2023 Best Schools in Hillsborough

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  133 reviews

Senior: The academics here are excellent. When coupled with the wide array of academic opportunities, speakers, and cultural activities on campus, students constantly learn. However, the social aspect of the school can be hard, as students who do not venture out of their dorm rooms or are not acclimated to a residential lifestyle will have an underwhelming experience. My biggest issue is the lack of consistency across the same class. Taking core chemistry with one teacher will not be the same as another, not just in terms of teaching style but also the workload. Many students have varying experiences and can struggle heavily because of an unlucky schedule with many difficult courses.... Read 133 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 680

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.16 out of 5  102 reviews

Parent: We are blown away by the quality of teachers at DA. Our kids have experience middle and upper school at DA and they are always sharing what they are learning about with great enthusiasm. Even in lower grades, students are challenged to use their critical thinking skills and to go deep on subject matter. The teachers take time to really get to know their students - reading report cards makes it’s clear that the truly “see” your children and understand both their gifts and areas where they need to grow. The advisory model is a great system for parents and students as you always have one person who knows what is happening with your child and has the big picture view. The arts and athletics programs are top notch - the only problem is there is not enough time in the day to take advantage of it all. The course offerings are diverse with a big emphasis on learning about people from all different walks of life and cultures. It is exciting to see my children grow at DA!... Read 102 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,237

• Student-teacher ratio 6:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  62 reviews

Senior: Great academic environment with amazing teachers! The upper school is a highly close-knit community and faculty are consistently supportive and are willing to do anything for students and the humanities classes at Trinity are highly thought-provoking and academically challenging. Trinity does often lack diversity however and could work to be more welcoming and supportive of minority students (LGBTQ+ and poc students).... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 561

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.86 out of 5  7 reviews

Parent: GREAT school! The small, individualized classes are always engaging. Students are challenged and encouraged to think and share ideas. This is a school that meets the needs of ALL students in a safe and welcoming environment. The faculty, staff and students are like a big family. Excellent academics, electives, clubs, & team sports opportunities, too! Students graduating from Camelot are prepared for college and life!... Read 7 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 148

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Chapel Hill, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.02 out of 5  54 reviews

Parent: I have three children at WCS and we have been incredibly pleased with our experience! I went to a small private school and see many similarities between it and the experience my children are having at Woods. We have LOVED our teachers. My son is currently being placed into a reading intervention program to receive extra help. The school and specialists have been attentive and responsive to all of our questions. It is a loving, nurturing and positive atmosphere. I am so happy we are at this school and look forward to many more years as part of the Woods family!... Read 54 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 509

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  62 reviews

Parent: We love the atmosphere of this school, the teachers are fun but also serious about teaching and learning. Expectations are high and students work hard but they don't have tons of homework, and many classes have lots of hands-on activities. We love the personalized learning method, students can move ahead quickly if they have already mastered the material - so much better than spending hours bored in class while the teacher goes over something you already know! It's a little confusing to understand how the grading works at first, but it's worth the hassle. We're so glad we took a chance and tried something different.... Read 62 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 586

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.32 out of 5  28 reviews

Senior: I love, love, love Carolina Friends School! It has been truly life-changing for me. Many say that it's an "easy" school--I entirely disagree. To outsiders, it may seem hard to fail, but that is only because the staff is so loving and supportive of their students.... Read 28 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 501

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Hillsborough, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.29 out of 5  7 reviews

Parent: Our daughter has thrived since the day she started TES. The deep exploration of project based learning in a non-judgmental, creative STEAM environment has fostered her love of learning. The school administrators and staff have given such careful thought to the diverse group of learners and how the curriculum can be both challenging but also adjustable and engaging for everyone in the class. We have been at other schools and TES is unparalleled in the quality of education and development of the whole child. We love our school!... Read 7 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 362

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Chapel Hill, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.3 out of 5  20 reviews

Parent: As a mainstream teacher, I sought for something other than public school for my own child. Her experience at EWS has put her right on track for college. The arts are integrated across the curriculum, and there is rigorous work in the High School akin to AP level coursework elsewhere. The faculty works together to help foster independent thinking and social responsibility, and they are perpetual learners themselves. As with any other method, Waldorf Education is not right for everyone, but it's worth checking out!... Read 20 reviews

• grade A

• Students 273

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Mebane, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.88 out of 5  8 reviews

Junior: The teachers are excellent! One can have all other characteristics be awful, but the teachers are simply the highlight. It reminds me of medieval scholastic scholars and the founding of the first universities, where pupils would eagerly sit at their tutor's feet. With a very small class size, it's much easier to interact intellectually with not only the teachers but also other students. Due to its small size, the club and sports teams could definitely use some work, but are nonetheless quite formative and engaging.... Read 8 reviews

• grade A

• Students 256

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.52 out of 5  42 reviews

Parent: This is an amazing school with teachers that care. They focus on what your child strengths are and build a desire to learn. It is truly a family atmosphere and my kids are safe. We tried public school in Durham and it was very bad. The religious aspect helps them with moral values and a healthy base. The most important thing to me is my kids are happy and learning. I highly recommend you take a look at this school. Tim Blancett... Read 42 reviews

• grade A

• Students 242

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-10

• •
  Rating 4.8 out of 5  10 reviews

Parent: Wonderful school with a great curriculum. We have been here from the beginning, and we have had a great experience. It feels like family here. Our students are thriving. They have more than just reading and math: our kids have studied science, social studies, art, music, and other special classes, and Spanish in K-5, and our oldest is now taking Latin in middle school. Excellent education! Great teachers! We love the fact that they provide busing, too!... Read 10 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 926

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  5 reviews

Parent: I have two children at CPSC and love the project based curricula, intentional work on inclusion and diversity, and the caring faculty and staff. Like all schools, there is always work to be done, and compared to the parochial school my children used to attend, Central Park is more focused on children, inclusion, broader learning beyond academics, and the surrounding community. The teachers care and are top notch, and all feedback is heard and promptly responded to, with a plan to address. Librarians send home books with students to keep over inter sessions, teachers create relevant and timely curricula and adapt it to the students, and students are encouraged to be responsible and design their learning.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 621

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Orange County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  268 reviews

Alum: Overall, Cedar Ridge High School is an excellent school. Compared to most public high schools, there is a significant emphasis on the arts. Most of the teachers are not only effective at their jobs, but they also provide plenty of support and resources to students outside the classroom. My only complaint is that the science department isn't very strong. As someone who isn't particularly strong in science subjects, I found that many of the teachers in this department failed to effectively teach these complex topics. Other than that however, Cedar Ridge High School is an excellent school, with plenty of opportunities for students of all kinds.... Read 268 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,033

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Hillsborough, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.67 out of 5  18 reviews

Parent: The staff and teachers at Eno River Academy are the absolute best! They have clear communication with the parents on a weekly basis (super important!), they make their expectations for the students very clear and are willing to work with them without lowering those expectations, and they have surpassed my expectations with the transition over to online learning during this pandemic. I could not be more happy with this school!... Read 18 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 770

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Orange County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.79 out of 5  265 reviews

Parent: While NC does a poor job funding education at a state level, I have been impressed with how well OHS does with its limitations. It is a diverse student population and they seem to have something for everyone. Nice array of trades, regular, honors and AP classes. OCS needs to invest in new buildings as the town grows (and because the existing ones are terribly outdated) but overall, it's a good school. The best part has been the excellent, committed teachers and wide variety of classes. My kids have NEVER had one teacher in this school that wasn't willing to go the extra mile. Now if we could get NC state legislature to improve funding--imagine what our administrators and teachers could do for our students!... Read 265 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 1,298

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Durham, NC•

• Private School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  13 reviews

Alum: Liberty Christian School strives to give its students a great education in a God-fearing manner. I was privileged to attend LCS for my four high school years and I loved my time there! In my spiritual life, I was challenged in my walk with God to grow closer to Him everyday. In academics, I was pushed to learn as much as a could and to develop character through my schooling. Although I still had learning to do, I was not lost when I got to college. In academics, I was able to participate in volleyball and cheerleading- both of which taught me how to be a team player, to encourage others, and to work hard. In my social life, I had teachers and classmates with whom I built lasting relationships. Just as any other place, LCS is not perfect, but its administration continually strives to improve so its students receive a great education and a God-centered foundation for life.... Read 13 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 237

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  155 reviews

Alum: I attended Voyager Academy for four years of high school and I grew to love the school as time went on. There are teachers who care deeply about the students and push them to their fullest potential in all aspects. The experience gets better as you become more involved in the school and attend events. My favorite part about attending Voyager was the hours and the project based learning. On the other hand, Voyager could work more on its diversity as there have been times I was the only minority in the classroom and felt as an outsider. Just recently in my last year have they accepted more minorities into their school which I believe has actually helped to improve the culture of the school. Overall, I would rate the school a four out of five, as the administration and teachers genuinely care about and are able to form relationships with the students and I have no regrets attending the school.... Read 155 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,345

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Orange County Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 3 out of 5  1 review

• grade B+

• Students 420

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Orange County Schools, NC•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 3.29 out of 5  7 reviews

High School Junior: I moved to it from a private school, and the teachers helped me get used to having a large school.... Read 7 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 585

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Graham, NC•

• Private School•

• PK, K-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  19 reviews

Niche User: This was a very good school for advanced education. I thoroughly enjoyed my time at this school. The teachers care about the students and the programs provided are very good and helpful. I appreciate the AP course also provided at this school!... Read 19 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 380

• Student-teacher ratio 12:1

• Orange County Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade B+

• Students 530

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Orange County Schools, NC•

• 6-8

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  1 review

Middle School Student: I am an 8th student at AL Stanback. I can tell you that I am very lucky to attend this middle school. AL Stanback has amazing teachers that keep the classroom a fun and happy place of learning. The teaching is very structured but shown with love. Each teacher is compassionate about helping each student learn. This school is run with an order. When there is a problem it is handled with care. There have been assembly about anti-bully, love for yourself and others, and important life lessons. The feeling of belonging when you are walking through the halls and multiple teachers smile and say good morning to you is wonderful. The bathrooms may need an upgrade but the classrooms are filled with encouraging words and helpful learning tips. ALS also has clubs, and a program called bulldog academy. Sports are recommended, not only because of the physical activity but because of the relationships that are built, the talks where everyone opens up because they know they are in a safe place.... Read 1 review

• grade B+

• Students 625

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 2 out of 5  1 review

• grade B

• Students 645

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Orange County Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 4.33 out of 5  3 reviews

Niche User: My child has had an amazing learning experience so far. He's always excited about the new things he's learned... Read 3 reviews

• grade B

• Students 409

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1