Best Public Schools in Hillsborough, NC

The city of Hillsborough, North Carolina is home to a diverse set of 12 schools, including 6 elementary schools, 2 middle schools, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative school. The schools in this area exhibit a wide range of academic performance, with some standout institutions like Hillsborough Elementary and The Expedition School ranking among the top schools in the state, while others struggle with lower test scores and graduation rates.

Hillsborough Elementary and The Expedition School, both public schools, stand out as exceptional performers, ranking in the top 5% and top 3.5% of elementary schools in North Carolina, respectively. These schools boast impressive proficiency rates in math and reading, well above the state and district averages. In contrast, some schools like Partnership Academy, the district's alternative high school, struggle with much lower test scores and graduation rates.

The data also reveals significant disparities in student demographics and per-pupil spending across the Orange County Schools district. Free and reduced-price lunch rates range from 17.97% at Hillsborough Elementary to 93.02% at Partnership Academy, indicating a wide socioeconomic diversity. Per-student spending also varies widely, from $9,879 at Orange High to $22,657 at Partnership Academy. These factors likely contribute to the significant performance gaps observed across the district.