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2022 Best School Districts in North Carolina

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Best Districts
116 results

  1. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

    • School District
    • CHAPEL HILL, NC
    • 53 reviews
    #1 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: What I really enjoy about the Chapel Hill-Carrboro City School district is the community and family that you have the opportunity to build within it. When you move along from one stage of schooling to the next, you don't lose teachers, you gain friends, and mentors that check up on you and truly care about what you are doing, and how your life is progressing! This school district is also very supportive of the needs of students and pushes them towards success in as many ways possible. With implemented programs like the 504 plans and Avid, the school doesn't push the needs of an atypical student aside, they embrace them. If I could address one change in our school district it would be to shrink the achievement gap deficit between children of different backgrounds.
    Read 53 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 20 Total Schools
    • 12,426 Students
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  2. Polk County Schools

    • School District
    • COLUMBUS, NC
    • 9 reviews
    #2 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Junior: I was going to a different high school up until my junior year. Covid hit, closing things down. Especially schools. My old high school was fully remote the entire 2020-2021 school year. I wanted to go in person! I missed interactions with peers. I missed sitting in a classroom. I missed the teacher lectures. So after debating the pros and cons of transferring schools in high schools, I decided to transfer to Polk County High School in September 2020. I was very nervous about the decision. However, once I walked thru the doors I was greeted with smiling faces, eager to meet me. Teachers were so nice and helpful. I made friends quickly. It is a small school, but the friendliness and welcoming I recieved was big. I love it here! I am so happy I made the decision to transfer. People always say that small towns are friendly towns. They are absoulutly right! I can not see myself going anywhere else! I am so thankful and gratful to call Polk County High School, "my school"!
    Read 9 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 7 Total Schools
    • 2,201 Students
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  3. Union County Public Schools

    • School District
    • MONROE, NC
    • 152 reviews
    #3 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: I loved my experience in the Union County District. I use to go to Central Academy of Technology and Arts from freshman to sophomore year (2017-2019). Personally, I wouldn't change a thing. The only reason that I left is because I had a change in my career choice and I found CPCC's Dual Enrolled program to benefit me more. I would recommend any Union Country School to anyone!
    Read 152 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 52 Total Schools
    • 41,707 Students
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  4. Watauga County Schools

    • School District
    • BOONE, NC
    • 13 reviews
    #4 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Junior: I have enjoyed attending this high school. The school is filled with good students and teachers. I feel safe in the environment that I am in. The school custodians do a good job at keeping the school clean. I have seen that most teachers care about their students. I have felt that there are certain teachers that would help me with anything in a heartbeat. While Watauga High School has provided an overall good experience there are a couple of things that could be improved. I have struggled with connecting with my counselors. I know that they have many students to look after but I wish that I felt like they cared more. I also feel that I had trouble finding a club to join. The only reason that I found a club was because one of my friends told me. Beforehand I had no idea that the club existed. Overall Watauga High School is a great school. I am thankful that I have a good school!
    Read 13 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 10 Total Schools
    • 4,756 Students
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  5. Asheville City Schools

    • School District
    • ASHEVILLE, NC
    • 24 reviews
    #5 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Asheville City Schools encourages diversity and equity. They ask for a lot of grants so there is a sufficient amount of funding for education.
    Depending on what school you are at, the education can be good.
    There are a lot of clubs, activities, and things you can do if you decide to get involved.
    Read 24 Reviews

    • A
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 10 Total Schools
    • 4,443 Students
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  6. Mooresville Graded School District

    • School District
    • MOORESVILLE, NC
    • 44 reviews
    #6 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Not only do I love all Mooresville campuses, but the community is also amazing! I have grown up in Mooresville and have been in MGSD schools since kindergarten. The classroom sizes are great and the teachers are amazing! Also, the office staff and counselors make every student feel welcomed. The new high school campuses are huge and great, my personal favorites are the new gigantic gymnasium and lunch room. I wouldn't choose any other highschool to attend in my area than Mooresville!
    Read 44 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 8 Total Schools
    • 6,080 Students
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  9. Mount Airy City Schools

    • School District
    • MOUNT AIRY, NC
    • 12 reviews
    #7 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Going to Mount Airy City Schools was amazing. The teachers and staff truly care about the students wants and needs. They were so accommodating, especially throughout the Covid-19 situation. Easily, I can think of five staff members that I could have gone to to talk about any personal issues that I was having, I always felt comfortable and safe in Mount Airy High school. The teachers were always willing to help with any situation. They also truly cared not only about my well-being, but also my learning experience. Mount Airy City Schools is a truly amazing school system to be a part of. Go Bears!
    Read 12 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 4 Total Schools
    • 1,640 Students
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  10. Wake County Schools

    • School District
    • CARY, NC
    • 487 reviews
    #8 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Alum: Wake County Schools provided me with incredible opportunities when I was in attendance. Coming out of homeschool and into a public high school, I did not know what to expect. Thankfully, I got more than I could ask for. I had particularly rich instruction in music, which I keep using to this day! Although teachers could have been given more resources at their disposal, they certainly did well with what they had. Ultimately, quality education is what I received. Many teachers invest a lot in their students at a great sacrifice. Thank you for all you do, Wake County!
    Read 487 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 191 Total Schools
    • 163,404 Students
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  11. Newton Conover City Schools

    • School District
    • NEWTON, NC
    • 18 reviews
    #9 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Being a Newton Conover High School senior has been the best 4 years of my life. From walking into this beautiful culture my Freshman was so exciting to me personally, the teachers/staff are amazing and are so understanding, definitely will miss the awesome memories that were created here during my 4 years at NCHS!
    Read 18 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 7 Total Schools
    • 3,001 Students
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  12. Elkin City Schools

    • School District
    • ELKIN, NC
    • 9 reviews
    #10 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: I love the small town feeling. The staff and the students are very close and care for each other very much! I would like to see more diversity and new opportunities evolve at Elkin!
    Read 9 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 3 Total Schools
    • 1,219 Students
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  13. Lincoln County Schools

    • School District
    • LINCOLNTON, NC
    • 24 reviews
    #11 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Freshman: Lincoln County Schools is a very interesting school district. The educational system is great, giving everyone an opportunity to learn something new each day. The teachers are all very nice and interactive with their students. The diversity though is on the rougher side. The sports teams here are fantastic and are great to students who are hoping to lead a life involved with sports. Overall, a great county with lovely people.
    Read 24 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 23 Total Schools
    • 11,571 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  14. Surry County Schools

    • School District
    • DOBSON, NC
    • 24 reviews
    #12 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Surry county schools are a good school. They have good teacher and everything is put together well. They deal with problem when need be but sometimes the problems that do need to be dealt with they do not care about they will ignore them. When there is problems they will make sure the punishment for them is what needs to be done for it accordingly. The teacher actually care about you and make sure you are doing well and if not they will be there to help you and help you deal with any problems you may have.
    Read 24 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 19 Total Schools
    • 7,589 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  15. Dare County Schools

    • School District
    • NAGS HEAD, NC
    • 14 reviews
    #13 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: The school system is very good about making everybody feel comfortable and safe. They constantly find ways to compromise with the needs of each student, parent and staff member. I moved into this school system my sophomore year after attending the same school system for almost 10 years and the staff and administration made me feel so welcomed. Coming from such a different environment I was overwhelmed and they definitely made it a little easier. Teacher generally push students to exceed to their fullest potential and be successful.
    Read 14 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 11 Total Schools
    • 5,388 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  16. Carteret County Public Schools

    • School District
    • BEAUFORT, NC
    • 20 reviews
    #14 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Freshman: I am a student at Carteret community college. This is a very good school. The staff is very helpful, the teachers are great. They really strive for your success and advocate for your education. I am very grateful to have the opportunity to go here. I currently attend here on a grant and i have been searching for extra money to help me in my education to pay for a laptop and other expenses because I am homeless. I have a 3.7 GPA though, and they help as much as they can for me to succeed.
    Read 20 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 18 Total Schools
    • 8,190 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  17. Yancey County Schools

    • School District
    • BURNSVILLE, NC
    • 4 reviews
    #15 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Lots of class diversity and very accepting community. Not very racially diverse, but there's lots of culture and art to participate in and create. A good place to grow up and get my pre-college education
    Read 4 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 7 Total Schools
    • 2,124 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  18. New Hanover County Schools

    • School District
    • WILMINGTON, NC
    • 67 reviews
    #16 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: I attend Eugene Ashley High School and I love it!! The teachers really care about you and your success. Our athletics are not the best but we have the BEST student section. Everyone always comes out to football games to cheer on our fellow classmates. The school was opened in 2001 so it’s very clean compared to the other New Hanover County School. Ashely has an amazing campus since it is located in Veterans Park, along with Murray Middle School and Anderson Elementary School. Veterans Park has tennis courts, beach volleyball courts, soccer fields, and baseball/ softball fields.
    Read 67 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 42 Total Schools
    • 25,938 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  19. Cabarrus County Schools

    • School District
    • CONCORD, NC
    • 112 reviews
    #17 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Spending k-12 years of education in Cabarrus Country School System, you get to experience many pros compared to cons. Everyday, there is a sense of inclusiveness that is provided from the teachers and staff. The county itself is full of diversity which allows for students to intermingle of all races and living styles. As I grew older and made it to high school, life was good and it kept getting better. I love the events that were held after school hours. These dances, football games, and volunteer opportunities allow for it to seem a little more like High School Musical! Cabarrus county schools has attempted its very best during Covid-19 in trying to allow some sort of normality. In person classes are optional 2 days a week which is so beneficial because it allows people to choose if this is best fit for them. They have also found ways for sports to occur with limited in person attendance. This was important being a senior athlete that I would get to finish strong.
    Read 112 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 39 Total Schools
    • 33,658 Students
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  22. Henderson County Schools

    • School District
    • HENDERSONVILLE, NC
    • 28 reviews
    #18 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: My family moved to North Carolina in April of 2019. That's right, 8 weeks before the end of my junior year. Hendersonville High has really tried to make me feel at home and a part of the school! The school has lots of activities especially for the senior class. At a medieval banquet this year I finally felt a part of things and am now excited about graduating with the class of 2020.
    Read 28 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 23 Total Schools
    • 13,396 Students
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  23. Orange County Schools

    • School District
    • HILLSBOROUGH, NC
    • 34 reviews
    #19 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: My experience at the Orange Country Schools systems was excellent. The teachers and staff were very helpful. When I had any problems with learning new and old information they went the extra mile to ensure my success. I enjoy the warm and inviting energy when you walk in the building each day. I love the fact that all the teachers know you by first name and want to help you even after you finish their class at Cedar Ridge High School.
    The school board always make adjustment towards our school systems, They always informed me and my family about any issues going on at school. When our safety was in jeopardy, the school helped us feel safe each time when we walk into the school. I do not want to change anything about the school system.
     If I could add 20 more teachers I would.
    Read 34 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 13 Total Schools
    • 7,456 Students
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  24. Buncombe County Schools

    • School District
    • ASHEVILLE, NC
    • 46 reviews
    #20 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Alum: I had a great experience at all of the enka district schools in buncombe county that I attended. The teachers and staff are wonderful! The one thing that I would love to see a change is the food. The school food was not always the best and there were times I wouldn't eat because it looked gross.
    Read 46 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 44 Total Schools
    • 23,669 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  25. Catawba County Schools

    • School District
    • NEWTON, NC
    • 47 reviews
    #21 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: As someone who has moved from county to county, I can say that Catawba county offers an expansive range of opportunities for students to participate in early-college programs and ensures that all students have the information available to them. Catawba county schools are also very cooperative with one another and work as a collective team rather than following stigmatization of "rival schools." The one thing that I would improve about the school system is to not only prioritize budget spending on sports but to also allow the musical, artistic, and theatrical cultures to grow and expand. I believe that it is important to balance ALL extracurricular activities and to allow students to explore their interests equally; not only showing them the physical side. But despite these suggestions to the county's policies, I have had an amazing 3 years at my high school and in the county!
    Read 47 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 28 Total Schools
    • 15,942 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  26. Burke County Schools

    • School District
    • MORGANTON, NC
    • 40 reviews
    #22 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: I had a wonderful elementary experience. Caring, helpful teachers made me a successful student. I always felt nurtured and pushed to meet my potential. Middle school was a challenge for me. Being a student with an auditory processing disorder made things more difficult. As if middle school isn’t hard enough. Many teachers in middle school were not bought in to my modifications on my 504 plan. Therefore, I struggled with academics. Then, I began to give up and shut down. High school has been much better. Most teachers do what they can to help meet my modifications. My counselor has been supportive and more helpful than I could ever have hoped for. I am looking forward to graduation as a successful student.
    Read 40 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 26 Total Schools
    • 12,334 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  27. Cleveland County Schools

    • School District
    • SHELBY, NC
    • 22 reviews
    #23 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Overall the Cleveland County School District was a very good one! Throughout my years there I have really enjoyed my teachers and appreciate the care they give to myself and my classmates! I have been taught not only the required classes but so many more life lessons from my teachers and sports coaches. The only thing that I personally didn’t like were a FEW teachers that you could tell were only there for their check and not because they truly care for the students.
    Read 22 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 29 Total Schools
    • 14,584 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  28. Chatham County Schools

    • School District
    • PITTSBORO, NC
    • 27 reviews
    #24 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: Great diversity within the schools, great outreach for low-income families. The county could use better outreach and education when it comes to mental health and mental illnesses.
    Read 27 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 18 Total Schools
    • 9,196 Students
    View Nearby Homes

  29. Macon County Schools

    • School District
    • FRANKLIN, NC
    • 11 reviews
    #25 Best School Districts in North Carolina

    Senior: The teachers are really nice and helpful and there’s different classes to choose from. Some days there are hands on teaching, like you could go the Slaughter House if you have an AG class. There is a good nursing class I’m in, there’s a Forensics class. There’s band, drums, Theatre, sports, BFS, volleyball, football, golf,
    Read 11 Reviews

    • B+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 11 Total Schools
    • 4,529 Students
    View Nearby Homes
  30. Sponsored

    K12 Private Academy

    • Online School
    • HERNDON, VA
    • K-12
    • 49 reviews

    Junior: K12 Private Academy has been a saving grace for myself, as a student, for the past 2 and a half years. All of my assigned teachers have been nothing but wonderful and very helpful! They are consistently checking up on how students are doing in their course and if they can aid in any way. No question is too little or too big. The comfort of working at home and being at ease has been so very helpful to me; especially when college comes around! The academic level of it has been challenging but very easy to navigate through.
    Read 49 Reviews

    • B minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 1,821 Students
    • 43:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  34. Review Your School 

  35. Sponsored

    George Washington University Online High School

    • Online School
    • ASHBURN, VA
    • 8-12
    • 24 reviews

    Senior: I have been attending GWUOHS since 7th grade. I am now in 12th, so that's 6 whole years with them! Personally, I'm someone who likes to be challenged, so I have loved the rigorous education system that they've provided throughout the years. I also like having the freedom to go to school without the need to leave the house (of course, that's the situation for the majority of us now during this pandemic). Nevertheless, I appreciate having a much more flexible schedule due to this school's platform.

    I've had a slight issue with this school, however. I would recommend that GWUOHS provides better counseling from advisors regarding courses. I was unaware that the courses I was taking had caused me to advance by 1 year ahead of the other students who were in my same grade. I didn't learn until last year that I was required to return for my senior year for only 2 electives and my final Journeys Symposium class in order to fulfill the missing credits I needed in order to graduate.
    Read 24 Reviews

    • A+
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 147 Students
    • 13:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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  36. Sponsored

    Elizabeth Seton High School

    • Private School
    • BLADENSBURG, MD
    • 9-12
    • 306 reviews

    Senior: Elizabeth Seton is a very sisterhood-based community. This community makes sure each student is supported and achieves academic success. Elizabeth Seton allows its students many opportunities and pre-career programs so that they can focus on what they want to study in college early. Programs such as these allow students to figure out what their passions include and if they are interested in making a career out of it. Elizabeth Seton allows students to meet and connect with new people by bringing alumni and guest speakers to talk to current students about challenging times they will face in life and ways to avoid them. Also, Elizabeth Seton ensures that everyone in the community feels safe, loved, and understood no matter what religion, background, or ethnicity they come from. Academics are very important at Elizabeth Seton but also creating a sistership between students that will last beyond a student's graduation is an important goal too.
    Read 306 Reviews

    • A minus
      Overall Niche Grade
    • 564 Students
    • 8:1 Student-Teacher Ratio
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