High Schools in Orange County Schools

Orange County Schools operates three high schools in the Hillsborough, NC area — Orange High, Cedar Ridge High, and Partnership Academy — serving grades 9-12. The district itself is ranked 69th out of 246 North Carolina districts, a 4-star rating that places it in the 72nd percentile. Across all three schools, chronic absenteeism and Math I proficiency stand out as the most pressing concerns, though each school has its own distinct strengths and challenges.

Orange High is the district's strongest overall performer. It holds the best state rank (277th out of 662), the highest graduation rate (88.0%), the lowest chronic absenteeism (29.1%), and leads in Biology, Math I, and Math III proficiency. It also improved sharply in every EOC subject from 2024-25 to 2025-26. Cedar Ridge High, which serves a similar share of economically disadvantaged students (47.2% vs. 46.3% at Orange High), excels in English II with a 70.9% proficiency rate that tops the district and state. However, Cedar Ridge lags in Math I at 34.3% vs. the state average of 42.1%, and its state rank slipped to 327th even while several test scores improved, reflecting a more competitive statewide field.

Partnership Academy is a small high-need school with just 40 students, 92.5% free/reduced lunch eligibility, and a 50% chronic absenteeism rate. Despite spending $22,657 per student — more than double the per-student spending at the other two high schools — it posts the lowest graduation rate (62.9%) and a 20% English II proficiency rate. Its small size means a single percentage point can represent very few students, so caution is warranted when interpreting its scores. Ultimately, Orange High leads the district academically, Cedar Ridge is a competitive choice with clear strengths in English, and Partnership Academy faces significant obstacles tied to poverty and attendance. Reducing chronic absenteeism and strengthening Math I instruction would benefit all students across Orange County Schools.