6.7 avg / 10

Best Schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina

85 schools · 42 Elementary · 13 Middle · 16 High · 14 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 68

Private: 17

Districts: 3

Avg Rating: 6.7/10

Estimated Scores: 21%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.7/10
Median household income: $58,548
Median home value: $184,450
Bachelor's degree or higher: 30%
Avg commute: 22 min
Owner-occupied homes: 53%

How Fayetteville compares

North Carolina rank

#71 of 253

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.3

above North Carolina avg (6.4)

Median household income

$59k

86% of North Carolina median

Schools in this city

81

About Schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina

Fayetteville's public school system spans 66 ranked schools, giving families a wide range of options across a mid-sized military city. The system's average score of 6.7 out of 10 sits in solid middle ground, and the spread matters: 27 schools — 41% of the total — score 7 or higher, meaning quality options are genuinely accessible rather than concentrated in one corner of the city.

Elementary education is where Fayetteville's strongest performers cluster. Sherwood Park Elementary leads the city with a 9.2 out of 10, the highest score among all 66 ranked public schools. Ponderosa Elementary follows closely at 9.1, and three additional elementary schools — Mary McArthur, Sunnyside, and Montclair — all score between 8.4 and 8.5. That five-school concentration at the top signals that strong elementary pipelines exist for families who research boundaries carefully before choosing where to live.

Cumberland County Schools serves most of Fayetteville's students, and the district reflects the city's demographics: a large active-duty and veteran military population drives notable student mobility, which can affect school-level continuity year to year. Parents relocating through Fort Liberty should factor that context in when reading raw performance scores — schools near post tend to see higher enrollment fluctuation than civilian communities of similar size.

Practically speaking, Fayetteville rewards research. With 41% of schools scoring 7 or above, the city outperforms what a 6.7 average might suggest at first glance. The gap between the top performers and the lower tier is real, so address and attendance zone matter. Families should confirm current school boundaries directly with Cumberland County Schools, since rezoning does occur. Parents prioritizing elementary performance will find the north and northwest corridors of the city — where several top-rated schools are located — worth close attention. Those with older children should look beyond the elementary data and dig into individual middle and high school scores, which show more variation across the district.

Filter by Level: All Levels (85) Elementary (42) Middle (13) High (16)

Filter by Type: All Types (85) Public (68) Private (17)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (85) Academics (85) Growth (64) Diversity (64) Resources (66)

Filter by ZIP: 28301 (17) 28304 (16) 28306 (15) 28303 (13) 28314 (10) 28311 (8) 28305 (3) 28312 (3)

Elementary Schools

42 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Sherwood Park Elementary 327 students · Pre-K–5th	327	Pre-K–5th	9.2
2	Ponderosa Elementary 391 students · Pre-K–5th	391	Pre-K–5th	9.1
3	Mary McArthur Elementary 424 students · Pre-K–5th	424	Pre-K–5th	8.5
4	Sunnyside Elementary 343 students · Kindergarten–5th	343	Kindergarten–5th	8.5
5	Montclair Elementary 448 students · Pre-K–5th	448	Pre-K–5th	8.4
6	Alderman Road Elementary 637 students · Pre-K–5th	637	Pre-K–5th	8.3
7	Long Hill Elementary 412 students · 2nd–5th	412	2nd–5th	8.3
8	William H Owen Elementary 408 students · Pre-K–5th	408	Pre-K–5th	8.3
9	Ashley Elementary 172 students · 3rd–5th	172	3rd–5th	8.2
10	Vanstory Hills Elementary 480 students · 2nd–5th	480	2nd–5th	8.2
11	Loyd E Auman Elementary 488 students · Pre-K–5th	488	Pre-K–5th	8.1
12	Margaret Willis Elementary 323 students · Pre-K–5th	323	Pre-K–5th	8.0
13	E Melvin Honeycutt Elementary 827 students · Kindergarten–5th	827	Kindergarten–5th	7.7
14	Howard L Hall Elementary 563 students · Kindergarten–5th	563	Kindergarten–5th	7.6
15	J W Seabrook Elementary 280 students · Pre-K–5th	280	Pre-K–5th	7.5
16	Lake Rim Elementary 647 students · Pre-K–5th	647	Pre-K–5th	7.5
17	Stoney Point Elementary 829 students · Kindergarten–5th	829	Kindergarten–5th	7.5
18	Cumberland Road Elementary 357 students · Pre-K–5th	357	Pre-K–5th	7.4
19	Glendale Acres Elementary 231 students · Pre-K–2nd	231	Pre-K–2nd	7.3
20	Morganton Road Elementary 498 students · Kindergarten–5th	498	Kindergarten–5th	7.0
21	Benjamin J Martin Elementary 484 students · Pre-K–5th	484	Pre-K–5th	7.0
22	Brentwood Elementary 502 students · Pre-K–5th	502	Pre-K–5th	6.9
23	Alma O Easom Elementary 267 students · Kindergarten–1st	267	Kindergarten–1st	6.9
24	Bill Hefner Elementary 715 students · Pre-K–5th	715	Pre-K–5th	6.8
25	New Century International Elementary 687 students · Pre-K–5th	687	Pre-K–5th	6.8

Show 17 more elementary schools

26	College Lakes Elementary 484 students · Kindergarten–5th	484	Kindergarten–5th	6.3
27	E E Miller Elementary 624 students · Pre-K–5th	624	Pre-K–5th	6.3
28	Cumberland Mills Elementary 551 students · Pre-K–5th	551	Pre-K–5th	6.1
29	Ferguson-Easley Elementary 379 students · Pre-K–5th	379	Pre-K–5th	6.0
30	Cumberland Academy K-5 Virtual School 222 students · Kindergarten–5th	222	Kindergarten–5th	5.9
31	Elizabeth M Cashwell Elementary 591 students · Pre-K–5th	591	Pre-K–5th	5.8
32	Lucile Souders Elementary 395 students · Pre-K–5th	395	Pre-K–5th	5.8
33	Walker-Spivey Elementary 316 students · Pre-K–5th	316	Pre-K–5th	5.7
34	Cliffdale Elementary 649 students · Pre-K–5th	649	Pre-K–5th	5.6
35	Warrenwood Elementary 388 students · Pre-K–5th	388	Pre-K–5th	5.6
36	Westarea Elementary 583 students · Pre-K–5th	583	Pre-K–5th	5.5
37	J W Coon Elementary 207 students · Pre-K–5th	207	Pre-K–5th	5.4
Private Schools 5 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	ST ANN CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 112 students · Pre-K–8th	112	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
2	ST PATRICK CATHOLIC SCHOOL Private 194 students · Pre-K–8th	194	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
3	FIRST IMPRESSIONS ACADEMY Private 224 students · Pre-K–8th	224	Pre-K–8th	Not Rated
4	BIRDS NEST MONTESSORI SCHOOL Private 6 students · Kindergarten–Kindergarten	6	Kindergarten–Kindergarten	Not Rated
5	BRIGHT YOUNG MINDS UNIVERSITY Private 12 students · Kindergarten–4th	12	Kindergarten–4th	Not Rated

Middle Schools

13 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Reid Ross Classical Middle 223 students · 6th–8th	223	6th–8th	8.2
2	Seventy-First Classical Middle 427 students · 6th–8th	427	6th–8th	7.8
3	New Century International Middle 376 students · 6th–8th	376	6th–8th	7.7
4	Anne Chesnutt Middle 467 students · 6th–8th	467	6th–8th	7.3
5	Lewis Chapel Middle 580 students · 6th–8th	580	6th–8th	6.3
6	Westover Middle 778 students · 6th–8th	778	6th–8th	6.3
7	John R Griffin Middle 1,057 students · 6th–8th	1,057	6th–8th	6.3
8	Pine Forest Middle 704 students · 6th–8th	704	6th–8th	5.9
9	R Max Abbott Middle 726 students · 6th–8th	726	6th–8th	5.6
10	Douglas Byrd Middle 902 students · 6th–8th	902	6th–8th	5.5
11	Mac Williams Middle 1,163 students · 6th–8th	1,163	6th–8th	5.3
12	Luther Nick Jeralds Middle 602 students · 6th–8th	602	6th–8th	5.2
13	Howard Learning Academy 12 students · 5th–8th	12	5th–8th	—

High Schools

16 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Massey Hill Classical High 295 students · 9th–12th	295	9th–12th	7.5
2	Cumberland International Early College 250 students · 9th–12th	250	9th–12th	7.1
3	Reid Ross Classical High 216 students · 9th–12th	216	9th–12th	6.8
4	Cumberland Polytechnic 304 students · 9th–UG	304	9th–UG	6.7
5	Cumberland Academy 6-12 Virtual School 445 students · 6th–12th	445	6th–12th	6.3
6	Pine Forest High 1,602 students · 9th–12th	1,602	9th–12th	6.2
7	Alger B. Wilkins High School 130 students · 9th–12th	130	9th–12th	6.2
8	Cross Creek Early College 252 students · 9th–12th	252	9th–12th	5.6
9	E E Smith High 1,000 students · 9th–12th	1,000	9th–12th	5.4
10	Cape Fear High 1,514 students · 9th–12th	1,514	9th–12th	5.2
11	Terry Sanford High 1,213 students · 9th–12th	1,213	9th–12th	4.9
12	Jack Britt High 1,916 students · 9th–12th	1,916	9th–12th	4.8
13	Seventy-First High 1,360 students · 9th–12th	1,360	9th–12th	3.8
14	Westover High 1,244 students · 9th–12th	1,244	9th–12th	3.8
15	Douglas Byrd High 1,002 students · 9th–12th	1,002	9th–12th	3.5
16	Ramsey Street High 24 students · 9th–12th	24	9th–12th	—

Other Schools

14 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Alpha Academy 1,043 students · Kindergarten–12th	1,043	Kindergarten–12th	6.6
2	The Capitol Encore Academy 832 students · Kindergarten–12th	832	Kindergarten–12th	6.5
Private Schools 12 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	RENAISSANCE CLASSICAL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 115 students · Pre-K–12th	115	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
2	FAYETTEVILLE ACADEMY Private 374 students · Pre-K–12th	374	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
3	CORNERSTONE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 179 students · Pre-K–12th	179	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
4	THE SCHOOL OF HOPE Private 33 students · Kindergarten–12th	33	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
5	LIBERTY CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 269 students · Pre-K–12th	269	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
6	GREATER FAYETTEVILLE ADVENTIST Private 81 students · Pre-K–12th	81	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
7	NORTHVIEW BAPTIST ACADEMY Private 64 students · Kindergarten–12th	64	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
8	BAL-PERAZIM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 85 students · Kindergarten–12th	85	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
9	VILLAGE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 529 students · Kindergarten–12th	529	Kindergarten–12th	Not Rated
10	NEW LIFE CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 86 students · Pre-K–12th	86	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
11	TRINITY CHRISTIAN SCHOOL OF FAYETTEVILLE, INC. Private 393 students · Pre-K–12th	393	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
12	FREEDOM CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 540 students · Pre-K–12th	540	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Fayetteville

Fayetteville, North Carolina · 85 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 8 ZIP codes

Median Income

$58,548

Median Home Value

$184,450

Median Rent

$1,087/mo

Population

245,182

College Educated

30%

Homeownership

53%

Avg Commute

22 min

Poverty Rate

18.6%

Community Profile

Fayetteville has a median household income of $58,548. It is an area where 30% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $184,450, with a median rent of $1,087/month. The area has a poverty rate of 18.6%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Quick Facts

State: North Carolina
Total Schools: 85
Elementary: 42
Middle: 13
High: 16
Districts: 3
Avg Rating: 6.7/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Fayetteville schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Fayetteville 📊 Niche Fayetteville Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (3)

Cumberland County Schools

86 schools · 49,314 students

Alpha Academy

1 school · 1,043 students

The Capitol Encore Academy

1 school · 832 students

Nearby Cities

Hope Mills (12 schools)

7 mi

Spring Lake (7 schools)

Lumber Bridge (2 schools)

12 mi

Bunnlevel (2 schools)

16 mi

Stedman (2 schools)

14 mi

Saint Pauls (3 schools)

Lillington (4 schools)

21 mi

Falcon (1 school)

19 mi

Red Springs (5 schools)

21 mi

Other Major Cities in North Carolina

Top metros statewide by school count.

Charlotte 225 schools Raleigh 138 schools Greensboro 95 schools Durham 94 schools Winston-salem 77 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina

How many schools are in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

Fayetteville has 85 schools, including 68 public and 17 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Fayetteville is 6.7 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

What is the top-ranked school in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

The top-ranked school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Sherwood Park Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.

What is the best elementary school in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

The top-ranked elementary school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Sherwood Park Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.

What is the best middle school in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

The top-ranked middle school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Reid Ross Classical Middle with a composite score of 8.2/10.

What is the best high school in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

The top-ranked high school in Fayetteville on MySchoolScout is Massey Hill Classical High with a composite score of 7.5/10.

How many school districts serve Fayetteville, North Carolina?

Fayetteville is served by 3 school districts: Cumberland County Schools, Alpha Academy, The Capitol Encore Academy.

What is the education level in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

According to Census data, 30% of adults in Fayetteville have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

The median household income in Fayetteville is approximately $58,548 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

Yes, Fayetteville has 17 private schools alongside 68 public schools. The top-rated private school is Renaissance Classical Christian Academy with a score of 8.5/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Fayetteville is 13.6:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Fayetteville, North Carolina?

MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.