North Carolina is a beautiful state with many incredible qualities. For starters, North Carolina has a relaxing climate that makes it a joy to live in and visit. Also, the landscapes are beautiful. However, some of the best qualities of North Carolina can be found in its public schools. In fact, North Carolina ranks number 16 in education, 18 in pre-kindergarten to twelve grade, and nine in higher education. Below, we will discuss the largest school districts in North Carolina, their proficiency ratings, and which schools are the top ranking within those districts.
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Wake County School District
5625 Dillard Drive Cary, NC 27518
Total Schools: 193
Students: 160,099
Wake County Schools ranks number two out of the districts in the Raleigh Area. This district has 193 schools and 160.099 students in enrollment.
Along with ranking number two overall, a couple more accolades include being number one in the best school districts for athletes and number seven in the best school districts in North Carolina.
Undoubtedly, students perform well in this school district, with a 60% proficiency in reading and 52% proficiency in math. Additionally, the top-ranked school in Wake County School district is Quest Academy, which ranks in the top one percent in overall testing rankings in North Carolina.
The schools in Wake County School District break down this way:
Elementary Schools: 119
Middle Schools: 43
High Schools: 35
Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District
3301 Stafford Dr. Testing W Charlotte, NC 28208
Total Schools: 180
Students: 143,244
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools are located in Charlotte, NC. There are a total of 180 schools and 143,244 students. Furthermore, the reading proficiency in this school district is 46%, and math is 42%.
Without a doubt, Charlotte-Mecklenburg School District prides itself on encouraging students to be independent learners who thrive on creativity and inclusion.
Overall, the school district breaks down in this way:
Elementary Schools: 117
Middle Schools: 50
High Schools: 35
Guilford County School District
712 North Eugene Street Greensboro, NC 27401
Total Schools: 127
Students: 69,173
The third largest school district is in Greensboro, NC. Guilford County School District has 127 schools and a total of 69,173 students. It ranks number eight in the best school districts for athletes and number ten in the most diverse school districts in North Carolina.
Academically, this school district performs on average, with 45% proficiency in reading and 39% in math. Additionally, the average graduation rate in the Guilford County School District is 89%.
Above all, one of the top schools is the Brown Summit Middle School. It has around 241 students and performs in the top one percent in all of North Carolina.
If you break down the schools in this district, they look like this:
Elementary Schools: 73
Middle Schools: 28
High Schools: 32
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Winston Salem/Forsyth County School District
475 Corporate Square Drive Winston Salem, NC 27105
Total Schools: 81
Students: 52,681
The Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District is one of Winston-Salem, NC's top-rated public school districts. It ranks as the number one best school district in the Greensboro area.
Academically, this school district performs on the average scale, with 41% proficiency in reading and 33% proficiency in math.
Moreover, one of the top-ranking schools in the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District is Sherwood Forest Elementary. Overall, this school ranks in the top five percent for overall testing. Their proficiency is 77% in math and reading.
In particular, the Winston-Salem/Forsyth County School District has a vision of being an inclusive place for students to learn and work towards their dreams. Unquestionably, they accomplish this vision with their mission of providing students with hands-on and top-notch educational experiences. These experiences help students sharpen their overall skills for life outside of school.
Broken down, the schools fall into these categories:
Elementary Schools: 46
Middle Schools: 21
High Schools: 18
Cumberland County School District
2465 Gillespie Street Fayetteville, NC 28306
Total Schools: 89
Students: 48,860
Cumberland County Schools is in Fayetteville, NC. There are 89 schools and 48,860 students in this school district. Also, it ranks number 12 in the most diverse school districts in North Carolina.
Regarding proficiency, Cumberland County Schools rank average, with 41% in reading and 32% in math.
At this time, Massy Hill Classical High School and Jack Britt High School are among the top-ranking schools in the Cumberland County School District. First, Massey Hill Classical High School ranks in the top five percent with a math proficiency of 70-79% and a reading proficiency of 80-84%. Secondly, Jack Britt High School ranks in the top 20% with 58% proficiency in math and 72% proficiency in reading.
When broken down, the schools look like this:
Elementary Schools: 53
Middle Schools: 18
High Schools: 17
Union County Public School District
400 North Church Street Monroe, NC 28112
Total Schools: 52
Total Students: 40,600
Union County Public School District is in Monroe, NC, and ranks as number three in the best school districts in North Carolina and the best school districts for athletes in North Carolina.
Indeed, the academic proficiency of this school district is higher than average. It has a 62% reading proficiency and a 64% math proficiency. Additionally, the graduation rate is 93%.
Furthermore, Marvin Ridge High School is the top-performing public school in Union County. Not only does this school have a graduation rate of 98%, but it also ranks in the top one percent of overall testing in North Carolina. Finally, the math proficiency and reading proficiency at Marvin Ridge High School also rank in the top one percent.
When broken down, the schools in the Union County School District look like this:
Elementary Schools: 31
Middle Schools: 11
High Schools: 13
Johnston County School District
2320 HWY 70 E. Business Smithfield, NC 27577
Total Schools: 48
Total Students: 37,823
Johnston County School District ranks number four in the best school districts in the Raleigh area. Additionally, this school district ranks as number ten for best school districts for athletes in North Carolina.
In addition to this, academic performance is average, with a reading proficiency of 42% and math proficiency of 39%. At the same time, the graduation rate is also 92% above the state average.
When broken down, the schools look like this:
Elementary Schools: 25
Middle Schools: 16
High Schools: 12
Cabarrus County School District
4401 Old Airport Road Concord, NC 28025
Total Schools: 42
Students: 33,562
Cabarrus County School District is in Concord, NC. It ranks as number 14 in the best school districts in North Carolina. Moreover, the average graduation rate in this school district is 91%.
Academically, the Cabarrus County School District has a 55% reading proficiency and 54% math proficiency.
Without a doubt, among the top-performing schools in this district are Cox Mill Elementary School, Harris Road Middle School, and Cox Mill High School. First, Cox Mill Elementary School ranks in the top five percent; next, Harris Road Middle School ranks in the top ten percent; and last but not least, Cox High School ranks in the top five percent of schools in North Carolina.
Additionally, the schools within Cabarrus County School District break down like this:
Elementary Schools: 22
Middle Schools: 12
High Schools: 13
One Last Note
When it comes to schools, not all are equal. However, many of these school districts have top ratings with excellent qualities that can add to your child's education. Overall, your child's school and educational journey is a family decision. Yet, looking at the proficiency scores, resources available, and more can better equip you to make that decision!
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