2024 Best Elementary Schools in North Carolina

The Complete Guide to Elementary Schools in North Carolina

The state of North Carolina has an abundance of elementary schools (2,149) available to parents, which equates to a full 108% more than the typical state. This can mean that parents can have greater selection and more options for finding the right fit for their student. On a per capita basis though, North Carolina ranks #45 in the nation, with 17% fewer schools than most states on average. That said, the average school size is 409 students per school, a 7% increase over the national average of 382 students per school. Despite these large sizes, the state maintains a student to teacher ratio of 13:1 which is 7% lower than the national average and can mean that students get more attention and focus at these schools.

As far as grades go, North Carolina elementary schools score a B as a whole - exactly equal to the national average. Of that total, approximately 46% (991) are considered above average while just over half (601) rank within the top 25% of all elementary schools in the nation. So although there are many options and selections to choose from, there’s still a large number of high quality choices available for those aiming high.

Are public elementary schools in North Carolina a good option?

In terms of traditional public elementary schools, North Carolina has 1,618 of them - about 75% of all elementary schools in the state - and that’s 18% less than the typical state per capita. Of those 1,618 traditional public school options 81% (or 1,350) are rated above the national average although this still leaves about 268 below-average options to be accounted for. It’s worth noting that the typical public school size in North Carolina is 468 students per school, 22% above the typical US elementary school.

What is the best public elementary school in North Carolina?

The highest-ranked traditional public elementary school in North Carolina is Seawell Elementary School in Chapel Hill. The school has 481 students with 12 students per teacher - 14% fewer than the national average - which can mean that students receive greater attention and focus on their education. The school is graded an A+ and stands out amongst its peers as one of the best traditional public options in the state.

Key statistics about charter elementary schools in North Carolina

Charter schools have grown rapidly over recent years and now account for 8% (179) of all total elementary schools in North Carolina. On a per capita basis, this makes North Carolina 19th in terms of having more charter options than most states per capita and about 77% above average. Grade-wise, charter schools tend to score slightly higher at B– compared to traditional public counterparts although 50% (90) still rank above the national average and offer high quality educational opportunities for parents to consider.

What is the best charter elementary school in North Carolina?

The top ranked charter elementary school in North Carolina is Woods Charter School based out of Chapel Hill. With 509 students and 11 students per teacher ratio - 21% lower than other US elementary schools - Woods Charter School clearly emphasizes individual attention and focus when it comes to student learning outcomes. The school receives an A+ grade overall but should be noted that class sizes may balloon at times due to being larger than most other US elementary schools at 509 students on average.

Everything you need to know about magnet elementary schools in North Carolina

Magnet schools also play an important role when it comes to making education decisions for your student and despite being not as popular as some other options such as charter or religious schools, there are still 89 magnet elementary options scattered throughout North Carolina. About 58% (52) of these magnet schools are rated above the national grade average which means there are still many quality alternatives for parents who prefer magnet-based education preference or social/cultural environment superiority over other types of education institutions available in North Carolina

What is the best magnet elementary school in North Carolina?

The top ranked magnet elementary school is Combs Elementary School based out of Raleigh and has 700 students with 14:1 student to teacher ratio exactly equal to that of the average in America.