Best Public Schools in Princeton, NC

The city of Princeton, North Carolina is home to two schools: Princeton High and Princeton Elementary, both part of the Johnston County Public Schools district. While Princeton High performs at an average level compared to other high schools in the state, Princeton Elementary stands out as the higher-performing school in the area, ranking in the top 30% of North Carolina elementary schools.

Princeton Elementary's strong academic performance is evident in its consistently high test scores, which exceed the district and state averages across 3rd-5th grade math, reading, and science assessments. The school also maintains a 4-star rating from SchoolDigger, indicating its sustained excellence over the past three school years. Additionally, Princeton Elementary benefits from a relatively low student-teacher ratio of 14.7, which may contribute to its academic success.

In contrast, while Princeton High is performing at an average level, with a 3-star rating from SchoolDigger, its test scores and ranking suggest there may be room for improvement. The school's high free/reduced lunch rate of 99.71% could be a factor in its academic performance, highlighting the potential socioeconomic challenges faced by the broader Princeton community. Nonetheless, the district's equitable funding, with similar per-student spending levels at both the elementary and high school, suggests a commitment to providing quality education across the board.