Best Public Schools in Bunnlevel, NC

Bunnlevel, North Carolina has just two public schools—Anderson Creek Primary and South Harnett Elementary—which together form the town's entire K–5 elementary pipeline, as there are no middle or high schools in the area. Both schools belong to the Harnett County Schools district, which ranks in the 30th percentile statewide with a 2-star rating. Anderson Creek Primary serves grades PK–2 and enrolls 553 students, while South Harnett Elementary serves grades 3–5 with 476 students. Since EOG testing begins in grade 3, Anderson Creek has no test-based ranking, making South Harnett the only Bunnlevel school with direct academic data.

South Harnett Elementary is the clear academic standout, not because it tops any state charts—it still trails state averages in most subjects—but because of its sharp improvement. Its state ranking climbed from the 18th percentile in 2023–2024 to the 33rd percentile in 2025–2026, and its star rating improved from 1 to 2 stars. Every EOG subject improved over the past year, led by big 3rd grade gains: math rose from 34.2% to 51.6% and reading from 29.0% to 45.8%. By 5th grade, the school now outperforms its district in math, reading, and science. Anderson Creek Primary stands out for the challenges it faces instead: 98.19% of students qualify for free/reduced-price lunch and 29.6% are chronically absent, well above district and state averages.

For parents weighing the two schools, poverty is nearly universal at both, with free/reduced-price lunch eligibility above 97% and student-teacher ratios around 14 to 1. The main differences are spending and attendance. Anderson Creek spends $10,316 per student versus $8,707 at South Harnett, and yet it also has the higher absenteeism rate: 29.6% of its students are chronically absent, versus 23.5% at South Harnett (below district and state levels). The biggest academic weakness is 3rd grade, where proficiency trails district and state benchmarks, though the steep recent gains at South Harnett signal real momentum. Because Anderson Creek feeds directly into South Harnett, early attendance and learning in the primary grades will shape the results seen in later years.