Top 10 Best Public Preschools in North Carolina (2025)

The top ranked public preschools in North Carolina are White Oak Elementary School, Green Hope Elementary School and Highcroft Elementary School. The cities and towns with the highest concentration of top ranked public preschools are Waxhaw, Wake Forest and Morrisville.
A school's overall testing rank is based on a it's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. The average percentage of students achieving math proficiency in North Carolina is 51%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 50%.

Top Ranked Public Preschools in North Carolina (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
White Oak Elementary School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 96% (Top 1%)
Reading: 92% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
1512 White Oak Church Rd
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 694-0202
Rank: #22.
Green Hope Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 91% (Top 5%)
Reading: 88% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
2700 Louis Stephens Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Highcroft Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 88% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
5415 Highcroft Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Mills Park Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 88% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
509 Mills Park Dr
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
New Town Elementary School
(Math: 92% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 92% (Top 1%)
Reading: 82% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1100 Waxhaw-indian Tr. Rd.
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 290-1525
Rank: #66.
Olive Chapel Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 87% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
1751 Olive Chapel Road
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-4440
Rank: #77.
Weddington Elementary School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 84% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
3927 Twelve Mile Creek Road
Matthews, NC 28104
(704) 296-6317
Rank: #88.
Oak Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 83% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
2050 Oak Ridge Road
Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(336) 643-8410
Rank: #99.
Grandy Primary
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-2
175 Nc Hwy 343 North
Camden, NC 27921
(252) 331-4838
Rank: #1010.
Moravian Falls Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
2001 Moravian Falls Rd
Moravian Falls, NC 28654
(336) 838-4077
Rank: #1111.
Hawk Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
9201 Bryant Farms Rd
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-5927
Rank: #1212.
Marvin Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 88% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
9700 Marvin School Rd
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 296-6357
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Cedar Fork Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 81% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1050 Town Hall Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 388-5240
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Hortons Creek Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 81% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
7615 O'kelly Chapel Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Rank: #1515.
Highland Mill Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-6
3201 Clemson Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Rank: #1616.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1631 Southwest School Drive
Clemmons, NC 27012
(336) 703-4195
Rank: #1717.
Holly Springs Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 83% (Top 10%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
401 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 557-2660
Rank: #1818.
Woodland Heights Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 86% (Top 5%)
Reading: 76% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
288 Forest Lake Boulevard
Mooresville, NC 28117
(704) 663-1370
Rank: #1919.
Banner Elk Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
155 Orchard Lane
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 737-5700
Rank: #2020.
Scotts Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 76% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
6601 Apex Barbecue Rd
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-0300
Rank: #2121.
Holly Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 75% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
900 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1300
Rank: #2222.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 81% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Rank: #2323.
Lewisville Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 86% (Top 5%)
Reading: 72% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
150 Lucy Lane
Lewisville, NC 27023
(336) 703-4224
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Rock Springs Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 83% (Top 10%)
Reading: 73% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
3633 Hwy 16 N
Denver, NC 28037
(704) 483-2281
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
West End Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 82% (Top 10%)
Reading: 74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
4483 Nc Hwy 211
West End, NC 27376
(910) 673-6691
Rank: #2626.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 76% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Alston Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 78% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
11555 Green Level Church Rd.
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Seawell Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 78% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
9115 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Chatham Grove Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 77% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1301 Andrews Store Rd
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 642-7069
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Jones Dairy Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 75% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1100 Jones Dairy Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-6181
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Parkside Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 77% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
332 Parkside Valley Dr
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 694-7888
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
4083 Wilkesboro Hwy
Statesville, NC 28625
(704) 876-0746
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Shoals Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
1800 Shoals Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
(336) 325-2518
Rank: #3434.
Sherwood Forest Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1055 Yorkshire Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 774-4646
Rank: #3535.
Holly Grove Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 73% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
1451 Avent Ferry Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1700
Show 100 more public schools in NC (out of 950 total schools)
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