Top Rankings
Orange County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:
Category
Attribute
Community Size
Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
For the 2026-27 school year, there are 13 public schools serving 6,982 students in Orange County Schools. This district's average testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public schools in North Carolina.
Public Schools in Orange County Schools have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
13 Schools
2,729 Schools
# Students
6,982 Students
1,548,397 Students
# Teachers
453 Teachers
96,034 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
15:1
15:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Orange County Schools, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.
The school district's graduation rate of 86% has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
Overall District Rank
#181 out of 325 school districts
(Bottom 50%)
(Bottom 50%)
Showing 2013–2023. View full 14-year historical data
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)49%
51%
Showing 2012–2022. View full 13-year historical data
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
50%
Showing 2012–2022. View full 13-year historical data
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
86%
86.5%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 13-year historical data
Chronically Absent Students
(2022-23)25.5%
28.7%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.72
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
5%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 35-year historical data
% Hispanic
29%
22%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
% Black
14%
24%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% White
48%
42%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 36-year historical data
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
7%
6%
Showing 2014–2023. View full 13-year historical data
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $16,103 is higher than the state median of $13,318. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $16,886 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
Total Revenue
$112 MM
$20,622 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending
$118 MM
$21,575 MM
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Revenue / Student
$16,103
$13,318
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Spending / Student
$16,886
$13,934
Showing 2014–2023. View full 34-year historical data
Best Orange County Schools Public Schools (2026-27)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Cedar Ridge High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1125 New Grady Brown Sch Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4000
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,148 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #22.
Hillsborough Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
402 North Nash Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6137
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6137
Gr: PK-5 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #33.
Orange High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
500 Orange High Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6133
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6133
Gr: 9-12 | 1,161 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #44.
River Park Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
240 St. Mary's Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9326
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9326
Gr: PK-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #55.
Orange Middle School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
308 Orange High Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6121
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6121
Gr: 6-8 | 514 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #66.
Partnership Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
920 Corporate Drive
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4030
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4030
Gr: 9-12 | 40 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #77.
Pathways Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
431 Strouds Creek Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9136
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9136
Gr: PK-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #88.
A L Stanback Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3700 Nc 86 South
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-3200
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-3200
Gr: 6-8 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #99.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1900 New Hope Church Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-9696
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-9696
Gr: PK-5 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1010.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
154 Hayes St
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-3622
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-3622
Gr: PK-5 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #1111.
Grady Brown Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1100 New Grady Brown Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6138
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6138
Gr: PK-5 | 406 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1212.
Efland Cheeks Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4401 Fuller Rd
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4042
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4042
Gr: PK-5 | 532 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1313.
Gravelly Hill Middle School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4801 West Ten Road
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4050
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4050
Gr: 6-8 | 415 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools belong to Orange County Schools?
Orange County Schools manages 13 public schools serving 6,982 students.
What is the rank of Orange County Schools?
Orange County Schools is ranked #183 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (bottom 50%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)
What is the racial composition of students in Orange County Schools?
48% of Orange County Schools students are White, 29% of students are Hispanic, 14% of students are Black, 7% of students are Two or more races, and 2% of students are Asian.
What is the student/teacher ratio of Orange County Schools?
Orange County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.
What is Orange County Schools's spending/student ratio?
The school district's spending/student of $16,886 is higher than the state median of $13,934. The school district spending/student has grown by 8% over four school years.
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