Best Schools in Sanford, North Carolina
23 schools · 9 Elementary · 4 Middle · 5 High · 5 Other
Choosing a school in Sanford?
Use this page to compare every school in Sanford 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.
Tramway Elementary
Elementary · Lee County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Highland Elementary
Elementary · Harnett County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Sanlee Middle School
Middle · Lee County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Sanford for 2026 are Tramway Elementary (8.8/10), Highland Elementary (7.8/10), and Sanlee Middle School (7.7/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 20 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
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$218,500
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Schools
23
20 public · 3 private
Avg Score
6.1
out of 10
Median Home
$218,500
home value · ACS
Districts
5
serving the city
Rates 8.8/10 despite 46% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 2.0 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 Sanford schools.
STAAR proficiency rose +13.2 points from 2022 to 2024. That's the biggest jump among Sanford schools across the two most recent comparable testing years.
Top-Rated Schools in Sanford
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (Top 10 of 20 rated schools; 23 schools in the directory). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tramway Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Highland Elementary | 7.8 / 10 |
| 3 | Sanlee Middle School | 7.7 / 10 |
| 4 | Central Carolina Academy | 7.1 / 10 |
| 5 | J Glenn Edwards Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 6 | J R Ingram JR Elementary | 6.7 / 10 |
| 7 | Southern Lee High School | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | Bt Bullock Elementary | 6.6 / 10 |
| 9 | Lee Early College | 6.3 / 10 |
| 10 | West Lee Middle | 6.1 / 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
- 6.1/10
- Median household income
- $66,901
- Median home value
- $218,500
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 23%
- Avg commute
- 27 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 68%
17% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Sanford compares
North Carolina rank
#153 of 255
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
-0.2
below North Carolina avg (6.3)
Median household income
$67k
99% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
23
Lee County Schools runs 70% of Sanford's public schools
Sanford touches 5 districts, but Lee County Schools is the one most addresses actually attend.
Lee County Schools accounts for 14 of 20 public schools (70%). The other 4 districts hold the remaining 6.
Among 20 public schools with real test data, composite scores run from 2.8 to 8.8 — the spread is inside Sanford, not a citywide average.
3 of the 20 public schools are charters (15%), so the district split is not the whole market.
- Lee County Schools14 public · 70%
- Harnett County Schools3 public · 15%
- Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County1 public · 5%
- Central Carolina Academy1 public · 5%
- Mina Charter School of Lee County1 public · 5%
About Schools in Sanford, North Carolina
Sanford's public school system spans 19 ranked schools, giving families a meaningful range of options within a mid-sized city. The district average sits at 6.6 out of 10 — a solid baseline that reflects a mix of high performers and developing schools. Nearly half the system, 9 of 19 schools (47%), scores 7 or above, meaning parents have real choices at the upper end of the performance range without being locked into a single standout option.
Elementary school is where Sanford performs most consistently at the top. Tramway Elementary leads the entire city with a 9.3 out of 10 — the highest score among all 19 ranked schools and well above the city average. Deep River Elementary (8.4) and WB Wicker Elementary (8.3) round out a strong top tier, giving families three high-performing elementary options to compare. J R Ingram Jr Elementary adds a fourth above-average choice at 7.4. At the middle school level, SanLee Middle School scores 7.7, making it a clear standout among its peers.
For families with children across grade levels, the concentration of strong elementary schools is a practical asset. Three schools scoring above 8.0 at the elementary level signals that early academic foundations are well-supported across multiple neighborhoods. The middle school picture is narrower in terms of ranked options, so parents of older children should weigh SanLee's 7.7 alongside program offerings, extracurriculars, and commute before settling on a zone.
Sanford's 47% rate of schools scoring 7 or above puts competitive options within reach for many families — but school-to-school variation is real. The gap between the city's top school (9.3) and the citywide average (6.6) is wide enough that address and assignment zone matter considerably. Parents should confirm their home's school assignment early, then use those ratings to determine whether a choice or transfer program might expand access to Sanford's highest performers at the elementary level.
Elementary Schools
9 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 559 students · Kindergarten–5th | 8.8 |
| 2 | 894 students · Kindergarten–5th | 7.8 |
| 3 | 519 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.9 |
| 4 | 400 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.7 |
| 5 | 487 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.6 |
| 6 | 535 students · Kindergarten–5th | 6.0 |
| 7 | 427 students · Kindergarten–8th | 5.8 |
| 8 | 1,031 students · Pre-K–5th | 5.3 |
| 9 | 576 students · Kindergarten–5th | 5.3 |
Middle Schools
4 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 791 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 2 | 583 students · 6th–8th | 6.1 |
| 3 | 803 students · 6th–8th | 5.3 |
| 4 | 477 students · 6th–8th | 4.7 |
High Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,185 students · 9th–12th | 6.7 |
| 2 | 263 students · 9th–UG | 6.3 |
| 3 | 599 students · 6th–12th | 5.9 |
| 4 | 1,469 students · 9th–12th | 5.4 |
| 5 | 54 students · 6th–12th | 2.8 |
Other Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 450 students · 6th–11th | 7.1 | ||
| 2 | 115 students · Pre-K–12th | 4.5 | ||
Private Schools3 schools Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models. Scores are not directly comparable across school types. | ||||
| 1 | Calvary Education CenterPrivate 42 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 2 | Lee Christian SchoolPrivate 374 students · Pre-K–12th | Not Rated | ||
| 3 | Grace Christian SchoolPrivate 949 students · Kindergarten–12th | Not Rated | ||
Schools in Sanford
Sanford, North Carolina · 23 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 2 ZIP codes
Median Income
$66,901
Median Home Value
$218,500
Median Rent
$1,026/mo
Population
75,851
College Educated
23%
Homeownership
68%
Avg Commute
27 min
Poverty Rate
13.4%
Community Profile
Sanford has a median household income of $66,901. It is a community where 23% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $218,500, with a median rent of $1,026/month. The area has a poverty rate of 13.4%. The average commute for residents is 27 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 9
- Middle
- 4
- High
- 5
- Other
- 5
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 Sanford, North Carolina
How many schools are in Sanford, North Carolina?
Sanford has 23 schools, including 20 public and 3 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Sanford, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Sanford is 6.1 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 Sanford, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Sanford on MySchoolScout is Tramway Elementary with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best elementary school in Sanford, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Sanford on MySchoolScout is Tramway Elementary with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What is the best middle school in Sanford, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Sanford on MySchoolScout is Sanlee Middle School with a composite score of 7.7/10.
What is the best high school in Sanford, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Sanford on MySchoolScout is Southern Lee High School with a composite score of 6.7/10.
How many school districts serve Sanford, North Carolina?
Sanford is served by 5 school districts: Mina Charter School of Lee County, Central Carolina Academy, Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County, Harnett County Schools, Lee County Schools.
What is the education level in Sanford, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 23% of adults in Sanford have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Sanford, North Carolina?
The median household income in Sanford is approximately $66,901 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Sanford, North Carolina?
Yes, Sanford has 3 private schools alongside 20 public schools. The top-rated private school is Calvary Education Center with a score of 6.5/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Sanford, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Sanford is 13.7:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Sanford, 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.