Carrboro High

Carrboro High is a traditional public high school in Carrboro, NC, serving about 885 students in grades 9–12 as part of the highly regarded Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools district. While the district ranks in the 89th percentile statewide, Carrboro High itself has declined steadily over the past decade from a 5-star, top-10% school to a 3-star school now sitting at the 51st percentile statewide. The school serves a more economically diverse population than its same-district peers, with about 30% of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, and it enjoys a favorable student-teacher ratio of 13.7 to 1.

Academically, Carrboro High consistently trails its main in-district rivals. On 2025-2026 End-of-Course tests, proficiency rates were roughly 13–23 points lower than East Chapel Hill High and Chapel Hill High in Biology, English II, and Math III. Even more concerning is chronic absenteeism: 38.4% of Carrboro students were chronically absent in 2024-2025, roughly double the district average and 14 points above the state average. Out-of-district schools like Panther Creek High and Seaforth High, both about 11 miles away, outperform Carrboro on every tested subject while spending far less per student.

That said, the school shows notable strengths in certain areas. Carrboro High serves special education students exceptionally well, ranking at the 93rd percentile statewide compared to similar students at other North Carolina high schools, and its multi-racial and white students also perform strongly. Graduation rates recently recovered to 92.7%, and the school spends about 15% more per student than East Chapel Hill or Chapel Hill High. However, outcomes for Hispanic, English Learner, and economically disadvantaged students rank near the bottom statewide, and attendance remains the clearest area for improvement.