Ranking: 12 of the top public elementary schools in NC are in the Triangle

Kimberly Cataudella
Updated ·6 min read

Of the public elementary schools ranked as the top 20 in North Carolina by Niche, an organization that collects data on K-12 schools and colleges, 12 are in the Triangle.

Each of those schools received either A+ or A overall rankings from the national school ranking website.

For the full list and more details about each school, visit niche.com/k12/search/best-public-elementary-schools/s/north-carolina.

Here are the top Triangle schools on the list.

NC’s top public elementary school is in Chapel Hill

#1. Woods Charter School in Chapel Hill is a public charter school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A+

  • Address: 160 Woodland Grove Ln. in Chapel Hill

  • Website: woodscharter.org

“It has 509 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 79% of students are at least proficient in math and 85% in reading.”

Woods Charter School is also ranked the #1 best public middle school in North Carolina, and it’s ranked #1 for the best public high school teachers in the state.

These top-20 elementary schools are in the Triangle

#3. Quest Academy in Raleigh is a public charter school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A+

  • Address: 10908 Strickland Rd. in Raleigh

  • Website: questcharter.org

“It has 140 students in grades K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 92% of students are at least proficient in math and 92% in reading.”

Quest Academy also ranks #2 for the best public elementary school teachers in North Carolina and #1 for the best public middle school teachers in the state.

#6. The Expedition School in Hillsborough is a public charter school.

“It has 362 students in grades K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1,” Niche says. “According to state test scores, 74% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading.”

The Expedition School also ranks #5 for the best public middle school in North Carolina, and it’s #5 for the best charter middle school in the state.

#8. Endeavor Charter School in Wake Forest is a public charter school.

“It has 536 students in grades K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1,” Niche says. “According to state test scores, 84% of students are at least proficient in math and 81% in reading.”

Endeavor Charter School also ranks #7 for the best public middle school in North Carolina and #7 for the best charter middle school in the state.

#9. Exploris Middle School in Raleigh is a public charter school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A+

  • Address: 401 Hillsborough St. in Raleigh

  • Website: exploris.org

Exploris opened as a middle school in 1997, though it expanded to become a K-8 school for the 2014-15 academic year.

“It has 453 students in grades K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 13 to 1,” Niche says. According to state test scores, 58% of students are at least proficient in math and 77% in reading.”

Exploris Middle School also ranks #3 for the best public middle school teachers in North Carolina and #4 for the best elementary school teachers in the state.

#10. Seawell Elementary School in Chapel Hill-Carrboro is a public school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A+

  • Address: 9115 Seawell School Rd. in Chapel Hill

  • Website: chccs.org/SES

“It has 481 students in grades PK, K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 12 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 72% of students are at least proficient in math and 73% in reading.”

Seawell Elementary School also ranks #108 (of 1,462) for the best public elementary school teachers in North Carolina and #274 (of 1,565) for the most diverse public elementary schools in the state.

#11. Sterling Montessori Academy in Morrisville is a public charter school.

“It has 616 students in grades PK, K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1,” Niche says. “According to state test scores, 64% of students are at least proficient in math and 80% in reading.”

Sterling Montessori Academy also ranks #9 for best charter middle schools in North Carolina and #10 for best charter elementary schools in the state.

#13. Rashkis Elementary School in Chapel Hill-Carrboro is a public school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A+

  • Address: 601 Meadowmont Ln. in Chapel Hill

  • Website: chccs.org/RES

“It has 451 students in grades PK, K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 11 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 76% of students are at least proficient in math and 67% in reading.”

Rashkis Elementary School also ranks #95 (of 1,462) for best public elementary school teachers in North Carolina and #197 (of 1,565) for the most diverse public elementary schools in the state.

#15. Magellan Charter School in Raleigh is a public charter school.

“It has 405 students in grades 3-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 88% of students are at least proficient in math and 87% in reading.”

Magellan Charter School also ranks #12 for best charter middle schools in North Carolina and #13 for best charter elementary schools in the state.

#14. Envision Science Academy in Wake Forest is a public charter school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A+

  • Address: 590 Traditions Grande Blvd in Wake Forest

  • Website: esaeagles.com

“It has 726 students in grades K-8 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 63% of students are at least proficient in math and 72% in reading.”

Envision Science Academy also ranks #14 for best public middle school teachers in North Carolina and $14 for best charter middle schools in the state.

#19. Triangle Math and Science Academy in Cary is a public charter school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A

  • Address: 312 Gregson Dr. in Cary

  • Website: tmsacademy.org

“It has 946 students in grades K-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 27 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 78% of students are at least proficient in math and 82% in reading.”

Triangle Math and Science Academy also ranks #6 for best charter high schools in North Carolina, #12 for best college prep public high schools in the state and #16 for best public middle schools in the state.

#20. Glenwood Elementary School in Chapel Hill-Carrboro is a public school.

  • Overall 2023 Niche grade: A

  • Address: 2 Prestwick Rd. in Chapel Hill

  • Website: chccs.org/GES

“It has 439 students in grades K-5 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 61% of students are at least proficient in math and 74% in reading.”

Glenwood Elementary School ranks #119 (of 1,462) for best public elementary school teachers in North Carolina and #328 (of 1,565) for the most diverse public elementary schools in the state.

Methodology: Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents, their website says.

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