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5.5 avg / 10

Best Schools in Norwood, North Carolina

5 schools · 2 Elementary · 1 Middle · 1 High · 1 Other

Public: 4
Private: 1
Districts: 1
Avg Rating: 5.5/10
Move-ready shortlistcity map + schools

Choosing a school in Norwood?

Use this page to compare every school in Norwood 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.

Aquadale Elementary

7.3/10

Elementary · Stanly County Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

Norwood Elementary

5.8/10

Elementary · Stanly County Schools. Ranked from real test data; use the map and table below to check address fit.

South Stanly High

5.4/10

High · Stanly 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 Norwood for 2026 are Aquadale Elementary (7.3/10), Norwood Elementary (5.8/10), and South Stanly High (5.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 5 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

5

4 public · 1 private

Avg Score

5.5

out of 10

Median Home

$179,700

home value · ACS

District

1

serving the city

Top-Rated Schools in Norwood

Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (5 of 5). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.

# School Rating
1 Aquadale Elementary 7.3 / 10
2 Norwood Elementary 5.8 / 10
3 South Stanly High 5.4 / 10
4 Tillery Christian Academy 4.8 / 10
5 South Stanly Middle 4.3 / 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
5.5/10

20% of schools rated 7+

Median household income
$59,941

Census ACS, ZIPs in this city

Median home value
$179,700

Owner-occupied units

Bachelor's degree or higher
22%

Adults 25+

Avg commute
29 min

Workers age 16+

Owner-occupied homes
70%

Of occupied housing units

How Norwood compares

North Carolina rank

#203 of 253

cities by avg. school score

Vs. state average

-0.7

below North Carolina avg (6.2)

Median household income

$60k

88% of North Carolina median

Schools in this city

5

About Schools in Norwood, North Carolina

Norwood, North Carolina is home to 5 schools, including 4 public schools and 1 private school. The city's schools span 2 elementary schools, 1 middle school, and 1 high school.

With an average rating of 5.5 out of 10, schools in Norwood show moderate performance on the MySchoolScout composite scale, which blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.

The highest-performing school in Norwood is Aquadale Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10, demonstrating strong academic outcomes and school quality metrics.

Norwood is served by 1 school district: Stanly County Schools. These districts collectively serve 8,739 students.

Norwood's community shows 22% bachelor's degree attainment with a median household income of $59,941. The poverty rate in the area is 11.1%.

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 ZIP: 28128 (5)

Elementary Schools

2 schools
# School Rating
1 354 students · Pre-K–5th 7.3
2 343 students · Kindergarten–5th 5.8

Middle Schools

1 school
# School Rating
1 362 students · 6th–8th 4.3

High Schools

1 school
# School Rating
1 434 students · 9th–12th 5.4

Other Schools

1 school
# School Rating
1 41 students · Kindergarten–9th 4.8

Schools in Norwood

Norwood, North Carolina · 5 schools

Community Demographics

Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 1 ZIP code

Median Income

$59,941

Median Home Value

$179,700

Median Rent

$828/mo

Population

7,610

College Educated

22%

Homeownership

70%

Avg Commute

29 min

Poverty Rate

11.1%

Community Profile

Norwood has a median household income of $59,941. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $179,700, with a median rent of $828/month. The area has a poverty rate of 11.1%. The average commute for residents is 29 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about schools in Norwood, North Carolina

How many schools are in Norwood, North Carolina?

Norwood has 5 schools, including 4 public and 1 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.

What is the average school rating in Norwood, North Carolina?

The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Norwood 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 Norwood, North Carolina?

The top-ranked school in Norwood on MySchoolScout is Aquadale Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best elementary school in Norwood, North Carolina?

The top-ranked elementary school in Norwood on MySchoolScout is Aquadale Elementary with a composite score of 7.3/10.

What is the best middle school in Norwood, North Carolina?

The top-ranked middle school in Norwood on MySchoolScout is South Stanly Middle with a composite score of 4.3/10.

What is the best high school in Norwood, North Carolina?

The top-ranked high school in Norwood on MySchoolScout is South Stanly High with a composite score of 5.4/10.

How many school districts serve Norwood, North Carolina?

Norwood is served by 1 school district: Stanly County Schools.

What is the education level in Norwood, North Carolina?

According to Census data, 22% of adults in Norwood have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.

What is the median income in Norwood, North Carolina?

The median household income in Norwood is approximately $59,941 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.

Are there private schools in Norwood, North Carolina?

Yes, Norwood has 1 private school alongside 4 public schools. The top-rated private school is Tillery Christian Academy with a score of 4.8/10.

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

The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Norwood is 13.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.

How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Norwood, 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.