6.8 avg / 10

Best Schools in Kinston, North Carolina

16 schools · 8 Elementary · 2 Middle · 2 High · 4 Other

Last updated: May 2026

Public: 13

Private: 3

Districts: 2

Avg Rating: 6.8/10

Estimated Scores: 19%

Family Snapshot

At a glance

Avg school rating: 6.8/10
Median household income: $42,237
Median home value: $101,550
Bachelor's degree or higher: 15%
Avg commute: 23 min
Owner-occupied homes: 55%

How Kinston compares

North Carolina rank

#57 of 253

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

+0.4

above North Carolina avg (6.4)

Median household income

$42k

62% of North Carolina median

Schools in this city

16

About Schools in Kinston, North Carolina

Kinston, North Carolina is home to 16 schools, including 13 public schools and 3 private schools. The city's schools span 8 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, and 2 high schools.

With an average rating of 6.8 out of 10, schools in Kinston show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which measures academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

The highest-performing school in Kinston is Moss Hill Elementary with a composite score of 9.2/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Kinston is served by 2 school districts: Children's Village Academy, Lenoir County Public Schools. These districts collectively serve 8,521 students.

Kinston's community shows 15% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $42,237. The poverty rate in the area is 24.3%.

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.

Filter by Level: All Levels (16) Elementary (8) Middle (2) High (2)

Filter by Type: All Types (16) Public (13) Private (3)

Filter by Rating: All Ratings (16) Academics (16) Growth (13) Diversity (13) Resources (13)

Filter by ZIP: 28504 (8) 28501 (5) 28502 (3)

Elementary Schools

8 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Moss Hill Elementary 389 students · Kindergarten–5th	389	Kindergarten–5th	9.2
2	Southwood Elementary 235 students · Kindergarten–5th	235	Kindergarten–5th	8.4
3	Banks Elementary 483 students · Pre-K–5th	483	Pre-K–5th	8.3
4	Northwest Elementary 445 students · Kindergarten–5th	445	Kindergarten–5th	8.2
5	Children's Village Academy 149 students · Kindergarten–8th	149	Kindergarten–8th	7.7
6	Southeast Elementary 270 students · Pre-K–5th	270	Pre-K–5th	7.5
7	Northeast Elementary 433 students · Pre-K–5th	433	Pre-K–5th	7.1
8	Contentnea-Savannah School 875 students · Pre-K–8th	875	Pre-K–8th	6.7

Middle Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Woodington Middle 582 students · 6th–8th	582	6th–8th	5.9
2	Rochelle Middle 429 students · 6th–8th	429	6th–8th	5.6

High Schools

2 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Lenoir County Early College High 230 students · 9th–UG	230	9th–UG	7.0
2	Kinston High 706 students · 9th–12th	706	9th–12th	5.4

Other Schools

4 schools

#	School	Enrollment	Grades	Rating
1	Lenoir County Learning Academy 72 students · Pre-K–12th	72	Pre-K–12th	5.7
Private Schools 3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types.
1	FIVE POINTS EDUCATION TRAINING CENTER Private 42 students · 3rd–11th	42	3rd–11th	Not Rated
2	BETHEL CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Private 308 students · Pre-K–12th	308	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated
3	ARENDELL PARROTT ACADEMY Private 631 students · Pre-K–12th	631	Pre-K–12th	Not Rated

Schools in Kinston

Kinston, North Carolina · 16 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.

Quick Facts

State: North Carolina
Total Schools: 16
Elementary: 8
Middle: 2
High: 2
Districts: 2
Avg Rating: 6.8/10

Resources

🔍 Google "Kinston schools" 🏫 GreatSchools Kinston 📊 Niche Kinston Rankings 📍 Google Maps: Schools

School Districts (2)

Children's Village Academy

1 school · 149 students

Lenoir County Public Schools

17 schools · 8,372 students

Nearby Cities

Deep Run (1 school)

10 mi

La Grange (3 schools)

9 mi

Hookerton (1 school)

11 mi

Snow Hill (6 schools)

Seven Springs (2 schools)

Farmville (5 schools)

23 mi

Winterville (9 schools)

22 mi

Trenton (2 schools)

22 mi

Richlands (5 schools)

26 mi

Other Major Cities in North Carolina

Top metros statewide by school count.

Charlotte 225 schools Raleigh 138 schools Greensboro 95 schools Durham 94 schools Fayetteville 85 schools

How We Rate Schools

Every school receives a composite score from 1 to 10 based on four pillars: Academic Performance (50%), Student Growth (20%), Equity (15%), and Learning Environment (15%). Scores are built from publicly available data including standardized test results, enrollment figures, and school climate indicators.

Read our full methodology

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Kinston, North Carolina

How many schools are in Kinston, North Carolina?

Kinston has 16 schools, including 13 public and 3 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 6.8 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.

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 9.2/10.

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 9.2/10.

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 5.9/10.

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 7.0/10.

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 3 private schools alongside 13 public schools. The top-rated private school is Five Points Education Training Center with a score of 7.0/10.

What is the student-teacher ratio in Kinston, North Carolina?

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Kinston is 15.4:1. 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 based on four components: Academic Achievement, Student Growth, Equity, and School Environment.