#T1Carrboro
Orange County · 20,962 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall B · #57 of 286 in NC
Carrboro, #1 on this list · Photo: Elizabeth B. Thomsen Ethomsen · CC BY 2.5North Carolina rankings · Schools
Towns with the best schools in North Carolina
Carrboro and Chapel Hill share first place on schools among North Carolina’s 290 towns of 2,500+; 32 of the 290 grade A− or better (schools are graded within each state).
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). How grades work
#T1A
#T1Chapel Hill
Orange County · 63,565 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall B+ · #46 of 286 in NC
Fairview
Union County · 3,805 peopleSchools grade, graded within the state·Overall A− · #18 of 286 in NC
All 290 towns
Schools grade, best first (graded within North Carolina). Towns with the same score share a rank (T = tied; 246 towns here); the overall grade and state rank are beside each.
290 towns ranked. Not here? See why a town may be missing.
#TownGradeOverall
T17Lake Junaluskaunincorporated, Haywood County · 3,175 peopleA−graded within the state·Overall B− · #84 of 286
T45Seven Lakesunincorporated, Moore County · 4,535 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A · #7 of 286
T51Briar Chapelunincorporated, Chatham County · 6,049 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B+ · #35 of 286
T54Hampsteadunincorporated, Pender County · 9,292 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #113 of 286
T62Danaunincorporated, Henderson County · 4,147 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #138 of 286
T62East Flat Rockunincorporated, Henderson County · 6,323 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #55 of 286
T62Edneyvilleunincorporated, Henderson County · 2,716 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #120 of 286
T62Etowahunincorporated, Henderson County · 7,968 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B− · #110 of 286
T62Mountain Homeunincorporated, Henderson County · 3,437 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #76 of 286
T62Valley Hillunincorporated, Henderson County · 2,675 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #61 of 286
T72Lowesvilleunincorporated, Lincoln County · 3,874 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall A · #4 of 286
T72Westportunincorporated, Lincoln County · 5,915 peopleB+graded within the state·Overall B · #52 of 286
T83Bayshoreunincorporated, New Hanover County · 2,949 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #62 of 286
T83Kings Grantunincorporated, New Hanover County · 9,003 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #133 of 286
T83Murraysvilleunincorporated, New Hanover County · 16,339 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #77 of 286
T83Myrtle Groveunincorporated, New Hanover County · 12,637 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #44 of 286
T83Northchaseunincorporated, New Hanover County · 5,896 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #208 of 286
T83Ogdenunincorporated, New Hanover County · 8,249 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #64 of 286
T83Porters Neckunincorporated, New Hanover County · 7,654 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #118 of 286
T83Silver Lakeunincorporated, New Hanover County · 6,563 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #129 of 286
T83Skippers Cornerunincorporated, New Hanover County · 3,792 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall C− · #173 of 286
T83Wrightsborounincorporated, New Hanover County · 6,287 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #68 of 286
T95Lake Norman of Iredellunincorporated, Iredell County · 12,494 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #33 of 286
T101Avery Creekunincorporated, Buncombe County · 2,887 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A · #3 of 286
T101Emmaunincorporated, Buncombe County · 2,657 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall A− · #16 of 286
T101Royal Pinesunincorporated, Buncombe County · 4,325 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #29 of 286
T101Swannanoaunincorporated, Buncombe County · 6,901 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B+ · #36 of 286
T111Lake Norman of Catawbaunincorporated, Catawba County · 9,906 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #90 of 286
T111Mountain Viewunincorporated, Catawba County · 3,982 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #83 of 286
T111St. Stephensunincorporated, Catawba County · 9,457 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B− · #106 of 286
120Bethlehemunincorporated, Alexander County · 4,101 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #65 of 286
121Moyockunincorporated, Currituck County · 5,684 peopleBgraded within the state·Overall B · #75 of 286
T125Half Moonunincorporated, Onslow County · 7,378 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #73 of 286
T125Piney Greenunincorporated, Onslow County · 14,078 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #181 of 286
T125Sneads Ferryunincorporated, Onslow County · 2,728 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C− · #177 of 286
T131Tyrounincorporated, Davidson County · 3,833 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B · #70 of 286
T131Welcomeunincorporated, Davidson County · 3,521 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B− · #88 of 286
T135Forest Oaksunincorporated, Guilford County · 4,293 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall B+ · #41 of 286
T144Boiling Spring LakesBrunswick County · 6,875 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C · #167 of 286
T176Cullowhee College campusunincorporated, Jackson County · 7,973 peopleB−graded within the state·Overall C+
T200Brices Creekunincorporated, Craven County · 3,415 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #136 of 286
T200Fairfield Harbourunincorporated, Craven County · 2,948 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #190 of 286
T200James Cityunincorporated, Craven County · 4,789 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C+ · #139 of 286
T200Neuse Forestunincorporated, Craven County · 2,671 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B · #74 of 286
T219River Roadunincorporated, Beaufort County · 3,366 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D− · #256 of 286
T231Rockfishunincorporated, Hoke County · 3,574 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C− · #202 of 286
T233Lake Royaleunincorporated, Franklin County · 3,168 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall B− · #98 of 286
T240Anderson Creekunincorporated, Harnett County · 13,927 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall D · #220 of 286
T240Buies Creek College campusunincorporated, Harnett County · 3,746 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C
T240Spout Springsunincorporated, Harnett County · 11,242 peopleC+graded within the state·Overall C · #149 of 286
T247Glen Ravenunincorporated, Alamance County · 3,506 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C · #168 of 286
T256East Rockinghamunincorporated, Richmond County · 2,779 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D− · #278 of 286
T260Enochvilleunincorporated, Rowan County · 3,321 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C+ · #143 of 286
T271Brogdenunincorporated, Wayne County · 2,733 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D− · #268 of 286
T271Elroyunincorporated, Wayne County · 3,251 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall D · #229 of 286
T271Mar-Macunincorporated, Wayne County · 2,877 peopleCgraded within the state·Overall C− · #201 of 286
282Elizabeth CityPasquotank County · 19,622 peopleC−graded within the state·Overall D− · #258 of 286
Quick answers
Questions people ask
Which North Carolina town has the best schools?
Carrboro (Orange County) and Chapel Hill (Orange County) share first place on schools among 290 towns. Schools are compared within North Carolina, so the letter is a state grade.
How are these towns ranked?
The Schools grade: state test results and graduation rates of the districts serving each town, compared with the state’s other districts (U.S. Department of Education). Towns are sorted on the grade’s score; the letter and rank are the same as on each town’s page. How grades work.
Why isn’t my town on this list?
The list covers towns of 2,500+ residents with a schools grade (290 in North Carolina). Smaller towns have the grade on their page but no rank. Every town is on the North Carolina page.
Go deeper
All North Carolina rankings →More North Carolina lists
Every list ranks the same 2,500+ towns, so a town’s rank means the same thing on each.
Best places to live286 towns · #1 RolesvilleBest small towns188 towns · #1 WingateMost affordable towns290 towns · #1 EmmaSafest towns163 towns · #1 Whispering PinesHealthiest towns289 towns · #1 MorrisvilleBest towns for jobs & income290 towns · #1 WeddingtonMost walkable towns290 towns · #1 Chapel HillTowns with the lowest natural-hazard risk290 towns · #1 NewtonBest towns for the outdoors290 towns · #1 Nags HeadMost historic towns290 towns · #1 EdentonTowns with the most civic life234 towns · #1 AshevilleTowns with the least snow215 towns · #1 Anderson CreekDescribed, no lettersSnowiest towns215 towns · #1 BooneDescribed, no lettersTowns with the mildest winters287 towns · #1 SouthportDescribed, no lettersTowns with the hottest summers287 towns · #1 LaurinburgDescribed, no lettersTowns with the coolest summers287 towns · #1 BooneDescribed, no lettersTowns with the highest incomes290 towns · #1 MarvinDescribed, no lettersTowns with the lowest property taxes290 towns · #1 EmmaDescribed, no lettersFastest-growing towns227 towns · #1 WendellDescribed, no letters
Other states