Best Schools in Graham, North Carolina
13 schools · 4 Elementary · 2 Middle · 4 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Graham?
Use this page to compare every school in Graham 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.
River Mill Academy
Other · River Mill Academy. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
South Graham Elementary
Elementary · Alamance-Burlington Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
B. Everett Jordan Elementary
Elementary · Alamance-Burlington Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Graham for 2026 are River Mill Academy (7.3/10), South Graham Elementary (6.6/10), and B. Everett Jordan Elementary (6.3/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 11 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
13
11 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$212,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
13
11 public · 2 private
Avg Score
5.0
out of 10
Median Home
$212,300
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Rates 6.6/10 despite 99% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.2 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 Graham schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +6.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Graham schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Graham
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 11 rated schools; 13 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | River Mill Academy | 7.3 / 10 |
| 2 | South Graham Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 3 | B. Everett Jordan Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 4 | Abss Early College at Acc | 6.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Ray Street Academy | 5.6 / 10 |
| 6 | Alexander Wilson Elementary | 5.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Southern Alamance High | 4.8 / 10 |
| 8 | North Graham Elementary | 4.0 / 10 |
| 9 | Graham High | 3.2 / 10 |
| 10 | Graham Middle | 3.0 / 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
- 5.0/10
- Median household income
- $62,020
- Median home value
- $212,300
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 24%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 66%
8% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Graham compares
North Carolina rank
#245 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-1.3
below North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$62k
91% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
12
Alamance-Burlington Schools runs 91% of Graham's public schools
Graham touches 2 districts, but Alamance-Burlington Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Alamance-Burlington Schools accounts for 10 of 11 public schools (91%). The other 1 district holds the remaining 1.
Among 11 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 3.0 to 7.3 — the spread is inside Graham, not a citywide average.
- Alamance-Burlington Schools10 public · 91%
- River Mill Academy1 public · 9%
About Schools in Graham, North Carolina
Graham, North Carolina is home to 13 schools, including 11 public schools and 2 private schools. The city's schools span 4 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 4 high schools.
With an average rating of 5.0 out of 10, schools in Graham show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale. The composite blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
The highest-performing school in Graham is River Mill Academy with a composite score of 7.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.
Graham is served by 2 school districts: Alamance-Burlington Schools, River Mill Academy. These districts collectively serve 23,245 students.
Graham's community shows 24% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $62,020. The poverty rate in the area is 13.3%.
Browse the schools below to compare ratings, test scores, enrollment, and other key metrics. Use the filters to focus on specific school levels or types that match your family's needs.
Elementary Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 493 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 2 | 343 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.3 |
| 3 | 602 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.0 |
| 4 | 368 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.0 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 469 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
| 2 | 861 students · 6th–8th | 3.0 |
High Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 231 students · 9th–UG | 6.0 |
| 2 | 30 students · 6th–12th | 5.6 |
| 3 | 1,178 students · 9th–12th | 4.8 |
| 4 | 744 students · 9th–12th | 3.2 |
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 768 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.3 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Emma Lee Broady AcademyPrivate 106 students · 4th–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 26 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Graham
Graham, North Carolina · 13 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$62,020
Median Home Value
$212,300
Median Rent
$975/mo
Population
32,688
College Educated
24%
Homeownership
66%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
13.3%
Community Profile
Graham has a median household income of $62,020. It is a community where 24% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $212,300, with a median rent of $975/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.3%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 4
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 4
- Other
- 3
Resources
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 Graham, North Carolina
How many schools are in Graham, North Carolina?
Graham has 13 schools, including 11 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Graham, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Graham is 5.0 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 Graham, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Graham on MySchoolScout is River Mill Academy with a composite score of 7.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Graham, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Graham on MySchoolScout is South Graham Elementary with a composite score of 6.6/10.
What is the best middle school in Graham, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Graham on MySchoolScout is Graham Middle with a composite score of 3.0/10.
What is the best high school in Graham, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Graham on MySchoolScout is Abss Early College at Acc with a composite score of 6.0/10.
How many school districts serve Graham, North Carolina?
Graham is served by 2 school districts: Alamance-Burlington Schools, River Mill Academy.
What is the education level in Graham, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 24% of adults in Graham have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Graham, North Carolina?
The median household income in Graham is approximately $62,020 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Graham, North Carolina?
Yes, Graham has 2 private schools alongside 11 public schools. The top-rated private school is Emma Lee Broady Academy with a score of 5.0/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Graham, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Graham is 15.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Graham, 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.
Related reading
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- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
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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.