Best Schools in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
23 schools · 10 Elementary · 5 Middle · 6 High · 2 Other
Choosing a school in Rocky Mount?
Use this page to compare every school in Rocky Mount 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.
Citi High School
High · Nash County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Benvenue Elementary
Elementary · Nash County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Nrm Early College High School
High · Nash County Public Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Rocky Mount for 2026 are Citi High School (8.1/10), Benvenue Elementary (7.8/10), and Nrm Early College High School (7.4/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 18 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
23
20 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$151,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
23
20 public · 3 private
Avg Score
5.6
out of 10
Median Home
$151,600
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.1/10 despite 97% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.9 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Rocky Mount schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +18.1 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Rocky Mount schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Rocky Mount
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 18 rated schools; 23 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Citi High School | 8.1 / 10 |
| 2 | Benvenue Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Nrm Early College High School | 7.4 / 10 |
| 4 | Englewood Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Northern Nash High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | Nash Central High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 7 | G W Bulluck Elementary | 6.5 / 10 |
| 8 | Tar River Academy | 6.1 / 10 |
| 9 | Nash Everywhere Digital Academy (neda) | 5.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Rocky Mount High | 5.4 / 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
- 5.6/10
- Median household income
- $53,393
- Median home value
- $151,600
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 22%
- Avg commute
- 22 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 54%
33% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Rocky Mount compares
North Carolina rank
#211 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.7
below North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$53k
79% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
21
Nash County Public Schools runs 85% of Rocky Mount's public schools
Rocky Mount touches 3 districts, but Nash County Public Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Nash County Public Schools accounts for 17 of 20 public schools (85%). The other 2 districts hold the remaining 3.
Among 18 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.8 to 8.1 — the spread is inside Rocky Mount, not a citywide average.
- Nash County Public Schools17 public · 85%
- Edgecombe County Public Schools2 public · 10%
- Rocky Mount Preparatory1 public · 5%
About Schools in Rocky Mount, North Carolina
Rocky Mount's public school landscape spans 19 ranked schools, with an average score of 5.4 out of 10. That average signals a wide performance range. Only 4 of the 19 schools — 21% — score 7 or above, meaning strong options exist but are not the norm. Parents comparing neighborhoods should treat that citywide average as a floor check, not a guarantee.
The top tier is anchored by a clear standout. CITI High School scores 8.5 out of 10, the highest mark among all 19 ranked schools in Rocky Mount. NRM Early College High School follows at 7.6, giving families two competitive high school options above the 7-point threshold. Together they represent the upper tier of a city where hitting 7+ puts a school in the top 21%. At the elementary level, Benvenue Elementary (7.7) and Englewood Elementary (7.4) are the highest-rated options and both outperform the citywide average by a substantial margin. Nash Central High at 6.6 sits just below the top-tier cutoff but still runs above the city average, making it a solid option for families outside the attendance zones of the top-rated schools.
The middle and lower portions of Rocky Mount's landscape — schools scoring between 3 and 5.5 — account for the majority of elementary seats in the city. These schools drag the citywide average to 5.4 and reflect persistent performance gaps that parents relying on neighborhood-assigned schools should plan around.
The practical read: Rocky Mount has genuine high performers, but access is uneven. CITI High's 8.5 and Benvenue's 7.7 are competitive scores by any regional comparison, and having four schools clear the 7-point bar at both the elementary and high school levels gives families real options across grade ranges. The challenge is distribution — strong schools are concentrated, not spread evenly across the city. Families moving to Rocky Mount should verify attendance boundaries before committing to a neighborhood and look at each school's individual score rather than assuming the citywide average reflects their assigned school.
Elementary Schools
10 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 613 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 | ||
| 2 | 547 students · 3rd–5th | 7.2 | ||
| 3 | 606 students · Pre-K–5th | 6.5 | ||
| 4 | 538 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 5.6 | ||
| 5 | 321 students · Kindergarten–5th | 4.6 | ||
| 6 | 259 students · Kindergarten–2nd | 4.3 | ||
| 7 | 332 students · 3rd–5th | 3.8 | ||
| 8 | 253 students · Pre-K–2nd | 2.9 | ||
Private Schools2 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | 110 students · Pre-K–8th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | 4 students · Pre-K–Kindergarten | Not Rated | ||
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 448 students · 6th–8th | 5.0 | ||
| 2 | 277 students · 6th–8th | 4.2 | ||
| 3 | 432 students · 6th–8th | 3.1 | ||
| 4 | 244 students · 6th–8th | 2.8 | ||
Private Schools1 school Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Rocky Mount AcademyPrivate 25 students · 1st–1st | Not Rated | ||
High Schools
6 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 96 students · 9th–UG | 8.1 |
| 2 | 405 students · 9th–UG | 7.4 |
| 3 | 1,029 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 4 | 900 students · 9th–12th | 7.1 |
| 5 | 67 students · 9th–12th | 6.1 |
| 6 | 997 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
Other Schools
2 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 238 students · 1st–12th | 5.7 |
| 2 | 863 students · Kindergarten–12th | 5.0 |
Schools in Rocky Mount
Rocky Mount, North Carolina · 23 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$53,393
Median Home Value
$151,600
Median Rent
$905/mo
Population
69,332
College Educated
22%
Homeownership
54%
Avg Commute
22 min
Poverty Rate
19.3%
Community Profile
Rocky Mount has a median household income of $53,393. It is a community where 22% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $151,600, with a median rent of $905/month. The area has a poverty rate of 19.3%. The average commute for residents is 22 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 10
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 6
- Other
- 2
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 Rocky Mount, North Carolina
How many schools are in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
Rocky Mount has 23 schools, including 20 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Rocky Mount is 5.6 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 Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Rocky Mount on MySchoolScout is Citi High School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
What is the best elementary school in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Rocky Mount on MySchoolScout is Benvenue Elementary with a composite score of 7.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Rocky Mount on MySchoolScout is Rocky Mount Middle with a composite score of 5.0/10.
What is the best high school in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Rocky Mount on MySchoolScout is Citi High School with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
Rocky Mount is served by 3 school districts: Rocky Mount Preparatory, Edgecombe County Public Schools, Nash County Public Schools.
What is the education level in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 22% of adults in Rocky Mount have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The median household income in Rocky Mount is approximately $53,393 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
Yes, Rocky Mount has 3 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Our Lady Perpetual Help Catholic School with a score of 7.6/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Rocky Mount, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Rocky Mount is 15.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Rocky Mount, 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.