| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools | Carrboro | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Union County Public Schools | Indian Trail | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Watauga County Schools | Banner Elk | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #4 | Carteret County Schools | Atlantic | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #5 | Wake County Schools | Apex | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #6 | Mooresville City Schools | Mooresville | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #7 | Cabarrus County Schools | Concord | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #8 | Camden County Schools | Camden | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #9 | Moore County Schools | Eagle Springs | 10/10 Excellent | 93th |
| #10 | Ashe County Schools | Creston | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #11 | Currituck County Schools | Aydlett | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #12 | Polk County Schools | Columbus | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #13 | Chatham County Schools | Bear Creek | 9/10 Excellent | 89th |
| #14 | Clay County Schools | Brasstown | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #15 | Haywood County Schools | Canton | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #16 | New Hanover County Schools | Wilmington | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #17 | Dare County Schools | Avon | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #18 | Lincoln County Schools | Crouse | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #19 | Davie County Schools | Advance | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #20 | Orange County Schools | Cedar Grove | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #21 | Pender County Schools | Atkinson | 9/10 Excellent | 82th |
| #22 | Surry County Schools | Ararat | 9/10 Excellent | 81th |
| #23 | Alexander County Schools | Hiddenite | 9/10 Excellent | 80th |
| #24 | Rutherford County Schools | Bostic | 8/10 Good | 79th |
| #25 | Davidson County Schools | Winston-Salem | 8/10 Good | 78th |
Best School Districts in North Carolina (2026)
This ranking covers 108 rated public school districts in North Carolina, scored using NC EOG 2024–25 state assessment data. Each district's reading and math proficiency rates are averaged, then ranked against other districts in the same state to produce a 1–10 score.
A district's score reflects how its students perform on state assessments relative to same-state peers — it is not a direct measure of teaching quality, school culture, or individual student outcomes. Always visit schools, talk to local families, and contact districts directly before making decisions. Learn how ratings are calculated →
How to Use This List
Click any district name to see its zip code page and confirm your exact assignment with the district office. Boundaries don't always follow city or neighborhood lines — the zip code search gives you the most accurate result.