 87% of North Carolina school districts, #1 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; graduation is the stronger of the two.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 87%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (244)Better than 99%
A firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 5,862 test results and a graduating class of 943 wouldn’t change the letter. The tests are from spring 2022, when 95% of Chapel Hill’s students in the tested grades sat them (5,482 in math, 6,243 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Chapel Hill, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–58 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A
6–83 middle schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A
9–122 high schoolsDepends on your addressA− to A

Chapel Hill’s public schools are run by Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, which also serves Carrboro. Parts of Chapel Hill (7% of its land) are served by Durham instead. 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.

Chapel Hill-Carrboro SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 19 schools · 11,353 students, down 5% since 2020–21 · 13.2 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$17,880NC $13,045 · FY2024
A
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading70%
State average 49.9% · 6243 students tested
Math69%
State average 50.8% · 5482 students tested

Chapel Hill vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Chapel Hill’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Chapel HillAChapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
CarrboroAChapel Hill-Carrboro Schools
DurhamC+Durham

Every school in Chapel Hill

17 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).

District schools in Chapel Hillby address
FPG Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B+
536 students13:1Rate it →
Rashkis Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
455 students13:1Rate it →
Seawell Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
416 students12:1Rate it →
Northside Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
C+
412 students13:1Rate it →
Ephesus Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
410 students13:1Rate it →
Scroggs Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A
410 students12:1Rate it →
Estes Hills Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
336 students11:1Rate it →
Glenwood Elementary
Elementary · Grades K–5
A
390 students12:1Rate it →
Smith Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
763 students14:1Rate it →
Culbreth Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
A−
632 students12:1Rate it →
Phillips Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
600 students11:1Rate it →
Chapel Hill High
High · Grades 9–12
A−
1,608 students16:1Rate it →
East Chapel Hill High
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,419 students16:1Rate it →
Other district programsby referral or application
Phoenix Academy High
High · Grades 8–12
C−
Alternative Education
27 students3:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
St. Thomas More Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
389 students13:1Rate it →
Montessori Community School
Elementary · Grades PK–8 · Durham
Private · Nonsectarian
230 students13:1Rate it →
Montessori Day School
Elementary · Grades PK–4
Private · Nonsectarian
62 students14:1Rate it →

Left off: 1 public program with fewer than 25 students (UNC Hospital School).

Questions about Chapel Hill’s schools

Are Chapel Hill’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Chapel Hill children attend outscore 87% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A Schools grade, #1 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 99%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Chapel Hill in?

Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 11,353 students in 19 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Chapel Hill are served by Durham.

Where do Chapel Hill kids go to high school?

One of 2 high schools, depending on your address: Chapel Hill High and East Chapel Hill High.

What is Chapel Hill’s graduation rate?

95% of the class of 2023 in Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.

How much does Chapel Hill spend per student?

$17,880 in Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.

Are there private schools in Chapel Hill?

Yes: St. Thomas More Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 389 students), Montessori Community School (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 230 students) and Montessori Day School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 62 students).

Parents talk

What Chapel Hill families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Chapel Hill → 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.