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Average

#1053 of 2,648 schools in NC

Top 40% in state

River Park Elementary

Elementary School · Orange County Schools

240 St. Mary's Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278

Enrollment

555

Student-Teacher

13.5:1

Score

6.9

Grades

Pre-K – 5th

Data vintage2022-23

How this school compares

North Carolina schools

#1,053 of 2,648

In Hillsborough

#7 of 12

public schools

In district

#6 of 13

Orange County Schools

School environment

9.6 / 10

Excellent

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River Park Elementary

6.9/10

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

Pathways Elementary

7.2/10

Hillsborough, NC. Compare side by side with River Park Elementary before ruling this option in or out.

Hillsborough Christian Academy

6.5/10

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

About River Park Elementary

River Park Elementary is a public elementary school in Hillsborough, NC, part of Orange County Schools. River Park Elementary serves approximately 555 students, and covers grades Pre-K-5th, and has a 13.5:1 student-teacher ratio. River Park Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 out of 10 and ranks #1,053 of 2,648 schools in NC.

Structured state assessment records for River Park Elementary show 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

How it comparesOn par with district
  • This school 6.9 · Average
  • District avg 6.7
  • NC avg 6.4

Score Breakdown

Full Profile · 3/3 metrics
Student Progress5.1Average50%
Year-over-year improvement in student test scores.
View breakdown
Years of Data15
Annual Change-1.81 pts/yr
Data Period2009–2025
TrendDeclining
Academics8.1Excellent30%
Student proficiency on state tests, adjusted for community poverty levels.
View breakdown
Math Proficiency73.5% (2025 NC)
Reading/ELA Proficiency65.3% (2025 NC)
Math vs. State Avg+9.7 pts
Reading vs. State Avg+18.7 pts
Overall Proficiency69% (2025 NC, Math+ELA)
Expected (poverty-adj.)66% (model expectation from 2025 NC)
vs. Expected+3.3 pts
Adjusted Percentile71th
Resources & Environment9.6Excellent20%
Student-teacher ratio, per-pupil spending, and attendance.
View breakdown
Student-Teacher Ratio13.5:1
Per-Pupil Spending$14,399
Chronic Absenteeism18.7%

River Park Elementary — Students at River Park Elementary score 69% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 66%).

How we calculate scores →

Equity & Diversity

Shown separately, not included in overall score

Free/Reduced Lunch

35.5%

Students qualifying for federal meal assistance

Test Scores NC NC (2024-25)

Math Proficiency 67.9% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
School
State
59.4% (2025 NC)
ELA Proficiency 61.4% (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
92%
ELA
78%
2010
Math
93%
ELA
84%
2011
Math
93%
ELA
82%
2012
Math
68%
ELA
61%
2013
Math
64%
ELA
58%
2014
Math
66%
ELA
61%
2015
Math
69%
ELA
54%
2016
Math
67%
ELA
56%
2017
Math
62%
ELA
54%
2018
Math
52%
ELA
49%
2019
Math
52%
ELA
49%
2020*
Math
45%
ELA
52%
2021*
Math
45%
ELA
52%
2022
Math
60.3%
ELA
57%
2025
Math
73.6%
ELA
64.7%

* 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: 5.1/10.

How River Park Elementary Compares

See how River Park Elementary performs across key quality dimensions compared to state benchmarks.

Overall Score
6.9/10
60th percentile in NC
Academic
8.1/10
Excellent
Growth
5.1/10
Average
Environment
9.6/10
Excellent
Gifted & Talented
Yes
Program available

Funding & Resources

Free/Reduced Lunch
Students eligible for subsidized meals
36%
Teaching Staff
14:1 student-teacher ratio
41 teachers
Chronic Absenteeism
Students missing 15+ days per year (SY 2022-23)
18.7%

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

240 St. Mary's Road, Hillsborough, NC 27278

Nearby Alternatives

Families considering River Park Elementary may also want to explore other elementary schools in the area. The Expedition School (rated 9.5/10, 1.2 miles away), which scores notably higher. Another option is Morris Grove Elementary (rated 8.9/10, 7.7 miles away, in nearby Chapel Hill), which scores notably higher. Additionally, Hillsborough Elementary (rated 8.8/10, 1.0 miles away), which scores notably higher. For more schools in Hillsborough, see our Hillsborough schools guide .

Nearby Schools

20 within 9.1 mi
School Distance Rating
HILLSBOROUGH CHRISTIAN ACADEMY Hillsborough 0.7 mi 6.5
Orange Middle Hillsborough 0.9 mi 6.7
Orange High Hillsborough 1.1 mi 7.1
Hillsborough Elementary Hillsborough 1.0 mi 8.8
Partnership Academy Hillsborough 1.1 mi 4.5
The Expedition School Hillsborough 1.2 mi 9.5
Central Elementary Hillsborough 1.2 mi 5.9
Eno River Academy Hillsborough 2.0 mi 8.1
Pathways Elementary Hillsborough 2.4 mi 7.2
Cedar Ridge High Hillsborough 2.4 mi 7.6
Grady Brown Elementary Hillsborough 2.5 mi 4.9
A L Stanback Middle Hillsborough 3.6 mi 5.9
New Hope Elementary Chapel Hill 4.1 mi 5.3
EMERSON WALDORF SCHOOL Chapel Hill 6.3 mi 7.0
Efland Cheeks Elementary Efland 5.3 mi 7.6
CAROLINA FRIENDS SCHOOL Durham 6.2 mi 7.7
Gravelly Hill Middle Efland 5.9 mi 5.3
Morris Grove Elementary Chapel Hill 7.7 mi 8.9
TRIANGLE DAY SCHOOL Durham 7.5 mi 7.2
Chapel Hill High Chapel Hill 9.1 mi 8.2

Neighborhood Census ACS (2019-2023)

Census data for ZIP 27278 (ACS 2019-2023 5-Year Estimates) · Data sources

Median Income

$101,821

Median Home Value

$380,000

Median Rent

$1,294/mo

Population

28,546

College Educated

53.8%

Homeownership

77.3%

Avg Commute

27.2 min

Poverty Rate

7.3%

Median Age

44.9

Similar Schools

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

School Rating
Audrey W. Garrett Elementary Mebane, NC 6.9
Bearfield Primary Ahoskie, NC 6.9
David D Jones Elementary Greensboro, NC 6.9
Davis-Townsend Elementary Lexington, NC 6.9
Douglas Elementary Raleigh, NC 6.9
E E Miller Elementary Fayetteville, NC 6.9

Compare River Park Elementary with similar schools nearby

Side-by-side ratings, test scores, and demographics for the schools parents most often weigh against this one.

Frequently Asked Questions

Common questions about River Park Elementary

What grades does River Park Elementary serve?

River Park Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.

How many students attend River Park Elementary?

River Park Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 555 students.

What is the student-teacher ratio at River Park Elementary?

The student-teacher ratio at River Park 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 River Park Elementary rank in NC?

River Park Elementary ranks #1,053 of 2,648 schools in NC.

What is River Park Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?

River Park Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 6.9 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 River Park Elementary?

Based on loaded state assessment records, River Park Elementary has 68% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 61% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).

Is River Park Elementary a charter school?

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

Is River Park Elementary a Title I school?

No, River Park Elementary is not currently a Title I school.

What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for River Park Elementary?

35.5% of students at River Park 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
44 Car-Dependent
Bike Score
50 Bikeable

Powered by Walk Score

Compare This School

How does River Park Elementary stack up?

Pathways Elementary
7.2

Quick Facts NCES CCD (SY 2022-23)

Grades
Pre-K – 5th
Enrollment
555
Student-Teacher Ratio
13.5:1
Teachers (FTE)
41
Free/Reduced Lunch
35.5%
Type
regular
Setting
Fringe Town
County
Orange County
Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
18.7%

District

Orange County Schools
District Enrollment
7,067
Schools in District
13
Per-Pupil Spending
$14,399
District Rank
#6 of 13

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