For the 2025 school year, there are 14 public middle schools serving 6,887 students in Orange County, NC. The top ranked public middle schools in Orange County, NC are The Expedition School, Woods Charter and Eno River Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Orange County, NC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 62% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 63% (versus the 50% statewide average). Middle schools in Orange County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of North Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Middle Schools in Orange County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
The Expedition School
Charter School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
437 Dimmocks Mill Rd Ste 33
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-8432
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-8432
Grades: K-8
| 361 students
Rank: #22.
Woods Charter
Charter School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
160 Woodland Grove Ln
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 960-8353
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 960-8353
Grades: K-12
| 512 students
Rank: #33.
Eno River Academy
Charter School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1212 Nc Highway 57 North
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-6272
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 644-6272
Grades: K-12
| 810 students
Rank: #44.
Smith Middle School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
9201 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2145
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2145
Grades: 6-8
| 749 students
Rank: #55.
Margaret B. Pollard Middle School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
185 Granite Mill Blvd.
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-0070
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-0070
Grades: 6-8
| 742 students
Rank: #66.
Phillips Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
606 N Estes Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-2188
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 929-2188
Grades: 6-8
| 572 students
Rank: #77.
Mcdougle Middle School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
900 Old Fayetteville Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 933-1556
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 933-1556
Grades: 6-8
| 705 students
Rank: #88.
Culbreth Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
225 Culbreth Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-7161
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 929-7161
Grades: 6-8
| 664 students
Rank: #99.
Phoenix Academy High School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
750 S Merritt Mill Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2300
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2300
Grades: 8-12
| 21 students
Rank: #1010.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 529 students
Rank: #1111.
Orange County Schools Online Academy
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
920 Corporate Dr
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-8126
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-8126
Grades: K-12
| 182 students
Rank: #1212.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 625 students
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
Grades: 6-8
| 415 students
Rank: n/an/a
101 Manning Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 966-5009
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 966-5009
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Orange County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
1713 Legion Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 537-0740
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 537-0740
Grades: K-8
| 80 students
New Century Charter High School (Closed 2005)
Charter School
1315-a New Hope Trace
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-7722
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-7722
Grades: 9-12
| 106 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public middle schools in Orange County, NC?
The top ranked public middle schools in Orange County, NC include The Expedition School, Woods Charter and Eno River Academy. Orange County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public middle schools are located in Orange County?
14 public middle schools are located in Orange County.
What is the racial composition of students in Orange County?
Orange County public middle schools minority enrollment is 44% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Orange County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public middle schools in Orange County include: Orange Middle School vs. A L Stanback Middle School, A L Stanback Middle School vs. Orange Middle School, Phillips Middle School vs. Smith Middle School
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