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 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
Quick Facts
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
Gr: PK-5 | 801 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 740 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 252 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 8%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 373 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 145 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 456 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 718 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
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
Gr: PK-4 | 471 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 393 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
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
Gr: PK-3 | 519 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 386 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 323 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 10%
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
Gr: PK-6 | 506 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 469 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 13%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 230 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 641 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 425 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 124 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 6%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 469 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
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
Gr: PK-4 | 287 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 375 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 354 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
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
Gr: PK-4 | 203 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
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
Gr: PK-8 | 339 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 7%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 362 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 444 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 299 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 466 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 659 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 316 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
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
Gr: PK-5 | 438 students Student-Teacher Ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
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).
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