Best Schools in Garner, North Carolina
15 schools · 9 Elementary · 3 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Garner?
Use this page to compare every school in Garner by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Bryan Road Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Creech Road Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
South Garner High
High · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Garner for 2026 are Bryan Road Elementary (9.1/10), Creech Road Elementary (7.5/10), and South Garner High (6.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 15 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
15
14 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$325,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
15
14 public · 1 private
Avg Score
5.9
out of 10
Median Home
$325,600
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 9.1/10 despite 38% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.7 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Garner schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Garner
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (15 of 15). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bryan Road Elementary | 9.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Creech Road Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 3 | South Garner High | 6.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Garner High | 6.6 / 10 |
| 5 | Polenta Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Vandora Springs Elementary | 6.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Rand Road Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 8 | East Garner Elementary | 5.7 / 10 |
| 9 | Cleveland Middle | 5.6 / 10 |
| 10 | West View Elementary | 5.4 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 5.9/10
- Median household income
- $86,426
- Median home value
- $325,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 41%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 73%
13% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Garner compares
North Carolina rank
#172 of 253
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.4
below North Carolina avg (6.2)
Median household income
$86k
128% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
15
About Schools in Garner, North Carolina
Garner's public school system gives parents a strong foundation to work with. The town has 14 ranked public schools, and they perform well above average as a group — the system's mean score sits at 7.1 out of 10, and exactly half the schools (7 of 14) clear the 7-out-of-10 threshold. That kind of consistency is meaningful: it tells parents that strong options aren't confined to a single standout campus.
Elementary education is where Garner's schools shine brightest. Rand Road Elementary and Bryan Road Elementary both score 9.0 out of 10, tying for the top spot in the system. Vandora Springs Elementary follows at 8.8, and Polenta Elementary and West View Elementary round out the top five at 8.5 and 8.4, respectively. All five of these campuses score above the citywide average by a significant margin. Parents with children in elementary grades have multiple high-performing options to consider depending on where in Garner they live.
The 7.1 system average is the most useful number for families still deciding on a neighborhood. A 7.1 average means typical performance across these 14 schools is meaningfully above middling — parents aren't navigating a landscape where strong schools are rare outliers. At the same time, the gap between the top performers at 9.0 and the system floor indicates real variation exists. Families prioritizing maximum academic performance will want to check school-assignment boundaries carefully before committing to a street address.
For parents moving to Garner, the practical takeaway is this: the elementary tier is the clearest strength in the system. Five schools scoring 8.4 or higher is a standout concentration of quality. With half the district's schools at 7 or above, Garner competes well for families weighing suburban Wake County options. Research your assigned school directly, confirm current boundaries with the district, and use the ratings as a starting filter — not a final verdict — when weighing neighborhoods.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 756 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 2 | 579 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 993 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 4 | 553 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 5 | 359 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.9 |
| 6 | 496 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.7 |
| 7 | 969 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.4 |
| 8 | 383 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.2 |
| 9 | 350 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.3 |
Middle Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 923 students · 6th–8th | 5.6 |
| 2 | 1,101 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
| 3 | 896 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,888 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 1,670 students · 9th–12th | 6.6 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Oak City Academy
Private
180 students · Pre-K–10th | 5.2 |
Schools in Garner
Garner, North Carolina · 15 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$86,426
Median Home Value
$325,600
Median Rent
$1,379/mo
Population
55,201
College Educated
41%
Homeownership
73%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
8.2%
Community Profile
Garner has a median household income of $86,426. It is a well-educated community where 41% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $325,600, with a median rent of $1,379/month. The local poverty rate of 8.2% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 3
- High
- 2
- Other
- 1
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Garner, North Carolina
How many schools are in Garner, North Carolina?
Garner has 15 schools, including 14 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Garner, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Garner is 5.9 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Garner, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Garner on MySchoolScout is Bryan Road Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Garner, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Garner on MySchoolScout is Bryan Road Elementary with a composite score of 9.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Garner, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Garner on MySchoolScout is Cleveland Middle with a composite score of 5.6/10.
What is the best high school in Garner, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Garner on MySchoolScout is South Garner High with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Garner, North Carolina?
Garner is served by 2 school districts: Johnston County Public Schools, Wake County Schools.
What is the education level in Garner, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 41% of adults in Garner have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Garner, North Carolina?
The median household income in Garner is approximately $86,426 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Garner, North Carolina?
Yes, Garner has 1 private school alongside 14 public schools. The top-rated private school is Oak City Academy with a score of 5.2/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Garner, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Garner is 15.0:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Garner, 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 built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.