Best Schools in Henderson, North Carolina
20 schools · 9 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 6 Other
Choosing a school in Henderson?
Use this page to compare every school in Henderson 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.
E O Young JR Elementary
Elementary · Vance County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Henderson Collegiate
Other · Henderson Collegiate. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
E M Rollins Elementary
Elementary · Vance County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Henderson for 2026 are E O Young JR Elementary (8.1/10), Henderson Collegiate (7.9/10), and E M Rollins Elementary (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 17 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
20
17 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$135,700
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
20
17 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.5
out of 10
Median Home
$135,700
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 98% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.6 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 Henderson schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +16.6 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Henderson schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Henderson
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 17 rated schools; 20 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | E O Young JR Elementary | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Henderson Collegiate | 7.9 / 10 |
| 3 | E M Rollins Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 4 | Vance Co Early College | 6.7 / 10 |
| 5 | Stem Early High | 6.7 / 10 |
| 6 | Vance Charter School | 6.6 / 10 |
| 7 | L B Yancey Elementary | 6.4 / 10 |
| 8 | Clarke Elementary | 6.3 / 10 |
| 9 | Carver Elementary | 5.8 / 10 |
| 10 | Aycock Elementary | 4.9 / 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
- 5.5/10
- Median household income
- $45,918
- Median home value
- $135,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 18%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 53%
20% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Henderson compares
North Carolina rank
#216 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$46k
68% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
20
Vance County Schools runs 88% of Henderson's public schools
Henderson touches 3 districts, but Vance County Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Vance County Schools accounts for 15 of 17 public schools (88%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 2.
Among 17 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.7 to 8.1 — the spread is inside Henderson, not a citywide average.
- Vance County Schools15 public · 88%
- Henderson Collegiate1 public · 6%
- Vance Charter School1 public · 6%
About Schools in Henderson, North Carolina
Henderson, North Carolina has 17 ranked public schools with an average score of 5.5 out of 10. Five of those schools — 29% — score 7.0 or higher, meaning nearly a third of the city's public options clear a strong-performance threshold. That spread signals an uneven landscape: real high performers exist, but where a student lands matters more here than in cities where performance is more uniform across the board.
E M Rollins Elementary leads the city at 8.2 out of 10 — the highest score among all Henderson schools. Henderson Collegiate follows closely at 8.1, ranking second in the city. Vance Co Early College scores 7.6 and gives high schoolers a path to earn college credits before graduation. E O Young Jr Elementary and STEM Early High both land at 7.3, completing the five schools that score above the 7.0 mark and separating themselves from the rest of the city's portfolio.
Below that top tier, the remaining 12 schools pull Henderson's citywide average down to 5.5. That means a gap of more than 2.5 rating points separates the city's strongest school from a typical one. Parents zoned for lower-performing schools have real alternatives among Henderson's five top-tier options — but schools like Vance Co Early College and Henderson Collegiate may carry specialized enrollment requirements. Confirm eligibility early in the search process.
Henderson's schools span every grade level, and the mix of specialized programming gives motivated families genuine options. The practical move: confirm your attendance zone first, then check eligibility for the five top-tier schools. A default zone assignment versus an active choice to pursue one of Henderson's strongest programs can represent a difference of more than two rating points on your child's school score.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 172 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 303 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 3 | 205 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.4 |
| 4 | 369 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.3 |
| 5 | 149 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.8 |
| 6 | 369 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.9 |
| 7 | 124 students · Pre-K–5th | 4.1 |
| 8 | 251 students · Pre-K–5th | 3.7 |
| 9 | 411 students · Pre-K–5th | 2.7 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 277 students · 6th–8th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 738 students · 6th–8th | 4.3 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 232 students · 9th–UG | 6.7 |
| 2 | 178 students · 6th–12th | 3.6 |
| 3 | 1,046 students · 9th–12th | 3.4 |
Other Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,319 students · Kindergarten–12th | 7.9 | ||
| 2 | 954 students · Kindergarten–12th | 6.6 | ||
| 3 | 219 students · Kindergarten–12th | 4.2 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Kerr Vance AcademyPrivate 154 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Crossroads Christian SchoolPrivate 290 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Victory Christian SchoolPrivate 64 students · 1st–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Henderson
Henderson, North Carolina · 20 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$45,918
Median Home Value
$135,700
Median Rent
$878/mo
Population
39,088
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
53%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
20.1%
Community Profile
Henderson has a median household income of $45,918. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $135,700, with a median rent of $878/month. The area has a poverty rate of 20.1%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- Other
- 6
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 Henderson, North Carolina
How many schools are in Henderson, North Carolina?
Henderson has 20 schools, including 17 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Henderson, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Henderson is 5.5 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 Henderson, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Henderson on MySchoolScout is E O Young JR Elementary with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Henderson, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Henderson on MySchoolScout is E O Young JR Elementary with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best middle school in Henderson, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Henderson on MySchoolScout is Stem Early High with a composite score of 6.7/10.
What is the best high school in Henderson, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Henderson on MySchoolScout is Vance Co Early College with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Henderson, North Carolina?
Henderson is served by 3 school districts: Vance Charter School, Henderson Collegiate, Vance County Schools.
What is the education level in Henderson, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 18% of adults in Henderson have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Henderson, North Carolina?
The median household income in Henderson is approximately $45,918 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Henderson, North Carolina?
Yes, Henderson has 3 private schools alongside 17 public schools. The top-rated private school is Kerr Vance Academy with a score of 7.3/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Henderson, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Henderson is 16.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Henderson, 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
- Best Elementary Schools in America: 2026 Rankingsbest schools
- Charter Schools vs Public Schools: What the Data Actually Shows (2026)school choice
- Moving before 2027? The federal school choice tax credit follows the state, not youschool choice
- The New School Choice Map: Is Your State Participating in the Federal Tuition Tax Credit?data insights
- Moving to Raleigh-Durham? A Parent's Guide to School Choice in the Triangleguides
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings and parent guides, free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.
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.