Best Schools in Holly Springs, North Carolina
10 schools · 5 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 1 Other
Choosing a school in Holly Springs?
Use this page to compare every school in Holly Springs 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.
Buckhorn Creek Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Holly Springs Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.
Holly Ridge Elementary
Elementary · 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 Holly Springs for 2026 are Buckhorn Creek Elementary (9.2/10), Holly Springs Elementary (9.0/10), and Holly Ridge Elementary (8.9/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 10 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
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
8.1
out of 10
Median Home
$474,700
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
10
9 public · 1 private
Avg Score
8.1
out of 10
Median Home
$474,700
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Top-Rated Schools in Holly Springs
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (10 of 10). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Buckhorn Creek Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 2 | Holly Springs Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 3 | Holly Ridge Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 4 | Holly Grove Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 5 | New School Montessori Center | 8.4 / 10 |
| 6 | Pine Springs Preparatory Academy | 8.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Holly Grove Middle | 8.0 / 10 |
| 8 | Holly Springs High | 7.8 / 10 |
| 9 | Holly Ridge Middle | 7.4 / 10 |
| 10 | Southern Wake Academy | 5.7 / 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
- 8.1/10
- Median household income
- $125,681
- Median home value
- $474,700
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 65%
- Avg commute
- 29 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 85%
90% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Holly Springs compares
North Carolina rank
#2 of 253
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.9
above North Carolina avg (6.2)
Median household income
$126k
185% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
10
About Schools in Holly Springs, North Carolina
Holly Springs sits within Wake County Public Schools, one of the largest districts in North Carolina. The city's nine ranked public schools carry an average score of 7.3 out of 10 — a solid baseline that holds up against most suburban peers. Six of those nine schools, or 67 percent, score 7 or higher, meaning strong options are spread across the city rather than clustered in a single zone.
Buckhorn Creek Elementary leads the city at 9.2 out of 10, the highest score among all nine ranked schools. The elementary tier is the clearest strength: four of the city's top five schools serve grades K through 5. Holly Grove Elementary scores 8.3, Holly Springs Elementary reaches 7.6, and Holly Ridge Elementary comes in at 7.5, giving families with young children multiple credible choices within a compact geographic area.
The middle school picture is thinner. Holly Grove Middle scores 7.8, the top-scoring middle school in the city and a reliable transition point for families coming out of Holly Grove Elementary. Parents planning beyond elementary years should verify feeder-school assignments early — boundary lines determine which campus a child attends, and the gap between the top and bottom of the city's nine-school range is real.
For families choosing where to buy or rent in Holly Springs, the overall numbers are encouraging. A 7.3 average across nine schools, with two-thirds scoring at or above 7, signals consistent district performance rather than a few outliers carrying the average. Narrow the search by school boundary before finalizing a neighborhood — getting into a 9.2-rated school versus a lower-ranked campus often comes down to the address, not the zip code.
Elementary Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 870 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 2 | 907 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 3 | 751 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.9 |
| 4 | 897 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 5 | 1,268 students · Kindergarten–8th | 8.0 |
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 966 students · 6th–8th | 8.0 |
| 2 | 980 students · 6th–8th | 7.4 |
High Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,111 students · 9th–12th | 7.8 |
| 2 | 553 students · 6th–12th | 5.7 |
Other Schools
1 school| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | New School Montessori Center
Private
119 students · Pre-K–9th | 8.4 |
Schools in Holly Springs
Holly Springs, North Carolina · 10 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code
Median Income
$125,681
Median Home Value
$474,700
Median Rent
$1,718/mo
Population
45,993
College Educated
65%
Homeownership
85%
Avg Commute
29 min
Poverty Rate
4.2%
Community Profile
Holly Springs has a median household income of $125,681. It is a well-educated community where 65% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $474,700, with a median rent of $1,718/month. The local poverty rate of 4.2% 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
- 5
- Middle
- 2
- 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 Holly Springs, North Carolina
How many schools are in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
Holly Springs has 10 schools, including 9 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Holly Springs is 8.1 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 Holly Springs, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Holly Springs on MySchoolScout is Buckhorn Creek Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best elementary school in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Holly Springs on MySchoolScout is Buckhorn Creek Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10.
What is the best middle school in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Holly Springs on MySchoolScout is Holly Grove Middle with a composite score of 8.0/10.
What is the best high school in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Holly Springs on MySchoolScout is Holly Springs High with a composite score of 7.8/10.
How many school districts serve Holly Springs, North Carolina?
Holly Springs is served by 3 school districts: Southern Wake Academy, Pine Springs Preparatory Academy, Wake County Schools.
What is the education level in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 65% of adults in Holly Springs have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
The median household income in Holly Springs is approximately $125,681 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
Yes, Holly Springs has 1 private school alongside 9 public schools. The top-rated private school is New School Montessori Center with a score of 8.4/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Holly Springs, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Holly Springs is 14.5:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Holly Springs, 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.