| # | District | City | Rating | State Percentile |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools | Chapel Hill | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #2 | Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools | Chapel Hill-Carrboro | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #3 | Union County Public Schools | Union | 10/10 Excellent | 99th |
| #4 | Elkin City Schools | Elkin | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #5 | Polk County Schools | Columbus | 10/10 Excellent | 98th |
| #6 | Carteret County Schools | Carteret | 10/10 Excellent | 97th |
| #7 | Watauga County Schools | Watauga | 10/10 Excellent | 96th |
| #8 | Mooresville City Schools | Mooresville | 10/10 Excellent | 95th |
| #9 | Camden County Schools | Camden | 10/10 Excellent | 94th |
| #10 | Ashe County Schools | Ashe | 10/10 Excellent | 92th |
| #11 | Wake County Public School System | Cary | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #12 | Wake County Schools | Wake | 10/10 Excellent | 91th |
| #13 | Asheville City Schools | Asheville | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #14 | Henderson County Schools | Bat Cave | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #15 | Lincoln County Schools | Lincoln | 10/10 Excellent | 90th |
| #16 | Dare County Schools | Dare | 9/10 Excellent | 88th |
| #17 | Cabarrus County Schools | Cabarrus | 9/10 Excellent | 87th |
| #18 | Avery County Schools | Avery | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #19 | Madison County Schools | Hot Springs | 9/10 Excellent | 86th |
| #20 | Davie County Schools | Davie | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #21 | Haywood County Schools | Canton | 9/10 Excellent | 85th |
| #22 | Surry County Schools | Surry | 9/10 Excellent | 84th |
| #23 | Chatham County Schools | Chatham | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #24 | Davidson County Schools | Davidson | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
| #25 | Pender County Schools | Pender | 9/10 Excellent | 83th |
Best School Districts in North Carolina (2026)
This ranking covers 110 rated public school districts in North Carolina, scored using NCES EDFacts state assessment data for the 2017–18 school year — the most recent district-level federal collection we have processed. 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.