Orange County Schools School District
School District · Hillsborough, North Carolina
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
13
7 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,399
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
Avg Rating
6.4
out of 10
Schools
13
7 elem, 3 mid, 3 high
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,399
Student-Teacher Ratio
14:1
Evaluating Orange County Schools?
A district shares budget, policy, and attendance zones across its schools — use this page to judge Orange County Schools as a whole, then compare how its individual schools differ.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Hillsborough Elementary
Hillsborough · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Cedar Ridge High
Hillsborough · High. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
Efland Cheeks Elementary
Efland · Elementary. Compare this profile against district averages, level fit, and attendance-zone reality below.
How this district compares
North Carolina rank
#44 of 116
districts by avg. composite
Vs. state average
+0.2
above North Carolina avg
Per-pupil spending
$14,399
+$1,287 vs North Carolina median
District size
7,067 students
Larger than North Carolina median
The short answer
Orange County Schools ranks #44 of 116 North Carolina districts by overall school rating. Orange County Schools's schools with real test data average 6.4/10 across 13 schools. Its top-rated schools are Hillsborough Elementary (8.8/10), Cedar Ridge High (7.6/10), and Efland Cheeks Elementary (7.6/10). Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Rates 7.6/10 despite 70% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.9 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 Orange County Schools schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Orange County Schools
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite rating using only schools with real test data (13 of 13). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hillsborough Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 2 | Cedar Ridge High | 7.6 / 10 |
| 3 | Efland Cheeks Elementary | 7.6 / 10 |
| 4 | Pathways Elementary | 7.2 / 10 |
| 5 | Orange High | 7.1 / 10 |
| 6 | River Park Elementary | 6.9 / 10 |
| 7 | Orange Middle | 6.7 / 10 |
| 8 | A L Stanback Middle | 5.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Central Elementary | 5.9 / 10 |
| 10 | New Hope Elementary | 5.3 / 10 |
See all 13 schools — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
About Orange County Schools
Orange County Schools is a Hillsborough, North Carolina school district serving 13 schools. The district educates 7,067 students with a student-teacher ratio of 14:1. The district invests $14,399 per student annually.
With an average rating of 6.4/10, Orange County Schools demonstrates solid academic performance.
The highest-rated school in the district is Hillsborough Elementary, which has a composite score of 8.8/10.
In standardized testing, Orange County Schools students show an average math proficiency of 54.6% and ELA proficiency of 53.0%.
The district includes 7 elementary schools , 3 middle schools , and 3 high schools.
District Map
Schools in Orange County Schools, colored by MySchoolScout rank. Click a pin for details.
District Average Test Scores
Average proficiency across all schools in Orange County Schools with test data.
Schools in Orange County Schools
13 schools Elementary Schools 7
Middle Schools 3
High Schools 3
District Details
- State
- North Carolina
- City
- Hillsborough
- Total Enrollment
- 7,067
- Teachers (FTE)
- 506
- Child Poverty Rate
- 0.1%
- Data Year
- 2023
Frequently Asked Questions
How many schools are in Orange County Schools?
Orange County Schools has 13 schools in total — 7 elementary, 3 middle, and 3 high schools. You can explore each school's ratings and details on this page.
What is the average rating for Orange County Schools?
The average composite rating for Orange County Schools is 6.4/10. This score is calculated from the individual ratings of all schools with academic data in the district.
What is the per-pupil spending in Orange County Schools?
Orange County Schools spends $14,399 per student per year.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Orange County Schools?
The average student-teacher ratio in Orange County Schools is 14:1.
What is the top-rated school in Orange County Schools?
Hillsborough Elementary is the highest-rated school in Orange County Schools with a composite score of 8.8/10.
What are the test scores in Orange County Schools?
Across schools in Orange County Schools with test data, the average math proficiency is 54.6% and the average ELA (reading/writing) proficiency is 53.0%. These figures represent the percentage of students meeting or exceeding grade-level standards.
How does Orange County Schools compare to other districts in North Carolina?
Orange County Schools has an average school rating of 6.4/10 across 13 schools. Families can compare this to other districts in North Carolina by visiting individual district pages. Factors like school size, available programs, and community demographics also play a role in choosing the right fit.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools?
MySchoolScout ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and learning environment — plus college readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context without being factored into the score. Learn more about our rating system on our methodology page.
District Averages
- Overall Rating
- 6.4/10
- Math Proficiency
- 54.6%
- ELA Proficiency
- 53.0%
Resources
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 rateOther School Districts in NC
Compare Orange County Schools with neighboring districts in the state.
- Wake County Schools (197)
- Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools (184)
- Guilford County Schools (124)
- Cumberland County Schools (86)
- Winston Salem / Forsyth County Schools (81)
- Durham Public Schools (56)
- Gaston County Schools (56)
- Union County Public Schools (52)
- Johnston County Public Schools (48)
- Buncombe County Schools (45)
- Cabarrus County Schools (44)
- New Hanover County Schools (42)
- Pitt County Schools (40)
- Onslow County Schools (39)
- Alamance-burlington Schools (38)
- Iredell-statesville Schools (38)
- Public Schools of Robeson County (37)
- Davidson County Schools (35)
- Wayne County Public Schools (33)
- Randolph County School System (32)
- Rowan-salisbury Schools (32)
- Harnett County Schools (29)
- Catawba County Schools (28)
- Cleveland County Schools (28)
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.
Related reading
Get school insights in your inbox
New rankings, best-schools lists, and parent guides — delivered free. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.
We respect your privacy. Unsubscribe at any time.