Pine Springs Preparatory Academy

Pine Springs Preparatory Academy is a large K–8 public charter school in Holly Springs, NC, serving 1,258 students and earning a 5-star statewide rating in the 91st percentile. The school has remained in the top 10–15% of North Carolina schools for at least seven years, with rankings ranging from the 87th to 94th percentile in recent years, so its strong performance is no one-year fluke.

Academically, Pine Springs beats state averages in every subject and grade tested. Reading is its standout subject, with proficiency between 74.9% and 81.9% across grades 3–8. Science results are exceptional too: 5th-grade science proficiency sits at an impressive 91.9%, trailing only Scotts Ridge Elementary and Oakview Elementary among nearby schools. Math is solid overall but varies by grade, with 8th-grade math the lowest area at 65.3% proficiency. Pine Springs also outperforms the Wake County Schools district average in every elementary subject tested, and all reported student subgroups score above the state median — a sign of broad effectiveness. That said, the school faces stiff local competition: among ten nearby schools, it ranks sixth, behind strong performers including Scotts Ridge, Oakview, Holly Grove Elementary, Holly Ridge Elementary, and Holly Springs Elementary.

Chronic absenteeism runs at 12.2% — far better than the North Carolina average of 24.2% and the Wake County average of 20.5%, but a bit higher than several top local elementary schools. The student-teacher ratio has improved steadily to 15.1:1, comparable to Scotts Ridge. For families, Pine Springs' biggest advantage is K–8 continuity, extending well beyond the PK–5 structure of neighboring public elementary schools while keeping students above state standards through 8th grade. The main trade-offs are modest: some grade-level math variation, slightly higher absenteeism than the best local peers, and an exceptionally strong local market where several nearby public schools post even higher elementary test scores.