Best Schools in Kinston, North Carolina
17 schools · 9 Elementary · 2 Middle · 3 High · 3 Other
Choosing a school in Kinston?
Use this page to compare every school in Kinston 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.
Moss Hill Elementary
Elementary · Lenoir County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Banks Elementary
Elementary · Lenoir County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Southwood Elementary
Elementary · Lenoir County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Kinston for 2026 are Moss Hill Elementary (8.9/10), Banks Elementary (8.7/10), and Southwood Elementary (8.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 13 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
17
13 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$101,550
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
Schools
17
13 public · 4 private
Avg Score
6.3
out of 10
Median Home
$101,550
home value · ACS
Districts
2
serving the city
STAAR proficiency rose +20.4 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Kinston schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Kinston
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 13 rated schools; 17 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Moss Hill Elementary | 8.9 / 10 |
| 2 | Banks Elementary | 8.7 / 10 |
| 3 | Southwood Elementary | 8.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Northwest Elementary | 8.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Southeast Elementary | 7.5 / 10 |
| 6 | Northeast Elementary | 7.0 / 10 |
| 7 | Lenoir County Early College High | 6.8 / 10 |
| 8 | Contentnea-Savannah School | 6.5 / 10 |
| 9 | Woodington Middle | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | Kinston High | 5.3 / 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
- 6.3/10
- Median household income
- $42,237
- Median home value
- $101,550
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 15%
- Avg commute
- 23 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 55%
35% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Kinston compares
North Carolina rank
#114 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+0.0
above North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$42k
62% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
17
Lenoir County Public Schools runs Kinston's public schools
13 public schools. Lenoir County Public Schools is the dominant district on the page.
Every assigned public school in Kinston is a Lenoir County Public Schools school (12 of 13).
Among 13 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.0 to 8.9 — the spread is inside Kinston, not a citywide average.
- Lenoir County Public Schools12 public · 92%
- Children's Village Academy1 public · 8%
About Schools in Kinston, North Carolina
Kinston's public school system covers 13 ranked schools with a city average of 7.0 out of 10. More than half the schools clear that threshold — 7 of 13 (54%) score 7 or higher. That distribution matters: Kinston isn't split between a few outliers and a weak majority. The scores cluster toward the upper half, which gives parents more viable options than a skewed average would suggest.
The elementary tier drives that strength. Moss Hill Elementary leads the city at 8.9 out of 10 — the highest score among all 13 ranked schools. Banks Elementary follows at 8.5, Southwood Elementary at 8.3, and Northwest Elementary at 8.1. Southeast Elementary rounds out the top five at 7.3. All five are elementary schools, and all five score above the city average. That cluster of high-performing elementary schools is the defining feature of Kinston's landscape.
For parents with young children, the practical picture is strong. Four schools score between 8.1 and 8.9 — a narrower performance gap at the top than many comparably sized cities show. Assignment to any of these schools puts kids in an above-average academic setting from the start. Moss Hill and Banks, in particular, stand out not just within Kinston but within the broader Lenoir County area.
Parents researching Kinston should confirm school assignment boundaries early. The top performers are geographically distributed across the city, and attendance zones determine access — a school's score only matters if your address falls within its boundary. With a city average of 7.0 and 54% of schools scoring at or above that mark, Kinston is competitive for a city its size. The concentration of top performers at the elementary level makes early-grade placement the highest-leverage decision for families evaluating this market.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 389 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.9 | ||
| 2 | 483 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.7 | ||
| 3 | 235 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.4 | ||
| 4 | 445 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.0 | ||
| 5 | 270 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 | ||
| 6 | 433 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.0 | ||
| 7 | 875 students · Pre-K–8th | 6.5 | ||
| 8 | 149 students · Kindergarten–8th | 2.0 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Hope Preparatory SchoolPrivate 139 students · Kindergarten–6th | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 582 students · 6th–8th | 6.3 |
| 2 | 429 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 230 students · 9th–UG | 6.8 | ||
| 2 | 706 students · 9th–12th | 5.3 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 38 students · 6th–11th | Not Rated | ||
Other Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 72 students · Pre-K–12th | 3.2 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Bethel Christian AcademyPrivate 353 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Arendell Parrott AcademyPrivate 631 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Kinston
Kinston, North Carolina · 17 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$42,237
Median Home Value
$101,550
Median Rent
$811/mo
Population
38,437
College Educated
15%
Homeownership
55%
Avg Commute
23 min
Poverty Rate
24.3%
Community Profile
Kinston has a median household income of $42,237. It is a community where 15% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $101,550, with a median rent of $811/month. The area has a poverty rate of 24.3%, indicating some economic challenges in the community. The average commute for residents is 23 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 2
- High
- 3
- 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 Kinston, North Carolina
How many schools are in Kinston, North Carolina?
Kinston has 17 schools, including 13 public and 4 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Kinston, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Kinston is 6.3 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 Kinston, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Kinston on MySchoolScout is Moss Hill Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best elementary school in Kinston, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Kinston on MySchoolScout is Moss Hill Elementary with a composite score of 8.9/10.
What is the best middle school in Kinston, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Kinston on MySchoolScout is Woodington Middle with a composite score of 6.3/10.
What is the best high school in Kinston, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Kinston on MySchoolScout is Lenoir County Early College High with a composite score of 6.8/10.
How many school districts serve Kinston, North Carolina?
Kinston is served by 2 school districts: Children's Village Academy, Lenoir County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Kinston, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 15% of adults in Kinston have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Kinston, North Carolina?
The median household income in Kinston is approximately $42,237 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Kinston, North Carolina?
Yes, Kinston has 4 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Bethel Christian Academy with a score of 6.9/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Kinston, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Kinston is 15.2:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Kinston, 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
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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.