NCNorth Carolina rankings

Towns with the best public schools in North Carolina

Ranked by how far each town's public schools score above or below the North Carolina average in math and reading proficiency, weighted by enrollment. 252 towns with 2,500+ residents.

U.S. Census ACS 2020–2024 5-yearTest scores SY2020–21

Map of Erwin
North Carolina · Best schools

Where Erwin lands: #179 of 252

−6.8 pts vs. the NC average in math + reading · Visit Erwin →

#Townvs. state averageMathReading
1 Weddington WeddingtonUnion County Public Schools +42.8 pts 89.3% 85.3%
2 Wrightsville Beach Wrightsville BeachNew Hanover County Schools +42.5 pts 87% 87%
3 Map of Marvin MarvinUnion County Public Schools +39.0 pts 86% 81%
4 Map of Oak Ridge Oak RidgeGuilford County Schools +38.5 pts 88% 78%
5 Wesley Chapel Wesley ChapelUnion County Public Schools +37.2 pts 84.5% 79%
6 Map of Ogden OgdenNew Hanover County Schools +34.5 pts 82% 76%
7 Morrisville MorrisvilleWake County Schools +31.2 pts 72% 79.5%
8 Davidson DavidsonCommunity School of Davidson +31.0 pts 73.7% 77.3%
9 Map of Apex ApexWake County Schools +27.8 pts 71.9% 72.7%
10 Map of Seven Lakes Seven LakesMoore County Schools +27.5 pts 75% 69%
11 Cornelius CorneliusCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools +26.5 pts 72.1% 69.9%
12 Pinehurst PinehurstMoore County Schools +26.5 pts 75% 67%
13 Map of Cape Carteret Cape CarteretCarteret County Public Schools +26.0 pts 76% 65%
14 Cary CaryWake County Schools +25.6 pts 68.2% 71.9%
15 Lake Norman of CatawbaCatawba County Schools +25.0 pts 75% 64%
16 Map of Mountain Home Mountain HomeHenderson County Schools +23.5 pts 73% 63%
17 Belmont BelmontGaston County Schools +23.3 pts 72% 63.5%
18 Map of Summerfield SummerfieldRevolution Academy +23.0 pts 70.2% 64.9%
19 Briar ChapelChatham County Schools +23.0 pts 61.5% 73.4%
20 Wilkesboro WilkesboroWilkes County Schools +23.0 pts 72% 63%
21 Lake Norman of IredellIredell-Statesville Schools +22.9 pts 71.6% 63.1%
22 Map of Cramerton CramertonGaston County Schools +22.8 pts 74% 60.5%
23 Map of Wallburg WallburgDavidson County Schools +22.5 pts 70% 64%
24 Boone BooneWatauga County Schools +22.2 pts 67.8% 65.6%
25 Map of Stokesdale StokesdaleGuilford County Schools +22.0 pts 64% 69%
26 Mills River Mills RiverHenderson County Schools +21.9 pts 67.9% 64.8%
27 Morehead City Morehead CityCarteret County Public Schools +21.6 pts 68.2% 64%
28 Holly Springs Holly SpringsWake County Schools +21.5 pts 63.2% 68.8%
29 Wake Forest Wake ForestWake County Schools +21.4 pts 62.7% 69%
30 Mooresville MooresvilleMooresville Graded School District +21.4 pts 64.9% 66.9%
31 Harrisburg HarrisburgCabarrus County Schools +21.3 pts 65.9% 65.7%
32 Southern Pines Southern PinesMoore County Schools +20.0 pts 61.6% 67.5%
33 FairviewUnion County Public Schools +20.0 pts 72% 57%
34 Map of Unionville UnionvilleUnion County Public Schools +19.5 pts 66.2% 61.7%
35 Chapel Hill Chapel HillChapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools +19.2 pts 65.2% 62.3%
36 Stallings StallingsUnion County Public Schools +19.0 pts 67% 60%
37 Lewisville LewisvilleWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools +19.0 pts 60% 67%
38 Carrboro CarrboroChapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools +18.6 pts 59.8% 66.5%
39 Swansboro SwansboroOnslow County Schools +18.0 pts 65% 60%
40 Franklin FranklinMacon County Schools +17.6 pts 69.8% 54.5%
41 Weaverville WeavervilleBuncombe County Schools +17.5 pts 57% 67%
42 Clemmons ClemmonsWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools +16.5 pts 55.1% 66.9%
43 Elkin ElkinElkin City Schools +16.0 pts 53.2% 67.8%
44 Indian Trail Indian TrailUnion County Public Schools +15.4 pts 58.3% 61.5%
45 HampsteadPender County Schools +15.0 pts 61% 58%
46 Matthews MatthewsCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools +14.8 pts 62.7% 56%
47 NorthchaseNew Hanover County Schools +14.8 pts 57.9% 60.6%
48 Murraysville MurraysvilleNew Hanover County Schools +14.7 pts 58.6% 59.8%
49 Surf City Surf CityPender County Schools +14.7 pts 59.7% 58.6%
50 Carthage CarthageMoore County Schools +14.2 pts 54.7% 62.7%
51 Hillsborough HillsboroughOrange County Schools +14.0 pts 54.2% 62.7%
52 Waxhaw WaxhawUnion County Public Schools +13.9 pts 58.7% 58.2%
53 Hendersonville HendersonvilleHenderson County Schools +13.8 pts 52.3% 64.2%
54 Polkton PolktonAnson County Schools +13.8 pts 49.5% 67%
55 Southern Shores Southern ShoresDare County Schools +13.5 pts 56% 60%
56 Beaufort BeaufortCarteret County Public Schools +13.4 pts 54.7% 61%
57 Southport SouthportBrunswick County Schools +13.0 pts 59% 56%
58 Map of Wentworth WentworthRockingham County Schools +13.0 pts 60.7% 54.2%
59 Map of Hudson HudsonCaldwell County Schools +12.6 pts 54.4% 59.9%
60 Carolina Beach Carolina BeachNew Hanover County Schools +12.5 pts 55% 59%
61 Map of Locust LocustStanly County Schools +12.5 pts 60% 54%
62 Map of Royal Pines Royal PinesBuncombe County Schools +12.0 pts 54% 59%
63 Map of St. Stephens St. StephensCatawba County Schools +11.9 pts 58.5% 54.4%
64 Pittsboro PittsboroChatham County Schools +11.9 pts 51.1% 61.7%
65 Mount Airy Mount AiryMount Airy City Schools +11.8 pts 54% 58.5%
66 Huntersville HuntersvilleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools +11.7 pts 55.5% 56.9%
67 Porters NeckAmerican Leadership Academy-Coastal +11.6 pts 55% 57.2%
68 Map of Trent Woods Trent WoodsCraven County Board of Education +11.5 pts 58% 54%
69 Map of Kings Mountain Kings MountainCleveland County Schools +11.2 pts 55.9% 55.6%
70 Map of Trinity TrinityRandolph County School System +11.2 pts 59.6% 51.8%
71 Map of Welcome WelcomeDavidson County Schools +11.2 pts 57.8% 53.6%
72 Midway MidwayDavidson County Schools +11.0 pts 58% 53%
73 Valdese ValdeseBurke County Schools +10.7 pts 50.8% 59.7%
74 Boiling Spring Lakes Boiling Spring LakesBrunswick County Schools +10.1 pts 54.9% 54.3%
75 Map of Half Moon Half MoonOnslow County Schools +10.0 pts 57% 52%
76 Maiden MaidenCatawba County Schools +10.0 pts 54.6% 54.4%
77 Fuquay-Varina Fuquay-VarinaWake County Schools +9.2 pts 49.8% 57.6%
78 Brevard BrevardTransylvania County Schools +9.2 pts 51.8% 55.6%
79 Map of Troutman TroutmanIredell-Statesville Schools +9.0 pts 50% 57%
80 Map of Rockfish RockfishHoke County Schools +9.0 pts 54% 53%
81 Map of Canton CantonHaywood County Schools +8.7 pts 54.2% 52.1%
82 Map of Havelock HavelockCraven County Board of Education +8.5 pts 52.7% 53.2%
83 Black Mountain Black MountainBuncombe County Schools +8.5 pts 50.7% 55.4%
84 Newton NewtonNewton Conover City Schools +8.0 pts 56.6% 48.4%
85 Marion MarionMcDowell County Schools +7.7 pts 48.6% 55.8%
86 Raleigh RaleighWake County Schools +7.5 pts 46.9% 57.1%
87 Fletcher FletcherFernLeaf Community Charter School +7.5 pts 42% 62%
88 Map of Etowah EtowahHenderson County Schools +7.5 pts 52% 52%
89 Edenton EdentonEdenton-Chowan Schools +7.5 pts 57% 47%
90 Map of North Wilkesboro North WilkesboroWilkes County Schools +7.5 pts 57% 47%
91 Map of Bethlehem BethlehemAlexander County Schools +7.5 pts 52% 52%
92 Map of Yadkinville YadkinvilleYadkin County Schools +7.5 pts 51.9% 52.1%
93 Monroe MonroeUnion County Public Schools +7.3 pts 53.3% 50.3%
94 Map of Oxford OxfordOxford Preparatory School +7.1 pts 52.9% 50.3%
95 Siler City Siler CityChatham County Schools +7.1 pts 47.6% 55.6%
96 Boiling Springs Boiling SpringsCleveland County Schools +7.0 pts 53% 50%
97 Map of Granite Falls Granite FallsCaldwell County Schools +6.9 pts 48.8% 54.1%
98 Jamestown JamestownGuilford County Schools +6.8 pts 48.3% 54.2%
99 Map of Asheville AshevilleBuncombe County Schools +6.7 pts 46.3% 56.2%
100 Waynesville WaynesvilleHaywood County Schools +6.7 pts 50.1% 52.4%
101 Concord ConcordCabarrus County Schools +6.4 pts 50.9% 50.8%
102 Clinton ClintonClinton City Schools +6.4 pts 55.3% 46.4%
103 Shallotte ShallotteBrunswick County Schools +6.1 pts 47% 54.2%
104 Rolesville RolesvilleWake County Schools +6.0 pts 49% 51.9%
105 Kill Devil Hills Kill Devil HillsDare County Schools +5.9 pts 51.9% 48.9%
106 Whiteville WhitevilleWhiteville City Schools +5.7 pts 51.2% 49.1%
107 Map of Winterville WintervillePitt County Schools +5.1 pts 45.5% 53.8%
108 Map of Jacksonville JacksonvilleOnslow County Schools +5.0 pts 48.5% 50.5%
109 Map of Pleasant Garden Pleasant GardenGuilford County Schools +5.0 pts 52% 47%
110 Archdale ArchdaleRandolph County School System +4.8 pts 51.1% 47.5%
111 Map of East Flat Rock East Flat RockHenderson County Schools +4.7 pts 47% 51.5%
112 Butner ButnerFalls Lake Academy +4.4 pts 41.6% 56.2%
113 Eastover EastoverCumberland County Schools +4.3 pts 47.2% 50.3%
114 Wilmington WilmingtonNew Hanover County Schools +4.2 pts 47.2% 50.3%
115 Cherryville CherryvilleGaston County Schools +4.2 pts 52.1% 45.2%
116 Hickory HickoryHickory City Schools +4.1 pts 47% 50.1%
117 Mount Holly Mount HollyGaston County Schools +3.5 pts 49.5% 46.5%
118 Morganton MorgantonBurke County Schools +3.5 pts 51% 45%
119 MoyockCurrituck County Schools +3.5 pts 44.9% 51%
120 TyroDavidson County Schools +3.5 pts 47.4% 48.7%
121 Map of Mars Hill Mars HillMadison County Schools +3.5 pts 45% 51%
122 Anderson CreekHarnett County Schools +3.3 pts 43.7% 51.9%
123 Map of Mineral Springs Mineral SpringsUnion County Public Schools +3.0 pts 46% 49%
124 Map of Shelby ShelbyCleveland County Schools +2.7 pts 43.2% 51.3%
125 Mocksville MocksvilleDavie County Schools +2.6 pts 47.8% 46.5%
126 Creedmoor CreedmoorGranville County Schools +2.5 pts 45.1% 48.9%
127 MidlandCabarrus County Schools +2.5 pts 46% 48%
128 Nags Head Nags HeadDare County Schools +2.5 pts 48% 46%
129 Map of Oakboro OakboroStanly County Schools +2.5 pts 47% 47%
130 NewportCarteret County Public Schools +2.4 pts 44.8% 48.9%
131 Map of Forest Oaks Forest OaksGuilford County Schools +2.3 pts 45.3% 48.3%
132 Conover ConoverNewton Conover City Schools +2.1 pts 49.4% 43.8%
133 New Bern New BernCraven County Board of Education +2.0 pts 42.3% 50.8%
134 Henderson HendersonHenderson Collegiate +2.0 pts 42.3% 50.8%
135 Roxboro RoxboroPerson County Schools +2.0 pts 44.4% 48.7%
136 Map of Clayton ClaytonJohnston County Public Schools +1.8 pts 45.4% 47.3%
137 MebaneAlamance-Burlington Schools +1.7 pts 42.7% 49.8%
138 Map of Gibsonville GibsonvilleGuilford County Schools +1.5 pts 46% 46%
139 Mint Hill Mint HillCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools +1.3 pts 44.5% 47%
140 Leland LelandBrunswick County Schools +1.2 pts 46.7% 44.7%
141 Aberdeen AberdeenMoore County Schools +1.1 pts 43.1% 48.1%
142 Map of Myrtle Grove Myrtle GroveNew Hanover County Schools +0.7 pts 39.2% 51.1%
143 Lincolnton LincolntonLincoln County Schools +0.7 pts 47.9% 42.5%
144 Archer Lodge Archer LodgeJohnston County Public Schools +0.5 pts 43% 47%
145 Charlotte CharlotteCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools +0.3 pts 43.4% 46.3%
146 Map of Piney Green Piney GreenOnslow County Schools +0.1 pts 42.5% 46.7%
147 Map of Buies Creek Buies CreekHarnett County Schools 0.0 pts 42% 47%
148 Map of Youngsville YoungsvilleFranklin County Schools 0.0 pts 47% 42%
149 Stanley StanleyGaston County Schools −0.3 pts 42.7% 45.8%
150 Forest City Forest CityRutherford County Schools −1.0 pts 46.7% 40.3%
151 Map of Smithfield SmithfieldJohnston County Public Schools −1.1 pts 38.3% 48.4%
152 Greenville GreenvillePitt County Schools −1.2 pts 40.3% 46.3%
153 Map of Raeford RaefordHoke County Schools −1.4 pts 42.5% 43.8%
154 Map of James City James CityCraven County Board of Education −1.5 pts 41% 45%
155 Map of Randleman RandlemanRandolph County School System −1.5 pts 48% 38%
156 Map of China Grove China GroveRowan-Salisbury Schools −2.3 pts 39.7% 44.6%
157 Map of King KingStokes County Schools −2.5 pts 47% 37%
158 Map of Burgaw BurgawPender County Schools −2.5 pts 40.5% 43.6%
159 Greensboro GreensboroGuilford County Schools −2.7 pts 39.3% 44.4%
160 Gastonia GastoniaGaston County Schools −3.1 pts 41.8% 41%
161 Map of Lenoir LenoirCaldwell County Schools −4.2 pts 39.1% 41.5%
162 Map of Hamlet HamletRichmond County Schools −4.2 pts 39.3% 41.2%
163 Map of Thomasville ThomasvilleThomasville City Schools −4.4 pts 42.2% 38%
164 Pineville PinevilleCharlotte-Mecklenburg Schools −4.5 pts 39% 41%
165 Map of High Point High PointGuilford County Schools −5.0 pts 37% 42%
166 Jonesville JonesvilleYadkin County Schools −5.0 pts 37% 42%
167 Liberty LibertyRandolph County School System −5.0 pts 42% 37%
168 Kannapolis KannapolisKannapolis City Schools −5.1 pts 39.4% 39.4%
169 Map of Washington WashingtonBeaufort County Schools −5.3 pts 35.5% 42.8%
170 Map of Goldsboro GoldsboroWayne County Public Schools −5.5 pts 35.2% 42.7%
171 Statesville StatesvilleIredell-Statesville Schools −5.5 pts 41.8% 36.3%
172 Asheboro AsheboroAsheboro City Schools −5.5 pts 38.3% 39.6%
173 Tobaccoville TobaccovilleWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools −5.5 pts 37% 41%
174 Graham GrahamAlamance-Burlington Schools −5.6 pts 33.5% 44.3%
175 Map of Zebulon ZebulonWake County Schools −5.8 pts 32.3% 45%
176 Sanford SanfordLee County Schools −5.9 pts 34.2% 42.9%
177 BarbecueHarnett County Schools −5.9 pts 35.6% 41.5%
178 Garner GarnerWake County Schools −6.3 pts 33.7% 42.8%
179 Map of Erwin ErwinHarnett County Schools −6.8 pts 32.7% 42.7%
180 Laurinburg LaurinburgScotland County Schools −7.1 pts 40.8% 34.1%
181 Map of Landis LandisRowan-Salisbury Schools −7.1 pts 36% 38.9%
182 Map of Farmville FarmvillePitt County Schools −7.2 pts 34.5% 40.2%
183 Wilson WilsonWilson County Schools −7.5 pts 36% 38%
184 Map of Elon ElonAlamance-Burlington Schools −7.5 pts 31% 43%
185 Map of Silver Lake Silver LakeNew Hanover County Schools −7.5 pts 37% 37%
186 Map of Angier AngierCarolina Charter Academy: CFA −7.5 pts 31.8% 42.3%
187 Swepsonville SwepsonvilleAlamance-Burlington Schools −7.5 pts 32% 42%
188 Map of Wendell WendellWake County Schools −7.6 pts 29.9% 44%
189 Cullowhee CullowheeJackson County Public Schools −7.6 pts 34.2% 39.7%
190 Map of Roanoke Rapids Roanoke RapidsRoanoke Rapids City Schools −8.2 pts 35.9% 36.6%
191 Durham DurhamDurham Public Schools −8.3 pts 31.1% 41.3%
192 Map of Louisburg LouisburgFranklin County Schools −8.4 pts 34.2% 37.9%
193 Map of Lowell LowellGaston County Schools −8.5 pts 36% 36%
194 Map of Winston-Salem Winston-SalemWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools −8.8 pts 32.4% 39%
195 Map of Hope Mills Hope MillsCumberland County Schools −9.1 pts 34.7% 36.2%
196 Lexington LexingtonLexington City Schools −9.3 pts 30.4% 39.9%
197 Map of Dallas DallasGaston County Schools −9.5 pts 39% 31%
198 Map of Marshville MarshvilleUnion County Public Schools −9.6 pts 35.2% 34.5%
199 Map of Sawmills SawmillsCaldwell County Schools −10.0 pts 32% 37%
200 Map of Eden EdenRockingham County Schools −10.4 pts 30% 38.2%
201 Kernersville KernersvilleWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools −10.7 pts 30.1% 37.5%
202 Map of Ayden AydenPitt County Schools −10.9 pts 31.4% 35.8%
203 Gamewell GamewellCaldwell County Schools −11.0 pts 29% 38%
204 Map of La Grange La GrangeLenoir County Public Schools −11.1 pts 33.4% 33.4%
205 Swannanoa SwannanoaBuncombe County Schools −11.3 pts 28.9% 37.5%
206 DanaHenderson County Schools −11.5 pts 33% 33%
207 Fayetteville FayettevilleCumberland County Schools −11.7 pts 30% 35.7%
208 Elizabeth City Elizabeth CityElizabeth City-Pasquotank Public Schools −11.9 pts 28.1% 37%
209 Wingate WingateUnion County Public Schools −12.0 pts 38% 27%
210 Spindale SpindaleRutherford County Schools −12.5 pts 27% 37%
211 Rockingham RockinghamRichmond County Schools −12.7 pts 27% 36.7%
212 Albemarle AlbemarleStanly County Schools −12.8 pts 32.2% 31.2%
213 Map of Lumberton LumbertonPublic Schools of Robeson County −13.0 pts 29% 34.1%
214 Williamston WilliamstonMartin County Schools −13.0 pts 28% 35%
215 Map of Reidsville ReidsvilleRockingham County Schools −13.1 pts 30.9% 31.9%
216 Burlington BurlingtonAlamance-Burlington Schools −13.3 pts 25.7% 36.7%
217 Salisbury SalisburyRowan-Salisbury Schools −13.5 pts 28% 34%
218 Red Oak Red OakNash County Public Schools −13.5 pts 24% 38%
219 Bessemer City Bessemer CityGaston County Schools −14.4 pts 30.7% 29.5%
220 Map of Rural Hall Rural HallWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools −14.5 pts 26% 34%
221 Map of Granite Quarry Granite QuarryRowan-Salisbury Schools −14.5 pts 25% 35%
222 Benson BensonJohnston County Public Schools −15.0 pts 27% 32%
223 Elizabethtown ElizabethtownEmereau: Bladen −15.4 pts 22% 36.1%
224 Map of Knightdale KnightdaleWake County Schools −16.0 pts 18.7% 38.3%
225 Mount OliveWayne County Public Schools −17.0 pts 20% 35%
226 EmmaBuncombe County Schools −17.5 pts 22% 32%
227 Map of Troy TroyMontgomery County Schools −17.6 pts 24.1% 29.7%
228 Franklinton FranklintonFranklin County Schools −17.7 pts 28% 25.7%
229 St. PaulsPublic Schools of Robeson County −17.9 pts 26.2% 27%
230 NashvilleNash County Public Schools −18.0 pts 24% 29%
231 Map of Grifton GriftonPitt County Schools −18.0 pts 23% 30%
232 Map of Tarboro TarboroEdgecombe County Public Schools −18.4 pts 22% 30.1%
233 Wrightsboro WrightsboroNew Hanover County Schools −19.5 pts 21% 29%
234 Spring Lake Spring LakeCumberland County Schools −20.2 pts 17.4% 31.3%
235 Rocky Mount Rocky MountNash County Public Schools −20.6 pts 17.8% 29.9%
236 Map of Kinston KinstonLenoir County Public Schools −20.9 pts 24% 23.1%
237 Dunn DunnHarnett County Schools −21.4 pts 25.5% 20.6%
238 Map of Wilson's Mills Wilson's MillsJohnston County Public Schools −22.0 pts 22% 23%
239 Pembroke PembrokePublic Schools of Robeson County −22.6 pts 17.7% 26%
240 Map of Selma SelmaJohnston County Public Schools −23.3 pts 23.3% 19%
241 Map of Ahoskie AhoskieHertford County Schools −23.4 pts 18.7% 23.5%
242 Red SpringsPublic Schools of Robeson County −23.8 pts 15.8% 25.5%
243 Map of Walkertown WalkertownWinston Salem / Forsyth County Schools −24.8 pts 16.8% 22.7%
244 Map of Plymouth PlymouthWashington County Schools −24.8 pts 15% 24.5%
245 Map of Spencer SpencerRowan-Salisbury Schools −24.9 pts 9.9% 29.2%
246 Map of Wallace WallaceDuplin County Schools −25.0 pts 16% 23%
247 WarsawDuplin County Schools −25.5 pts 13% 25%
248 BrogdenWayne County Public Schools −26.0 pts 13% 24%
249 Map of Murfreesboro MurfreesboroHertford County Schools −29.0 pts 6.6% 24.3%
250 Map of Wadesboro WadesboroAnson County Schools −29.6 pts 14.4% 15.3%
251 Map of Haw River Haw RiverAlamance-Burlington Schools −31.5 pts 7% 19%
252 Map of Ranlo RanloGaston County Schools −39.5 pts 5% 5%

How this ranking works

For every public school in a town we take its latest math and reading proficiency and subtract the North Carolina average for the same test. The town’s score is the average of those gaps, weighted by each school’s enrollment, so a big high school counts more than a small annex. Private schools aren’t included.

Each state writes its own tests, so these scores compare towns within North Carolina only. We don’t rank a town unless at least 150 students in its schools were tested. Test data: EDFacts via Urban Institute Education Data Portal (SY2020-21).

Only towns with at least 2,500 residents are ranked; Census estimates for smaller places are too uncertain. Population and income: U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Town photos: Wikimedia Commons, credited on each town’s page.

Same ranking in other states