Best public schools in Hillsborough, NC

12 public schools in Hillsborough: 5 elementary · 2 middle · 3 high · 1 K-8 · 1 combined. Ranked by our score, based on 2025-26 state test results.

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Rankings renumber to share equal ranks and fill gaps when schools are hidden. Scores compare each school with schools of the same type across North Carolina.

Elementary schools

5 schools in Hillsborough, best first

Hillsborough Elementary 93.0

Orange County Schools · Grades PK-5 · 434 students

ELA 78%Math 86%Science 82%

#88 of 1,256 in North Carolina

Pathways Elementary 87.3

Orange County Schools · Grades PK-5 · 352 students

ELA 68%Math 78%Science 90%

#160 of 1,256 in North Carolina

River Park Elementary 81.1

Orange County Schools · Grades PK-5 · 555 students

ELA 67%Math 74%Science 77%

#238 of 1,256 in North Carolina

Grady Brown Elementary 55.3

Orange County Schools · Grades PK-5 · 401 students

ELA 55%Math 64%Science 67%

#562 of 1,256 in North Carolina

Central Elementary 32.4

Orange County Schools · Grades PK-5 · 287 students

ELA 46%Math 52%Science 65%

#849 of 1,256 in North Carolina

Middle schools

2 schools in Hillsborough, best first

Orange Middle 80.5

Orange County Schools · Grades 6-8 · 529 students

ELA 63%Math 66%Science 80%

#90 of 460 in North Carolina

A L Stanback Middle 44.5

Orange County Schools · Grades 6-8 · 625 students

ELA 49%Math 53%Science 61%

#256 of 460 in North Carolina

High schools

3 schools in Hillsborough, best first

Orange High 57.9

Orange County Schools · Grades 9-12 · 1,220 students

ELA 67%Math 65%Science 62%

#216 of 512 in North Carolina

Cedar Ridge High 49.3

Orange County Schools · Grades 9-12 · 1,118 students

ELA 70%Math 55%Science 60%

#260 of 512 in North Carolina

Partnership Academy 1.5

Orange County Schools · Grades 9-12 · 43 students

ELA 20%Math 3%Science 3%

#505 of 512 in North Carolina

K-8 schools

1 school in Hillsborough

The Expedition School 97.1

The Expedition School · Grades K-8 · Charter · 361 students

ELA 92%Math 91%Science 98%

#5 of 174 in North Carolina

Combined schools

1 school in Hillsborough

Eno River Academy 85.8

Eno River Academy · Grades K-12 · Charter · 810 students

ELA 76%Math 73%Science 81%

#28 of 194 in North Carolina

School districts serving Hillsborough

Orange County Schools 13