Orange High

Summary:

Orange High is a public high school located in Hillsborough, North Carolina, serving grades 9-12 with a total enrollment of 1,341 students. The school is part of the Orange County Schools district, which is ranked 125 out of 242 districts in the state and has a 2-star rating from SchoolDigger.

Orange High has a relatively diverse student population, with 55.7% White, 16.85% African American, and 20.06% Hispanic students. Academically, the school's performance is generally on par with or slightly below district and state averages, with proficiency rates ranging from 28.2% in Math I to 70.1% in Math III. The school's statewide ranking has fluctuated over the years, from 152 out of 514 high schools in 2018-2019 to 395 out of 626 high schools in 2022-2023, indicating inconsistent performance compared to other schools in North Carolina. When looking at specific student groups, Orange High's rankings vary, suggesting opportunities to better address the needs of certain subgroups.

Compared to nearby schools, Cedar Ridge High consistently outperforms Orange High, while high-performing schools like Durham School of the Arts and East Chapel Hill High significantly outpace Orange High in academic achievement and statewide rankings. Additionally, Orange High has seen a significant increase in the percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch, from 25.27% in 2020-2021 to 40.79% in 2022-2023, indicating a growing population of students from lower-income households that may require targeted support.


Detail:

Public 9-12

 500 Orange High Rd
       Hillsborough, NC  27278


(919) 732-6133

District: Orange County Schools

SchoolDigger Rank:
294th of 640 North Carolina High Schools

Per Pupil Expenditures:  $9,879 Help


Feeder schools for Orange High:

Elementary:    Central Elementary
    Pathways Elementary
    River Park Elementary
Middle:    Gravelly Hill Middle
    Orange Middle

Student/teacher ratio:  16.4 Help
Number of students:  1,341

Racial breakdown:

White:
55.7%
Hispanic:
20.1%
African American:
16.9%
more

Free/discounted lunch recipients:  40.8% Help


 See top rated North Carolina high schools

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Performance Trends
Help
Compare Details Orange High ranks better than 54.1% of high schools in North Carolina. It also ranks 2nd among 3 ranked high schools in the Orange County Schools District. (See more...)
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Compare Details In 2024 the calculated Average Standard Score was 50.71. (See more...)
Student Body
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Compare Details Orange High has the largest high school student body size in the Orange County Schools District. Student population at Orange High is diverse. Racial makeup is: White (55.7%), Hispanic (20.1%), African American (16.9%). (See more...)
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Compare Details 40.8% of students are receiving a free or discounted lunch. This is the lowest percentage in the Orange County Schools District. (See more...)
Teachers
Help
Compare Details The student/teacher ratio at Orange High is 16.4. 1 high schools in the Orange County Schools District have better student/teacher ratios. (See more...)
Help
Compare Orange High employs 81.3 full-time teachers.
Finance
Help
Compare Details The average total spent per student at Orange High is $9,879, which is the lowest among 3 high schools in the Orange County Schools District!
Schooldigger 2024 Rankings:

Orange High:

SchoolDigger ranks Orange High 294th of 640 North Carolina public high schools. (See Orange High in the ranking list.)

High School Test Score Ratings by Student Subgroup:


Multi-racial students:
English Language Learner students:
Special Education students:
Low Socio Economic Status students:
Female students:
Gifted and Talented students:
Male students:
African American students:
Hispanic students:
White students:


Orange County Schools:

SchoolDigger ranks Orange County Schools 125th of 242 North Carolina school districts. (See district ranking list.)

Average Parent Rating:

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Rank History for Orange High

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Rank History for all students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2006 57.24 169th 431 60.8%
2007 56.05 183rd 453 59.6%
2008 63.62 120th 477 74.8%
2009 55.15 214th 490 56.3%
2010 63.07 156th 499 68.7%
2011 60.19 183rd 506 63.8%
2012 47.55 252nd 502 49.8%
2013 41.21 223rd 505 55.8%
2014 42.18 206th 451 54.3%
2015 44.39 225th 531 57.6%
2016 46.57 188th 507 62.9%
2017 57.62 145th 476 69.5%
2018 68.12 110th 469 76.5%
2019 58.85 152nd 514 70.4%
2021 48.75 281st 594 52.7%
2022 42.18 340th 621 45.2%
2023 35.66 395th 626 36.9%
2024 50.71 294th 640 54.1%
See the entire list of North Carolina High School Rankings!

Rank History for Multi-racial students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 84.78 17th 185 90.8%
2019 63.32 58th 195 70.3%
2021 89.41 9th 199 95.5%
2022 36.52 143rd 226 36.7%
2023 14.37 224th 249 10.0%
2024 57.60 99th 261 62.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Multi-racial Students!

Rank History for English Language Learner students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 33.41 93rd 147 36.7%
2019 51.76 62nd 173 64.2%
2021 31.77 86th 124 30.6%
2022 33.36 91st 156 41.7%
2023 35.36 132nd 226 41.6%
2024 60.47 53rd 262 79.8%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for English Language Learner Students!

Rank History for Special Education students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2024 25.02 285th 349 18.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Special Education Students!

Rank History for Low Socio Economic Status students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.01 206th 424 51.4%
2019 33.63 267th 446 40.1%
2021 36.80 215th 432 50.2%
2022 24.03 438th 544 19.5%
2023 22.12 492nd 597 17.6%
2024 40.34 329th 613 46.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Low Socio Economic Status Students!

Rank History for Female students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.88 99th 449 78.0%
2019 62.43 128th 475 73.1%
2021 43.37 226th 475 52.4%
2022 41.65 344th 594 42.1%
2023 33.95 393rd 588 33.2%
2024 45.86 318th 602 47.2%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Female Students!

Rank History for Disabled students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 43.10 163rd 349 53.3%
2019 59.77 94th 364 74.2%
2021 44.84 145th 334 56.6%
2022 48.02 125th 330 62.1%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Disabled Students!

Rank History for Gifted and Talented students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2019 60.10 131st 325 59.7%
2021 63.92 126th 337 62.6%
2022 52.53 234th 398 41.2%
2023 27.47 352nd 403 12.7%
2024 53.03 248th 403 38.5%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Gifted and Talented Students!

Rank History for Male students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 64.57 118th 463 74.5%
2019 53.30 180th 488 63.1%
2021 51.13 175th 481 63.6%
2022 41.11 324th 585 44.6%
2023 35.37 382nd 602 36.5%
2024 53.27 263rd 607 56.7%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Male Students!

Rank History for African American students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 44.19 164th 359 54.3%
2019 44.37 150th 369 59.3%
2021 34.31 198th 364 45.6%
2022 34.92 253rd 430 41.2%
2023 34.43 266th 434 38.7%
2024 37.10 254th 437 41.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for African American Students!

Rank History for Hispanic students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 40.45 184th 340 45.9%
2019 38.94 191st 354 46.0%
2021 27.67 267th 370 27.8%
2022 14.61 407th 436 6.7%
2023 20.95 385th 449 14.3%
2024 43.84 230th 454 49.3%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for Hispanic Students!

Rank History for White students at Orange High

Year Avg Standard Score Statewide Rank Total # Ranked High Schools NC State Percentile SchoolDigger Rating
2018 70.76 102nd 427 76.1%
2019 63.02 123rd 444 72.3%
2021 56.47 148th 439 66.3%
2022 51.54 257th 534 51.9%
2023 41.26 313th 537 41.7%
2024 56.45 244th 553 55.9%
See the entire list of Best North Carolina High Schools for White Students!

Data source: test scores: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction, rankings: SchoolDigger.com

As you review the school rankings data, please be aware that some of the information from certain demographics is missing. The reason for this omission is that the data has been redacted from the source data itself due to low population samples in these specific demographic groups.

Redacting data from low population samples is a necessary step to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results, as small sample sizes may not be representative of the broader population. Additionally, this measure helps protect the privacy of individuals belonging to these demographic groups.

Orange High Test Scores
Tests: 
  
Grades: 
  
Years: 
  
Group by: 
District Scores:
State Scores:    
  
Subgroup: 



Data source: North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction

Review counts

All ratings (Avg rating: 5)
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Enrollment information for Orange High

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Compare
Year White African American Asian Hispanic American Indian Pacific Islander Two or More Races Not Specified Total
1988 1030 466 6 5 2 n/a n/a 0 1509
1989 1015 433 8 5 3 n/a n/a 0 1464
1990 977 383 5 4 2 n/a n/a -5 1366
1991 954 381 7 3 1 n/a n/a 0 1346
1992 970 376 6 7 2 n/a n/a -6 1355
1993 1019 410 4 8 4 n/a n/a 0 1445
1994 1054 398 7 16 5 n/a n/a 0 1480
1995 1119 382 6 22 2 n/a n/a 0 1531
1996 1119 382 6 22 2 n/a n/a 0 1531
1997 1165 393 5 23 3 n/a n/a 0 1589
1998 1162 403 5 18 4 n/a n/a 0 1592
1999 1173 418 8 22 1 n/a n/a 0 1622
2000 1197 399 11 33 3 n/a n/a 0 1643
2001 1232 377 14 44 4 n/a n/a 0 1671
2002 864 257 12 23 5 n/a n/a 0 1161
2003 864 257 12 23 5 n/a n/a 0 1161
2004 705 220 7 22 3 n/a n/a 0 957
2005 721 256 6 30 4 n/a n/a 0 1017
2006 702 253 6 44 5 n/a n/a 0 1010
2007 776 290 6 55 3 n/a n/a 20 1150
2008 756 296 7 58 2 n/a n/a 19 1138
2009 805 322 8 66 2 n/a n/a 0 1203
2010 781 337 7 89 1 n/a n/a 0 1215
2011 804 273 6 91 2 0 19 0 1195
2012 798 288 3 102 2 0 19 0 1212
2013 800 272 1 116 3 0 23 0 1215
2014 836 265 4 124 4 0 30 0 1263
2015 875 250 2 147 5 1 25 0 1305
2016 869 242 2 163 2 1 33 0 1312
2017 820 213 6 180 3 1 38 0 1261
2018 828 198 9 205 4 0 46 0 1290
2019 794 207 11 227 3 0 50 0 1292
2020 794 192 14 228 3 0 57 0 1288
2021 770 214 15 229 2 0 68 0 1298
2022 784 230 15 247 1 1 68 0 1346
2023 747 226 16 269 0 1 82 0 1341

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Enrollment/Ethnicity

For more information about how the Department of Education defines ethnicity, see Defining Race and Ethnicity Data, National Center for Education Statistics

Students eligible for free or discounted lunch at Orange High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1509 87.0 17.3 7.1
1989 1464 87.0 16.8 28.2
1990 1366 87.0 15.7 20.4
1991 1346 87.0 15.4 20.7
1992 1355 87.0 15.5 2.4
1993 1445 86.0 16.8 5
1994 1480 87.0 17.0 5
1995 1531 92.0 16.6 7.1
1996 1531 92.0 16.6 7.1
1997 1589 95.0 16.7 6.2
1998 1592 105.0 15.2 7.2
1999 1622 105.0 15.4 8
2000 1643 105.0 15.6 9.1
2001 1671 105.0 15.9 9.6
2002 1161 78.0 14.9 15.8
2003 1161 78.0 14.9 15.8
2004 957 78.0 12.3 17.8
2005 1017 60.0 17.0 20.3
2006 1010 60.0 16.8 21.2
2007 1150 66.7 17.2 24.4
2008 1138 72.9 15.6 22.7
2009 1203 76.3 15.8 24.9
2010 1215 76.8 15.8 32.6
2011 1195 76.3 15.6 33.1
2012 1212 76.9 15.7 35.4
2013 1215 80.0 15.1 35.6
2014 1263 81.8 15.4 34.1
2015 1305 79.0 16.5 34.2
2016 1312 82.0 16.0 32.5
2017 1261 83.0 15.1 32.4
2018 1290 82.7 15.5 29.1
2019 1292 79.9 16.1 30.3
2020 1288 79.9 16.1 30.8
2021 1298 83.8 15.4 25.3
2022 1346 79.0 17.0 33.1
2023 1341 81.3 16.4 40.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Students eligible for discounted/free lunch:

The National School Lunch Program (NSLP) provides low-cost or free meals to students in U.S. public and nonprofit private schools based on household income. Those with incomes below 130% of the poverty line receive free lunch, while those between 130% and 185% qualify for reduced-price lunch. The percentage of students receiving free or reduced-price lunch serves as a marker for poverty, as it reflects the socioeconomic status of families in a given school or district. A higher FRPL rate typically indicates a higher concentration of low-income families, suggesting that the school or district may face additional challenges in providing adequate resources and support for student success.

Student/Teacher Ratio Orange High

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Compare
Year # Students Full-time Teachers Student/Teacher ratio % Free/Discounted Lunch
1988 1509 87.0 17.3 7.1
1989 1464 87.0 16.8 28.2
1990 1366 87.0 15.7 20.4
1991 1346 87.0 15.4 20.7
1992 1355 87.0 15.5 2.4
1993 1445 86.0 16.8 5
1994 1480 87.0 17.0 5
1995 1531 92.0 16.6 7.1
1996 1531 92.0 16.6 7.1
1997 1589 95.0 16.7 6.2
1998 1592 105.0 15.2 7.2
1999 1622 105.0 15.4 8
2000 1643 105.0 15.6 9.1
2001 1671 105.0 15.9 9.6
2002 1161 78.0 14.9 15.8
2003 1161 78.0 14.9 15.8
2004 957 78.0 12.3 17.8
2005 1017 60.0 17.0 20.3
2006 1010 60.0 16.8 21.2
2007 1150 66.7 17.2 24.4
2008 1138 72.9 15.6 22.7
2009 1203 76.3 15.8 24.9
2010 1215 76.8 15.8 32.6
2011 1195 76.3 15.6 33.1
2012 1212 76.9 15.7 35.4
2013 1215 80.0 15.1 35.6
2014 1263 81.8 15.4 34.1
2015 1305 79.0 16.5 34.2
2016 1312 82.0 16.0 32.5
2017 1261 83.0 15.1 32.4
2018 1290 82.7 15.5 29.1
2019 1292 79.9 16.1 30.3
2020 1288 79.9 16.1 30.8
2021 1298 83.8 15.4 25.3
2022 1346 79.0 17.0 33.1
2023 1341 81.3 16.4 40.8

Data source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Dept of Education.

About Student-Teacher Ratio

Student/teacher ratio is calculated by dividing the total number of students by the total number of full-time equivalent teachers. Please note that a smaller student/teacher ratio does not necessarily translate to smaller class size. In some instances, schools hire teachers part time, and some teachers are hired for specialized instruction with very small class sizes. These and other factors contribute to the student/teacher ratio. Note: For private schools, Student/teacher ratio may not include Pre-Kindergarten.
Finances

Per Pupil Expenditures for Orange High

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YearExpenditures from Federal FundsExpenditures from State and Local FundsTotal Expenditures Per Pupil (All Funds)
2019 $469 (4.7%) $9,410 (95.3%) $9,879

Data source: North Carolina Department of Education
Pre and Post Pandemic Data

Impact of COVID-19 on Orange High

The coronavirus has had a profound impact on education in America. Learning shifted online overnight, attendance numbers dwindled, and enrollment decreased. SchoolDigger.com is making it easier for you to better assess how COVID-19 has impacted your school. Through the collection of pre-pandemic (2019) and current data, SchoolDigger.com is sharing test scores, enrollment numbers and school demographics from schools across the country – and we make it easy to see how impacted schools compare locally and statewide.

Rankings

Rank
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Rank
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Ranks 152nd of 514 High schoolsRanks 395th of 626 High schools
 33.5%

Test Scores

% proficient
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
% proficient
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
End of Course Biology (Orange High)61.955.1
 6.8%
   End of Course Biology (Orange County Schools)57.954.4
 3.5%
   End of Course Biology (North Carolina)59.654.1
 5.5%
End of Course English II (Orange High)65.952.6
 13.3%
   End of Course English II (Orange County Schools)64.559.9
 4.6%
   End of Course English II (North Carolina)59.758.5
 1.2%
End of Course Math I (Orange High)44.521.1
 23.4%
   End of Course Math I (Orange County Schools)4734.1
 12.9%
   End of Course Math I (North Carolina)41.235.9
 5.3%
End of Course Math III (Orange High)57.945.7
 12.2%
   End of Course Math III (Orange County Schools)6352.4
 10.6%
   End of Course Math III (North Carolina)46.858.3
 11.5%

Student Body

Number of students
Pre-pandemic (2018-2019)
Number of students
Post pandemic (2022-2023)
Change (%)
Total Students12921341
 3.8%
African American207226
 9.2%
American Indian30
 100%
Asian1116
 45.5%
Hispanic227269
 18.5%
Pacific Islander01
White794747
 5.9%
Two or More Races5082
 64%
% Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients30.3%40.8%
 10.5%


Schools Near Orange High









Frequently Asked Questions about Orange High

Orange High ranks 294th of 640 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 3 stars out of 5.

Orange High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Central Elementary
Elementary : Pathways Elementary
Elementary : River Park Elementary
Middle : Gravelly Hill Middle
Middle : Orange Middle

In the 2022-23 school year, 1,341 students attended Orange High.

Students at Orange High are 56% White, 20% Hispanic, 17% African American, 6% Two or more races, 1% Asian.


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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.





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