Top Rankings
Orange County Schools School District 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 2025-26 school year, there are 7 public preschools serving 3,117 students in Orange County Schools School District. This district's average pre testing ranking is 5/10, which is in the bottom 50% of public pre schools in North Carolina.
Public Preschools in Orange County Schools School District have an average math proficiency score of 49% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 45% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 53% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 59% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Overview
This School District
This State (NC)
# Schools
14 Schools
994 Schools
# Students
7,249 Students
464,055 Students
# Teachers
505 Teachers
33,275 Teachers
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
14:1
Student By Grade
District Rank
Orange County Schools School District, which is ranked within the bottom 50% of all 320 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%)
Math Test Scores (% Proficient)
(21-22)49%
51%
Reading/Language Arts Test Scores (% Proficient)
46%
50%
Science Test Scores (% Proficient)
61%
63%
Graduation Rate
(21-22)91%
86%
Students by Ethnicity:
Diversity Score
0.67
0.72
% American Indian
n/a
1%
% Asian
2%
4%
% Hispanic
27%
23%
% Black
15%
25%
% White
48%
41%
% Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
% Two or more races
8%
6%
All Ethnic Groups
District Revenue and Spending
The revenue/student of $13,882 is higher than the state median of $11,187. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
The school district's spending/student of $15,475 is higher than the state median of $11,612. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.
Total Revenue
$101 MM
$17,307 MM
Spending
$112 MM
$17,964 MM
Revenue / Student
$13,882
$11,187
Spending / Student
$15,475
$11,612
Best Orange County Schools School District Public Preschools (2025-26)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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 | 434 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #22.
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 | 555 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #33.
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 | 352 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #44.
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 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #55.
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 | 287 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #66.
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 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #77.
Efland Cheeks Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4401 Fuller Rd
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 563-5112
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 563-5112
Gr: PK-5 | 550 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Recent Articles

10 Advantages of Public Education in 2025
Explore 10 key benefits of public education in 2025, with fresh statistics, expert insights, and real-world examples for parents and educators.

COVID-19鈥檚 Lasting Impact on U.S. Public Schools (2025)
Explore how COVID-19 continues to affect U.S. public schools in 2025: learning losses, enrollment shifts, mental health, and recovery strategies.