Best Schools in Lexington, North Carolina
30 schools · 15 Elementary · 4 Middle · 7 High · 4 Other
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 6.2/10
- Median household income
- $59,957
- Median home value
- $192,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 18%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 71%
14% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Lexington compares
North Carolina rank
#140 of 253
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below North Carolina avg (6.4)
Median household income
$60k
88% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
29
About Schools in Lexington, North Carolina
Lexington, North Carolina has 27 ranked public schools, giving families a range of options across elementary, middle, and high school levels. The city's public school landscape skews toward the elementary tier, where the strongest performers are concentrated. The average school score across Lexington sits at 6.2 out of 10, which gives parents a useful baseline when evaluating individual campuses.
Performance varies meaningfully across the city. Only 4 schools — 15% of ranked public schools — score 7 or above out of 10, so high-performing options are real but limited. Southwood Elementary leads the city with an 8.5 out of 10, the top score among all ranked Lexington schools. Southwest Elementary Global Academy follows at 8.2, making these two campuses the clear standouts. Southmont Elementary and Charles England Elementary both score 7.2, and Silver Valley Elementary comes in at 6.9 — all sitting above the city average. Parents specifically focused on elementary-age children have the clearest set of strong choices.
Practically speaking, school quality in Lexington depends heavily on which campus a child is zoned for. The gap between the top schools and the city average is notable — Southwood Elementary scores more than two points above the 6.2 average. Families who have flexibility in where they live or can access open enrollment should treat school scores as a serious factor in that decision. The Global Academy designation at Southwest Elementary signals a specialized program focus, worth investigating directly with the school for admission details and curriculum structure.
Parents researching Lexington should start by confirming their zoned school using Davidson County Schools' enrollment tools, then compare that assignment against the top-performing campuses. If a child's zoned school falls near or below the 6.2 city average, exploring transfer options or nearby alternatives is worth the effort. With only 15% of schools scoring above 7 out of 10, Lexington rewards proactive research — the difference between a median and a top-tier assignment here is significant.
Elementary Schools
15 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 593 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.5 |
| 2 | 370 students · 1st–5th | 8.2 |
| 3 | 285 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.2 |
| 4 | 340 students · 1st–5th | 7.2 |
| 5 | 235 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.9 |
| 6 | 426 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.8 |
| 7 | 639 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.6 |
| 8 | 611 students · Kindergarten–8th | 6.5 |
| 9 | 513 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 10 | 607 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 |
| 11 | 400 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 12 | 286 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.0 |
| 13 | 373 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 14 | 403 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.9 |
| 15 | 310 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | 5.8 |
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 662 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 2 | 591 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 3 | 714 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 4 | 545 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 |
High Schools
7 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 73 students · 6th–12th | 6.5 |
| 2 | 142 students · 9th–UG | 6.4 |
| 3 | 168 students · 9th–UG | 6.2 |
| 4 | 904 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
| 5 | 929 students · 9th–12th | 4.5 |
| 6 | 743 students · 9th–12th | 4.0 |
| 7 | 867 students · 9th–12th | 3.8 |
Other Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 97 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.9 | ||
| 2 | 28 students · Kindergarten–12th | — | ||
| Private Schools 2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | SHEETS MEMORIAL CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Private
252 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | UNION GROVE CHRISTIAN SCHOOL
Private
455 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Lexington
Lexington, North Carolina · 30 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$59,957
Median Home Value
$192,600
Median Rent
$849/mo
Population
78,890
College Educated
18%
Homeownership
71%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
14.3%
Community Profile
Lexington has a median household income of $59,957. It is a community where 18% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $192,600, with a median rent of $849/month. The area has a poverty rate of 14.3%. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Quick Facts
- State
- North Carolina
- Total Schools
- 30
- Elementary
- 15
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 7
- Districts
- 3
- Avg Rating
- 6.2/10
Resources
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
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 methodologyFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Lexington, North Carolina
How many schools are in Lexington, North Carolina?
Lexington has 30 schools, including 28 public and 2 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Lexington, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Lexington is 6.2 out of 10, based on academic achievement, student growth, equity, and school environment.
What is the top-ranked school in Lexington, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Lexington on MySchoolScout is Southwood Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best elementary school in Lexington, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Lexington on MySchoolScout is Southwood Elementary with a composite score of 8.5/10.
What is the best middle school in Lexington, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Lexington on MySchoolScout is Central Davidson Middle with a composite score of 6.8/10.
What is the best high school in Lexington, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Lexington on MySchoolScout is Davidson County High School with a composite score of 6.5/10.
How many school districts serve Lexington, North Carolina?
Lexington is served by 3 school districts: Davidson Charter Academy, Davidson County Schools, Lexington City Schools.
What is the education level in Lexington, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 18% of adults in Lexington have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Lexington, North Carolina?
The median household income in Lexington is approximately $59,957 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Lexington, North Carolina?
Yes, Lexington has 2 private schools alongside 28 public schools. The top-rated private school is Sheets Memorial Christian School with a score of 6.8/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Lexington, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Lexington is 16.3:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Lexington, 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.
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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.