Very Good
#862 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 33% in state
Pathways Elementary
Elementary School · Orange County Schools · Hillsborough, NC
An Orange County Schools elementary school where students score 9 points above what's typical for similar communities.
431 Strouds Creek Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278
- Math 77% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 63% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at Pathways Elementary score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 60%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 36 points since 2020, reaching 70% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 60% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 52% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
53.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Pathways Elementary sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries.
Getting around & local context
- Walk 3Car-Dependent
- Bike 20Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: High4,904/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Hillsborough), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$101,821
Median home value
$380,000
Median rent
$1,294/mo
College educated
53.8%
Homeownership
77.3%
Poverty rate
7.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27278; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Eno River AcademyCharter · enrollment unverified | 8.1 | K–12 | 0.4 mi | 810 | Compare → |
| Hillsborough Christian AcademyPrivate · tuition | 6.5private | K–8 | 1.8 mi | 95 | Compare → |
| Hillsborough ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.8 | PK–5 | 2.1 mi | 434 | Compare → |
| Central ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 5.9 | PK–5 | 2.2 mi | 287 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Charter · enrollment unverified: Potential charter option; enrollment requirements have not been verified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Orange County Schools
- Schools in district
- 13
- Rank in district
- #4 of 13
- District spending per student
- $14,399NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 8.9%Census SAIPE · 2024
Pathways Elementary is listed in Orange County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Pathways Elementary
Pathways Elementary is a public elementary school in Hillsborough, NC, part of Orange County Schools, serving approximately 352 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 out of 10 and ranks #862 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
What's said publicly about Pathways Elementary
Synthesized from public, attributable sources. Updated May 2026.
Sources (1)
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Pathways Elementary
What grades does Pathways Elementary serve?
Pathways Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend Pathways Elementary?
Pathways Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 352 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Pathways Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at Pathways Elementary is 13.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Pathways Elementary rank in NC?
Pathways Elementary ranks #862 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Pathways Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
Pathways Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.2 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 Pathways Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Pathways Elementary has 60% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 52% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Pathways Elementary a charter school?
No, Pathways Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Pathways Elementary a Title I school?
No, Pathways Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Pathways Elementary?
53.7% of students at Pathways 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.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 352
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 13.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 26
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Fringe Rural
- County
- Orange County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.7%
- Phone
- (919) 732-9136
- Area population (ZIP 27278)
- 28,546
- Area average commute
- 27.2 min
- Area median age
- 44.9
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27278; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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