The top-ranked public preschools in North Carolina are White Oak Elementary School, Green Hope Elementary School and Highcroft Elementary School. The cities and towns with the highest concentration of top-ranked public preschools are Waxhaw, Wake Forest and Morrisville.
A school's overall testing rank is based on a it's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. The average percentage of students achieving math proficiency in North Carolina is 51%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 50%.
Top-Ranked Public Preschools in North Carolina (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
White Oak Elementary School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
Math: 96% (Top 1%)
Reading: 92% (Top 1%)
Grades: PK-5
1512 White Oak Church Rd
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 694-0202
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 694-0202
Rank: #22.
Green Hope Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 91% (Top 5%)
Reading: 88% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
2700 Louis Stephens Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Highcroft Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 88% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
5415 Highcroft Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
Mills Park Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 88% (Top 5%)
Reading: 86% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
509 Mills Park Dr
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Rank: #3 - 53. - 5.
New Town Elementary School
(Math: 92% | Reading: 82%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 92% (Top 1%)
Reading: 82% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1100 Waxhaw-indian Tr. Rd.
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 290-1525
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 290-1525
Rank: #66.
Olive Chapel Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 87% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
1751 Olive Chapel Road
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-4440
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-4440
Rank: #77.
Weddington Elementary School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 84% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
3927 Twelve Mile Creek Road
Matthews, NC 28104
(704) 296-6317
Matthews, NC 28104
(704) 296-6317
Rank: #88.
Oak Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 83% (Top 5%)
Grades: PK-5
2050 Oak Ridge Road
Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(336) 643-8410
Oak Ridge, NC 27310
(336) 643-8410
Rank: #99.
Grandy Primary
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-2
175 Nc Hwy 343 North
Camden, NC 27921
(252) 331-4838
Camden, NC 27921
(252) 331-4838
Rank: #1010.
Moravian Falls Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
2001 Moravian Falls Rd
Moravian Falls, NC 28654
(336) 838-4077
Moravian Falls, NC 28654
(336) 838-4077
Rank: #1111.
Hawk Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
9201 Bryant Farms Rd
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-5927
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-5927
Rank: #1212.
Marvin Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 88% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
9700 Marvin School Rd
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 296-6357
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 296-6357
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Cedar Fork Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 81% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1050 Town Hall Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 388-5240
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 388-5240
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Hortons Creek Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 85% (Top 5%)
Reading: 81% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
7615 O'kelly Chapel Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Rank: #1515.
Highland Mill Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-6
3201 Clemson Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Rank: #1616.
Southwest Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1631 Southwest School Drive
Clemmons, NC 27012
(336) 703-4195
Clemmons, NC 27012
(336) 703-4195
Rank: #1717.
Holly Springs Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
Math: 83% (Top 10%)
Reading: 80% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
401 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 557-2660
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 557-2660
Rank: #1818.
Woodland Heights Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 86% (Top 5%)
Reading: 76% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
288 Forest Lake Boulevard
Mooresville, NC 28117
(704) 663-1370
Mooresville, NC 28117
(704) 663-1370
Rank: #1919.
Banner Elk Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Reading: 75-79% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
155 Orchard Lane
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 737-5700
Banner Elk, NC 28604
(828) 737-5700
Rank: #2020.
Scotts Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 76% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
6601 Apex Barbecue Rd
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-0300
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-0300
Rank: #2121.
Holly Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 84% (Top 5%)
Reading: 75% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
900 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1300
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1300
Rank: #2222.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 81% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Rank: #2323.
Lewisville Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 86% (Top 5%)
Reading: 72% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
150 Lucy Lane
Lewisville, NC 27023
(336) 703-4224
Lewisville, NC 27023
(336) 703-4224
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
Rock Springs Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 83% (Top 10%)
Reading: 73% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
3633 Hwy 16 N
Denver, NC 28037
(704) 483-2281
Denver, NC 28037
(704) 483-2281
Rank: #24 - 2524. - 25.
West End Elementary School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 82% (Top 10%)
Reading: 74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
4483 Nc Hwy 211
West End, NC 27376
(910) 673-6691
West End, NC 27376
(910) 673-6691
Rank: #2626.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 76% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Alston Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 78% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
11555 Green Level Church Rd.
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Rank: #27 - 2827. - 28.
Seawell Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 78% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
9115 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Chatham Grove Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 77% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1301 Andrews Store Rd
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 642-7069
Pittsboro, NC 27312
(919) 642-7069
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Jones Dairy Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 75% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1100 Jones Dairy Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-6181
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-6181
Rank: #29 - 3129. - 31.
Parkside Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80% (Top 10%)
Reading: 77% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
332 Parkside Valley Dr
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 694-7888
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 694-7888
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
4083 Wilkesboro Hwy
Statesville, NC 28625
(704) 876-0746
Statesville, NC 28625
(704) 876-0746
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Shoals Elementary School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 80-84% (Top 10%)
Reading: 70-74% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
1800 Shoals Road
Pinnacle, NC 27043
(336) 325-2518
Pinnacle, NC 27043
(336) 325-2518
Rank: #3434.
Sherwood Forest Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 74% (Top 10%)
Grades: PK-5
1055 Yorkshire Road
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 774-4646
Winston Salem, NC 27106
(336) 774-4646
Rank: #3535.
Holly Grove Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
Math: 81% (Top 10%)
Reading: 73% (Top 20%)
Grades: PK-5
1451 Avent Ferry Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1700
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1700
Show 100 more public schools in NC (out of 950 total schools)
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