The ranking below is based on the percentage of schools within a town or city which have placed in the top 10% of all schools statewide.
A school's overall rank is based on its combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. Schools are ranked and compared within their own state only.
Statewide Range: 21%
75%
Avg. Statewide: 42%
Top Ranked Cities With Best Public Schools in North Carolina (2025)
City
% of Schools in
Top 10% Statewide
Top 10% Statewide
Top Ranked Schools
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
(Math Proficiency % | Reading Proficiency %)
Rank: #11.
75%
(9 out of 12)
(9 out of 12)
Rank: #22.
53%
(8 out of 15)
(8 out of 15)
- Franklin Academy
Rank: #306 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 79%) - Endeavor Charter School
Rank: #315 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 78%) - North Wake College And Career Academy
Rank: #352 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 90-94%) - View Full List of Top Ranked Wake Forest, NC Schools
Rank: #33.
50%
(3 out of 6)
(3 out of 6)
- Cedar Fork Elementary School
Rank: #256 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%) - Parkside Elementary School
Rank: #421 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%) - Morrisville Elementary School
Rank: #433 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 79% | Reading: 77%) - View Full List of Top Ranked Morrisville, NC Schools
Rank: #44.
47%
(15 out of 32)
(15 out of 32)
Rank: #55.
41%
(9 out of 22)
(9 out of 22)
Rank: #6-76 - 7.
40%
(6 out of 15)
(6 out of 15)
Rank: #6-76 - 7.
40%
(4 out of 10)
(4 out of 10)
- Holly Springs Elementary School
Rank: #305 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 83% | Reading: 80%) - Holly Springs High School
Rank: #345 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 77% | Reading: 85%) - Holly Ridge Elementary School
Rank: #363 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 84% | Reading: 75%) - View Full List of Top Ranked Holly Springs, NC Schools
Rank: #88.
31%
(4 out of 13)
(4 out of 13)
Rank: #99.
26%
(6 out of 23)
(6 out of 23)
Rank: #1010.
21%
(3 out of 14)
(3 out of 14)
- Hendersonville High School
Rank: #313 of 2,617 (Top 5%)
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 75-79%) - Hendersonville Elementary School
Rank: #345 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%) - West Henderson High School
Rank: #531 of 2,617 (Top 10%)
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 68%) - View Full List of Top Ranked Hendersonville, NC Schools
Recent Articles

Texas Schools: The Voucher/School Choice Debate
The issue of school choice and a voucher system is currently being revisited in Houston and across the state of Texas, with strong opinions on both sides of the debate.

Fuel Up to Play 60 Focuses on Integrating Fitness and Wellness into the School Day
What if NFL players came to your school? With the Fuel Up to Play 60 program, sponsored by the National Dairy Council and the NFL, nutrition and exercise are promoted during the school day. NFL players participate in the program by coming to schools and talking to students about fitness. Learn more about the program and some of the schools that are implementing it.

What Parents Need to Know About Lunch Shaming
Students all over the nation go hungry every day not because their schools don’t offer lunch, but because they refuse them to children with outstanding debts. Read on to learn about the horror that is lunch shaming and what can be done about it.