Photo: Public domain, City of Fayetteville · Public domainFayetteville’s public schools score below 56% of North Carolina districts on tests and graduation
41% of students in Fayetteville’s public schools are proficient in math, below the North Carolina average (51%). The grade covers the public school district serving Fayetteville, 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.
Fayetteville’s schools, in brief
Against towns with similar incomes
Among the 334 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Fayetteville’s, its schools beat 36%, lower than their 44% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Results trail the state
In spring 2022, 48% of tested students were proficient in reading and 41% in math, against 50% and 51% statewide; 100% of students in the tested grades sat the tests. The grade ↓
Graduation
87% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina. Districts ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $12,145 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
26 elementary schools, then nine middle and ten high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
Alpha Academy, Fayetteville Christian School (private), Berean Baptist Academy (private), Freedom Christian Academy (private), Village Christian Academy (private), Fayetteville Academy (private), First Impressions Academy (private), Riverside Christian Academy (private), St. Patrick Catholic School (private), Cornerstone Christian Academy (private), St. Ann Catholic School (private), New Life Christian Academy (private), Bal-Perazim Christian Academy (private), Greater Fayetteville Adventist (private), The School of Hope (private), Kid Stars Rising Christian Learning Academy (private), Destiny Now Academy (private) and Birds Nest Montessori School (private) are in town. Cumberland Virtual Academy 6-12, Cumberland Virtual Academy K-5 and The Capitol Encore Academy, online schools, are based here too; they aren’t counted as local schools. 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 Fayetteville’s grade
C+: better than 44% of North Carolina school districts, #190 of 290 North Carolina towns. Graduation is above the North Carolina average; test scores are below it.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Fayetteville, with each school’s own grade.
To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
Two districts serve Fayetteville
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Below the state in reading
Fayetteville vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Fayetteville’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Fayetteville | C+ | Cumberland County Schools PK–12 · Fort Bragg Schools |
| Spring Lake | C+ | Cumberland County Schools PK–12 · Fort Bragg Schools |
| Hope Mills | C+ | Cumberland County Schools |
| Eastover | C+ | Cumberland County Schools |
All 3 neighbors share Cumberland County Schools with Fayetteville for grades PK–12, so their letters differ mainly through the lower grades.
Every school in Fayetteville
71 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).
Left off: 2 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Howard Learning Academy and Agape Achievement Academy).
Questions about Fayetteville’s schools
Are Fayetteville’s schools good?
On North Carolina’s tests they score below most of the state: the public schools Fayetteville children attend score below 56% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, a C+ Schools grade, #190 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 36%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Fayetteville in?
Cumberland County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 49,002 students in 86 schools (2024–25).
Where do Fayetteville kids go to high school?
One of 10 high schools, depending on your address: Seventy-First High, Westover High, Terry Sanford High, E E Smith High, Douglas Byrd High, Cumberland Polytechnic, Massey Hill Classical High, Cross Creek Early College, Cumberland International Early College and Reid Ross Classical High.
What is Fayetteville’s graduation rate?
87% of the class of 2023 in Cumberland County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.
How much does Fayetteville spend per student?
$12,145 in Cumberland County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Fayetteville?
Yes: Fayetteville Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 735 students), Berean Baptist Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 688 students), Freedom Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 674 students), Village Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 580 students), Fayetteville Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 387 students), First Impressions Academy (nonsectarian, grades PK–8, 315 students), Riverside Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 288 students), St. Patrick Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 252 students), Cornerstone Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 189 students), St. Ann Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 140 students), New Life Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 108 students), Bal-Perazim Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 103 students), Greater Fayetteville Adventist (religious, grades PK–11, 100 students), The School of Hope (special education, grades K–12, 62 students), Kid Stars Rising Christian Learning Academy (religious, grades PK–11, 61 students), Destiny Now Academy (religious, grades K–12, 49 students) and Birds Nest Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–2, 34 students). Fayetteville also has 1 charter school, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Fayetteville families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Fayetteville → 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.