For the 2025 school year, there are 20 public schools serving 9,586 students in Franklin County, NC (there are 2 private schools, serving 34 private students). 100% of all K-12 students in Franklin County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Franklin County, NC are Franklin County Early College, Tar River Elementary School and Youngsville Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Franklin County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 46% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Franklin County have an average ranking of 4/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Franklin County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Franklin County Early College
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
8150 Nc Highway 56
Louisburg, NC 27549
(252) 738-3649
Louisburg, NC 27549
(252) 738-3649
Grades: 9-13
| 171 students
Rank: #22.
Tar River Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2642 Philo White Rd
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 528-2767
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 528-2767
Grades: PK-5
| 358 students
Rank: #33.
Youngsville Elementary School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
125 Us I-a
Youngsville, NC 27596
(919) 556-5250
Youngsville, NC 27596
(919) 556-5250
Grades: PK-5
| 410 students
Rank: #44.
Wilton Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2555 Hwy 96
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 528-0033
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 528-0033
Grades: PK-5
| 293 students
Rank: #55.
Franklinton High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
910 Cedar Creek Road
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 494-2332
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 494-2332
Grades: 9-12
| 1,218 students
Rank: #66.
Edward Best Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4011 Nc 56 Hwy East
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 853-2347
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 853-2347
Grades: PK-5
| 501 students
Rank: #77.
Louisburg Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
201 Allen Lane
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-3725
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-3725
Grades: 9-12
| 585 students
Rank: #88.
Youngsville Academy
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2045 Hicks Rd
Youngsville, NC 27596
(984) 235-4620
Youngsville, NC 27596
(984) 235-4620
Grades: K-10
| 556 students
Rank: #99.
Long Mill Elementary School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1753 Long Mill Rd
Youngsville, NC 27596
(919) 554-0667
Youngsville, NC 27596
(919) 554-0667
Grades: PK-5
| 412 students
Rank: #1010.
Bunn High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
29 Bunn Elem School Road
Bunn, NC 27508
(919) 496-3975
Bunn, NC 27508
(919) 496-3975
Grades: 9-12
| 860 students
Rank: #1111.
Cedar Creek Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2228 Cedar Creek Road
Youngsville, NC 27596
(919) 554-4848
Youngsville, NC 27596
(919) 554-4848
Grades: 6-8
| 500 students
Rank: #1212.
Franklinton Elementary School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
431 S Hillsborough St.
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 494-2479
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 494-2479
Grades: PK-5
| 485 students
Rank: #1313.
Laurel Mill Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
730 Laurel Mill Road
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 853-3577
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 853-3577
Grades: PK-5
| 285 students
Rank: #1414.
Bunn Elementary School
(Math: 53% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
686 Bunn Elem School Road
Bunn, NC 27508
(919) 496-4015
Bunn, NC 27508
(919) 496-4015
Grades: PK-5
| 579 students
Rank: #1515.
Terrell Lane Middle School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
101 Terrell Lane
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-1855
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-1855
Grades: 6-8
| 390 students
Rank: #1616.
Louisburg Elementary School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
50 Stone Southerland Road
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-3676
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-3676
Grades: PK-5
| 413 students
Rank: #1717.
Bunn Middle School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
4742 Nc 39 Hwy S
Bunn, NC 27508
(919) 496-7700
Bunn, NC 27508
(919) 496-7700
Grades: 6-8
| 588 students
Rank: #1818.
Crosscreek Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
100 East River Road
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 497-3198
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 497-3198
Grades: K-8
| 401 students
Rank: #1919.
Royal Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 30-34%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
308 Flat Rock Church Road
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-7377
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-7377
Grades: PK-5
| 354 students
Rank: #2020.
Franklinton Middle School
(Math: 18% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
3 N Main St
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 494-2971
Franklinton, NC 27525
(919) 494-2971
Grades: 6-8
| 227 students
Franklin County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Riverside Elementary Magnet (Closed 2007)
Magnet School
53 West River Road
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-2600
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-2600
Grades: K-5
| 76 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Franklin County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Franklin County, NC include Franklin County Early College, Tar River Elementary School and Youngsville Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Franklin County?
20 public schools are located in Franklin County.
What percentage of students in Franklin County go to public school?
100% of all K-12 students in Franklin County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Franklin County?
Franklin County public schools minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Franklin County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Franklin County include: Wilton Elementary School vs. Tar River Elementary School, Terrell Lane Middle School vs. Bunn Middle School, Tar River Elementary School vs. Wilton Elementary School
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.