For the 2025 school year, there are 31 blue ribbon public preschools serving 12,983 students in North Carolina.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this national school awards program and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in North Carolina are Hawk Ridge Elementary School, Pearsontown Elementary School and Shoals Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina blue ribbon public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 63% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 58% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Blue Ribbon Public Preschools in North Carolina (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Hawk Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
9201 Bryant Farms Rd
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-5927
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-5927
Grades: PK-5
| 801 students
Rank: #22.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Grades: PK-5
| 740 students
Rank: #33.
Shoals Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1800 Shoals Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
(336) 325-2518
Pinnacle, NC 27043
(336) 325-2518
Grades: PK-5
| 252 students
Rank: #44.
Lucama Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6260 Blalock Road
Lucama, NC 27851
(252) 239-1257
Lucama, NC 27851
(252) 239-1257
Grades: PK-5
| 373 students
Rank: #55.
Saluda Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
214 E Main Street
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040
Saluda, NC 28773
(828) 894-1040
Grades: PK-5
| 145 students
Rank: #66.
Briarcliff Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1220 Pond St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Grades: PK-5
| 456 students
Rank: #77.
Weatherstone Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Olde Weatherstone Way
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Grades: PK-5
| 718 students
Rank: #88.
Chocowinity Primary
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
606 Gray Road
Chocowinity, NC 27817
(252) 946-3881
Chocowinity, NC 27817
(252) 946-3881
Grades: PK-4
| 471 students
Rank: #99.
Eastover-central Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
5174 Dunn Road
Fayetteville, NC 28312
(910) 483-8997
Fayetteville, NC 28312
(910) 483-8997
Grades: PK-5
| 393 students
Rank: #1010.
East Robeson Primary
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4840 7th Street Road
Lumberton, NC 28358
(910) 671-6055
Lumberton, NC 28358
(910) 671-6055
Grades: PK-3
| 519 students
Rank: #1111.
Tryon Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
100 School Place
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584
Tryon, NC 28782
(828) 859-6584
Grades: PK-5
| 386 students
Rank: #1212.
Union Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4875 Reepsville Rd
Vale, NC 28168
(704) 276-1493
Vale, NC 28168
(704) 276-1493
Grades: PK-5
| 323 students
Rank: #1313.
Park Road Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3701 Haven Dr
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5830
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5830
Grades: PK-6
| 506 students
Rank: #1414.
Kitty Hawk Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
16 Dogwood Trail
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-2313
Kitty Hawk, NC 27949
(252) 261-2313
Grades: PK-5
| 469 students
Rank: #1515.
District No 7 Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
5721 Smithfield Road
Wade, NC 28395
(910) 483-0001
Wade, NC 28395
(910) 483-0001
Grades: PK-5
| 230 students
Rank: #1616.
W A Bess Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 56%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4340 Beaty Road
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Gastonia, NC 28056
(704) 866-6075
Grades: PK-5
| 641 students
Rank: #1717.
Jefferson Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1166 Wyke Road
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Shelby, NC 28150
(704) 476-8390
Grades: PK-5
| 425 students
Rank: #1818.
Sunny View Elementary School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
86 Sunny View School Road
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050
Mill Spring, NC 28756
(828) 894-1050
Grades: PK-5
| 124 students
Rank: #1919.
Claxton Elementary School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3720 Pinetop Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 545-2010
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 545-2010
Grades: PK-5
| 469 students
Rank: #2020.
West Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
500 W Mountain Street
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8345
Grades: PK-4
| 287 students
Rank: #2121.
Isaac Dickson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
125 Hill Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 350-6800
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 350-6800
Grades: PK-5
| 375 students
Rank: #2222.
Clement Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
3220 Maxwell Rd
Autryville, NC 28318
(910) 567-2112
Autryville, NC 28318
(910) 567-2112
Grades: PK-5
| 354 students
Rank: #2323.
East Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
600 Cleveland Avenue
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Kings Mountain, NC 28086
(704) 476-8356
Grades: PK-4
| 203 students
Rank: #2424.
Collettsville School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
4690 Collettsville School Rd
Collettsville, NC 28611
(828) 754-6913
Collettsville, NC 28611
(828) 754-6913
Grades: PK-8
| 339 students
Rank: #2525.
Iron Station Elementary School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4207 Hwy 27 E
Iron Station, NC 28080
(704) 736-4292
Iron Station, NC 28080
(704) 736-4292
Grades: PK-5
| 362 students
Rank: #2626.
Clear Creek Elementary School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
737 N Clear Creek Road
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 697-4760
Hendersonville, NC 28792
(828) 697-4760
Grades: PK-5
| 444 students
Rank: #2727.
Shadybrook Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
503 Shadybrook Rd
High Point, NC 27265
(336) 819-2950
High Point, NC 27265
(336) 819-2950
Grades: PK-5
| 299 students
Rank: #2828.
Pisgah Forest Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1076 Ecusta Rd
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 877-4481
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 877-4481
Grades: PK-5
| 466 students
Rank: #2929.
Laurel Hill Elementary School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
11340 Old Wire Road
Laurel Hill, NC 28351
(910) 462-2111
Laurel Hill, NC 28351
(910) 462-2111
Grades: PK-5
| 659 students
Rank: #3030.
Walker-spivey Elementary School
(Math: 15-19% | Reading: 25-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
500 Fisher Street
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 483-5656
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 483-5656
Grades: PK-5
| 316 students
Rank: #3131.
North Hills Elementary School
(Math: 22% | Reading: 20%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
340 Alspaugh Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27105
(336) 703-4176
Winston Salem, NC 27105
(336) 703-4176
Grades: PK-5
| 438 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in North Carolina?
The top ranked blue ribbon public preschools in North Carolina include Hawk Ridge Elementary School, Pearsontown Elementary School and Shoals Elementary School.
How many blue ribbon public preschools are located in North Carolina?
31 blue ribbon public preschools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina blue ribbon public preschools minority enrollment is 49% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Recent Articles
Parents’ Guide to Special Education
Special education law is not easy to decipher, with several regulations that govern special education services for disabled students. In this article, learn about the core components of the laws, rights, and individual education plans that can help create the best public school environment for your child.
Surveillance Cameras: Violation of Rights or Improved Security?
A school district in Virginia has given the green light to schools that want to install surveillance cameras in common areas like cafeterias and hallways. We’ll look at whether this is a violation of student privacy or the best way to keep order in schools.
Teachers in 19 States Allowed to Physically Punish Students
As of 2014, nineteen states still allow corporal punishment – spanking and paddling the most common choices – in their public schools. However, some argue that not only are these punishments physically harmful, they also are disproportionately administered to students of color. As a result, House democrats have taken up the issue in a new bill that would ban all forms of corporal punishment nationwide.
