For the 2025 school year, there are 29 public schools serving 18,248 students in Harnett County, NC (there are 10 private schools, serving 765 private students). 96% of all K-12 students in Harnett County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Harnett County, NC are Harnett County Early College, Union Pines High School and Plain View Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Harnett County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 42% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 44% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Harnett County have an average ranking of 3/10, which is in the bottom 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Harnett County (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Harnett County Early College
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: ≥80% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
660 E Johnson St
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 814-3470
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 814-3470
Grades: 9-13
| 170 students
Rank: #22.
Union Pines High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1981 Union Church Rd
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 947-5511
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 947-5511
Grades: 9-12
| 1,409 students
Rank: #33.
Plain View Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
4140 Plain View Hwy
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 891-4354
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 891-4354
Grades: K-5
| 356 students
Rank: #44.
Midway Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1115 Roberts Grove Road
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 567-5879
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 567-5879
Grades: 6-8
| 601 students
Rank: #55.
Triton High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
215 Maynard Lake Road
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-8121
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-8121
Grades: 9-12
| 1,306 students
Rank: #66.
New Century Middle School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1577 Union Church Road
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 947-1301
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 947-1301
Grades: 6-8
| 628 students
Rank: #77.
Mcgee's Crossroads Elementary School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
10330 Nc Hwy 50 North
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 894-7161
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 894-7161
Grades: PK-5
| 949 students
Rank: #88.
Western Harnett High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
10637 Nc Hwy 27 West
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-5113
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-5113
Grades: 9-12
| 1,343 students
Rank: #99.
Harnett Central High School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2911 Harnett Central Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6161
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6161
Grades: 9-12
| 1,493 students
Rank: #1010.
Buies Creek Elementary School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
340 Main Street
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(910) 893-3505
Buies Creek, NC 27506
(910) 893-3505
Grades: K-5
| 230 students
Rank: #1111.
Carolina Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
8529 Nc Highway 55
Angier, NC 27501
(984) 300-3015
Angier, NC 27501
(984) 300-3015
Grades: K-8
| 823 students
Rank: #1212.
Western Harnett Middle School
(Math: 44% | Reading: 48%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
11135 Nc Hwy 27 West
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-4497
Lillington, NC 27546
(919) 499-4497
Grades: 6-8
| 766 students
Rank: #1313.
Midway Elementary School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 41%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
15375 Spiveys Corner Highway
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 567-2244
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 567-2244
Grades: PK-5
| 510 students
Rank: #1414.
Cameron Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 40-44%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
2636 Nc Hwy 24 27
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 245-7814
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 245-7814
Grades: K-5
| 216 students
Rank: #1515.
Dunn Elementary School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
800 W Harnett St
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-0126
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-0126
Grades: PK-5
| 799 students
Rank: #1616.
Boone Trail Elementary School
(Math: 42% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1425 Adcock Road
Mamers, NC 27552
(910) 893-4013
Mamers, NC 27552
(910) 893-4013
Grades: PK-5
| 533 students
Rank: #1717.
Harnett Central Middle School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2529 Harnett Central Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6000
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-6000
Grades: 6-8
| 999 students
Rank: #1818.
Coats-erwin Middle School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
2833 Nc Hwy 55e
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 230-0300
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 230-0300
Grades: 6-8
| 609 students
Rank: #1919.
Lillington-shawtown Elementary School
(Math: 33% | Reading: 36%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
855 Old Us 421
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3483
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3483
Grades: PK-5
| 678 students
Rank: #2020.
South Harnett Elementary School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
8335 Nc 210 South
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-9153
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-9153
Grades: 3-5
| 434 students
Rank: #2121.
Johnsonville Elementary School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 34%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
18495 Nc Hwy 27 West
Cameron, NC 28326
(919) 499-4912
Cameron, NC 28326
(919) 499-4912
Grades: PK-5
| 471 students
Rank: #2222.
Dunn Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1301 Meadowlark Road
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1016
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1016
Grades: 6-8
| 399 students
Rank: #2323.
Angier Elementary School
(Math: 32% | Reading: 27%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
130 E Mciver St
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-2635
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-2635
Grades: 3-5
| 359 students
Rank: #2424.
Coats Elementary School
(Math: 29% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
585 Brick Mill Road
Coats, NC 27521
(910) 897-8353
Coats, NC 27521
(910) 897-8353
Grades: PK-5
| 653 students
Rank: #2525.
Erwin Elementary School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
405 Denim Dr.
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-7178
Erwin, NC 28339
(910) 897-7178
Grades: PK-5
| 590 students
Rank: #2626.
Star Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: ≤5%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
900 11th Street
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-4072
Grades: 6-12
| 23 students
Rank: n/an/a
914 Anderson Creek Sch Rd
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-4523
Bunnlevel, NC 28323
(910) 893-4523
Grades: PK-2
| 568 students
Rank: n/an/a
Carolina Charter Academy Rca
Charter School
8529 Nc Highway 55
Angier, NC 27501
(984) 300-3015
Angier, NC 27501
(984) 300-3015
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
282 N Harnett School Rd
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-4480
Angier, NC 27501
(919) 639-4480
Grades: PK-2
| 333 students
Harnett County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
4200 Percy Blvd, Bldg L-6323
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 907-1300
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 907-1300
Grades: PK-4
| n/a students
15375 Spivey's Corner Hwy
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 592-1401
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 592-1401
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
695 Shawtown Road
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3415
Lillington, NC 27546
(910) 893-3415
Grades: PK-3
| 386 students
4780 Camel Road, Bldg L1017
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 907-0210
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 907-0210
Grades: PK-5
| n/a students
4780 Camel Road, Bldg L1017
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 907-0211
Cameron, NC 28326
(910) 907-0211
Grades: 6-8
| n/a students
910 W Harnett St
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1059
Dunn, NC 28334
(910) 892-1059
Grades: 4-5
| 284 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Harnett County, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Harnett County, NC include Harnett County Early College, Union Pines High School and Plain View Elementary School.
How many public schools are located in Harnett County?
29 public schools are located in Harnett County.
What percentage of students in Harnett County go to public school?
96% of all K-12 students in Harnett County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Harnett County?
Harnett County public schools minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Harnett County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Harnett County include: South Harnett Elementary School vs. Anderson Creek Primary, Triton High School vs. Harnett Central High School, Lillington-shawtown Elementary School vs. Dunn Elementary School
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