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Excellent

#199 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 8% in state

Estes Hills Elementary

Elementary School · Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

500 N Estes Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Enrollment

349

Student-Teacher

12:1

Score

8.5

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#199 of 2,648

In Chapel Hill

#5 of 20

public schools

In district

#4 of 18

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools

School environment

10.0 / 10

Excellent

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Estes Hills Elementary

8.5/10

Elementary School in Chapel Hill · grades Pre-K – 5th. Start here, then compare fit against nearby and district options.

Phillips Middle

8.0/10

0.2 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

Montessori Day School

4.8/10

1.3 mi away. Use as a geographic alternative in the same move search.

About Estes Hills Elementary

Estes Hills Elementary is a public elementary school in Chapel Hill, NC, part of Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools. Estes Hills Elementary serves approximately 349 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 12:1 student-teacher ratio. Estes Hills Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10 and ranks #199 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for Estes Hills Elementary show 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it compares0.5 pts above district
  • This school 8.5 · Excellent
  • District avg 8.0
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress7.6Very Good50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.11 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.9Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency80.2% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency74.7% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+16.4 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+28.1 pts
Overall Proficiency77% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)68% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+9.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile83th
Resources & Environment10.0Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio12:1
Per-Pupil Spending$16,963
Chronic Absenteeism13.5%

Estes Hills Elementary — Students at Estes Hills Elementary score 77% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 68%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

28.7%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 72.8% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 72.0% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
52.7% (2025 NC)

Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments. About our data

Proficiency Trend

→ Stable

Average proficiency (% at or above grade level) across Math & ELA over time.

2009
Math
95%
ELA
86%
2010
Math
96%
ELA
89%
2011
Math
90%
ELA
85%
2012
Math
60%
ELA
67%
2013
Math
69%
ELA
68%
2014
Math
67%
ELA
66%
2015
Math
67%
ELA
69%
2016
Math
68%
ELA
69%
2017
Math
67%
ELA
63%
2018
Math
59%
ELA
67%
2019
Math
59%
ELA
67%
2020*
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2021*
Math
62%
ELA
67%
2022
Math
71.4%
ELA
69.5%
2025
Math
79.5%
ELA
74%

* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.

Source: EdFacts (NCES) and state assessment data. Growth score: 7.6/10.

How Estes Hills Elementary Compares

See how Estes Hills Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
8.5/10
93th percentile in NC
Academic
8.9/10
Excellent
Growth
7.6/10
Very Good
Environment
10.0/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
29%
Teaching Staff
12:1 student-teacher ratio
29 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
13.5%

Programs & Offerings

Gifted & Talented Program Available
This school offers a gifted and talented program for qualifying students. · CRDC 2021-22

Data as of 2021-22 · Source: CRDC via Urban Institute · Learn more

Location

500 N Estes Dr, Chapel Hill, NC 27514

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering Estes Hills Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. Carrboro Elementary (rated 8.6/10, 2.4 miles away, in nearby Carrboro), with a very similar rating. Another option is Glenwood Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 2.3 miles away), with a very similar rating. Additionally, McDougle Elementary (rated 8.4/10, 3.1 miles away), with a very similar rating. For more schools in Chapel Hill, see our Chapel Hill schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 3.1 mi
School Distance Rating
Phillips Middle Chapel Hill 0.2 mi 8.0
MONTESSORI DAY SCHOOL Chapel Hill 1.3 mi 4.8
Northside Elementary Chapel Hill 1.7 mi 7.4
Ephesus Elementary Chapel Hill 1.5 mi 8.3
East Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 1.9 mi 8.7
ST THOMAS MORE CATHOLIC SCHOOL Chapel Hill 2.2 mi 6.8
Glenwood Elementary Chapel Hill 2.3 mi 8.4
Smith Middle Chapel Hill 2.0 mi 8.4
Seawell Elementary Chapel Hill 2.0 mi 8.0
Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 2.2 mi 8.2
Phoenix Academy High Chapel Hill 2.6 mi
Virtual Academy School Chapel Hill 2.6 mi
Carrboro Elementary Carrboro 2.4 mi 8.6
Rashkis Elementary Chapel Hill 2.5 mi 6.2
FPG Elementary Chapel Hill 3.0 mi 8.2
Creekside Elementary Durham 2.8 mi 4.4
Ignite Online Academy Durham 2.8 mi 4.9
Culbreth Middle Chapel Hill 3.5 mi 7.0
McDougle Elementary Chapel Hill 3.1 mi 8.4
McDougle Middle Chapel Hill 3.1 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27514 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$94,167

Median Home Value

$628,700

Median Rent

$1,491/mo

Population

32,612

College Educated

80.1%

Homeownership

50.2%

Avg Commute

18.8 min

Poverty Rate

16.3%

Median Age

23.9

Similar Schools

Schools in the same state with comparable level, size, and ratings

School Rating
Casar Elementary Casar, NC 8.5
Central Elementary Statesville, NC 8.5
Clement Elementary Autryville, NC 8.5
General Greene Elementary Greensboro, NC 8.5
Harris Elementary School Forest City, NC 8.5
Jamesville Elementary Jamesville, NC 8.5

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about Estes Hills Elementary

What grades does Estes Hills Elementary serve?

Estes Hills Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend Estes Hills Elementary?

Estes Hills Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 349 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at Estes Hills Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at Estes Hills Elementary is 12:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.

How does Estes Hills Elementary rank in NC?

Estes Hills Elementary ranks #199 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is Estes Hills Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

Estes Hills Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 8.5 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.

What are the test scores at Estes Hills Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, Estes Hills Elementary has 73% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 72% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is Estes Hills Elementary a charter school?

No, Estes Hills Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.

Is Estes Hills Elementary a Title I school?

No, Estes Hills Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Estes Hills Elementary?

28.7% of students at Estes Hills Elementary qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.

11 schools nearby View map →

Neighborhood Context

Walk Score
21 Car-Dependent
Transit Score
36 Some Transit
Bike Score
39 Somewhat Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
349
Student-Teacher Ratio
12:1
Teachers (FTE)
29
Free/Reduced Lunch
28.7%
Type
regular
Setting
Small City
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
13.5%

District

Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
District Enrollment
11,386
Schools in District
21
Per-Pupil Spending
$16,963
District Rank
#4 of 18

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