For the 2024-25 school year, there are 18 public preschools serving 7,690 students in Orange County, NC. The top ranked public preschools in Orange County, NC are Seawell Elementary School, Hillsborough Elementary School and Mcdougle Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Orange County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Orange County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Orange County (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Seawell Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
9115 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Grades: PK-5
| 491 students
Rank: #22.
Hillsborough Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 425 students
Rank: #33.
Mcdougle Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
890 Old Fayetteville Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-2435
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-2435
Grades: PK-5
| 489 students
Rank: #44.
Estes Hills Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
500 N Estes Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-4753
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-4753
Grades: PK-5
| 340 students
Rank: #55.
Scroggs Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
501 Kildaire Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-7165
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-7165
Grades: PK-5
| 392 students
Rank: #66.
Ephesus Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1495 Ephesus Church Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 929-8715
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 929-8715
Grades: PK-5
| 381 students
Rank: #77.
Carrboro Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
400 Shelton St
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 968-3652
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 968-3652
Grades: PK-5
| 501 students
Rank: #88.
North Chatham Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3380 Lystra Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 967-3094
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 967-3094
Grades: PK-5
| 616 students
Rank: #99.
Rashkis Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
601 Meadowmont Ln
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 918-2160
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 918-2160
Grades: PK-5
| 427 students
Rank: #1010.
Fpg Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
101 Smith Level Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-6491
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-6491
Grades: PK-5
| 528 students
Rank: #1111.
River Park Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 559 students
Rank: #1212.
Northside Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
350 Caldwell St
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2220
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2220
Grades: PK-5
| 395 students
Rank: #1313.
Pathways Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 351 students
Rank: #1414.
New Hope Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 548 students
Rank: #1515.
Central Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 296 students
Rank: #1616.
Grady Brown Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 406 students
Rank: #1717.
Efland Cheeks Elementary School
Magnet 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
Grades: PK-5
| 545 students
Rank: n/an/a
Unc Hospital School
Magnet School
101 Manning Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 966-5009
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 966-5009
Grades: PK-13
| n/a students
Orange County Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Chapel Hill Free Academy (Closed 2004)
Charter School
1713 Legion Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 537-0740
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 537-0740
Grades: K-8
| 80 students
New Century Charter High School (Closed 2005)
Charter School
1315-a New Hope Trace
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-7722
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-7722
Grades: 9-12
| 106 students
920 Corporate Dr
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-8126
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-8126
Grades: K-12
| 182 students
Pace Academy (Closed 2016)
Charter School
308 Nc 54
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 933-7699
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 933-7699
Grades: 9-12
| 111 students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public preschools in Orange County, NC?
The top ranked public preschools in Orange County, NC include Seawell Elementary School, Hillsborough Elementary School and Mcdougle Elementary School. Orange County has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public preschools are located in Orange County?
18 public preschools are located in Orange County.
What is the racial composition of students in Orange County?
Orange County public preschools minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Orange County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Orange County include: Hillsborough Elementary School vs. River Park Elementary School, River Park Elementary School vs. Hillsborough Elementary School, Central Elementary School vs. River Park Elementary School
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