Total enrollment
19,543
-994 (-5%) vs SY 2017-18
Orange County
North Carolina · Public K-12
Orange County, North Carolina operates 38 public K-12 schools today, enrolling approximately 19,582 students (about 515 per campus). By level, that breaks down as 21 elementary, 7 middle, and 8 high schools.
7-year change in Orange County
SY 2017-18 vs SY 2024-25School count
34
-1 (-3%) vs SY 2017-18
% White
49%
was 54%
% Hispanic
22%
was 19%
% Black
12%
was 12%
% Asian
9%
was 9%
Source: NCES Common Core of Data, enrollment-weighted demographic averages
Schools
38
6 districts
Enrollment
19,582
NCES CCD
Median income
$90,089
Above North Carolina avg
Free/reduced lunch
39.6%
Below North Carolina avg
Elementary
21
8,196 students
Middle
7
4,231 students
High
8
6,327 students
Combined / other
2
828 students
LARGEST DISTRICT
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools
11,392 students · 6 districts in Orange County
County vs. school enrollment demographics
Left bar is the racial makeup of Orange County residents (Census ACS 5-year). Right bar is the enrollment-weighted makeup of public schools in the county (NCES CCD). NCES systematically under-reports Hispanic, Pacific Islander, and Native American enrollment for many schools; where the resident share is meaningful but the reported school share is zero, we mark the school bar "not reported".
County residents
School enrollment
Bachelor's+
61.8%
adults 25+
Poverty rate
5.1%
ACS 5-year
Unemployment
3.6%
civilian labor
Median age
36
18.9% under 18
Test scores in Orange County
Latest 2024-25 ELA proficiency, 30 schools ranked. North Carolina state average: 51.8%.
Top 5 schools (ELA)
- East Chapel Hill High· 87.5%
- Glenwood Elementary· 81.0%
- Chapel Hill High· 80.8%
- Morris Grove Elementary· 78.4%
- Hillsborough Elementary· 77.1%
Lowest 5 schools (ELA)
- Central Elementary· 41.2%
- New Hope Elementary· 45.1%
- A L Stanback Middle· 49.1%
- Gravelly Hill Middle· 51.0%
- Northside Elementary· 51.6%
| Name | City | Level | Grades | Enrollment | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chapel Hill High | Chapel Hill | High | 09-12 | 1,608 | · |
| East Chapel Hill High | Chapel Hill | High | 09-12 | 1,419 | · |
| Orange High | Hillsborough | High | 09-12 | 1,161 | · |
| Cedar Ridge High | Hillsborough | High | 09-12 | 1,148 | · |
| Carrboro High | Carrboro | High | 09-12 | 885 | · |
| Eno River Academy | Hillsborough | Combined | KG-12 | 828 | · |
| Smith Middle | Chapel Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 763 | · |
| McDougle Middle | Chapel Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 659 | · |
| A L Stanback Middle | Hillsborough | Middle | 06-08 | 648 | · |
| Culbreth Middle | Chapel Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 632 | · |
| Phillips Middle | Chapel Hill | Middle | 06-08 | 600 | · |
| FPG Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 536 | · |
| Efland Cheeks Elementary | Efland | Elementary | PK-05 | 532 | · |
| New Hope Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 528 | · |
| River Park Elementary | Hillsborough | Elementary | PK-05 | 523 | · |
| Carrboro Elementary | Carrboro | Elementary | PK-05 | 515 | · |
| Orange Middle | Hillsborough | Middle | 06-08 | 514 | · |
| McDougle Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 497 | · |
| Rashkis Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 455 | · |
| Hillsborough Elementary | Hillsborough | Elementary | PK-05 | 435 | · |
| Seawell Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 416 | · |
| Gravelly Hill Middle | Efland | Middle | 06-08 | 415 | · |
| Northside Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 412 | · |
| Ephesus Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 410 | · |
| Scroggs Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 410 | · |
| Grady Brown Elementary | Hillsborough | Elementary | PK-05 | 406 | · |
| Glenwood Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | KG-05 | 390 | · |
| Morris Grove Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 383 | · |
| The Expedition School | Hillsborough | Elementary | KG-08 | 380 | · |
| Pathways Elementary | Hillsborough | Elementary | PK-05 | 371 | · |
| Estes Hills Elementary | Chapel Hill | Elementary | PK-05 | 336 | · |
| Central Elementary | Hillsborough | Elementary | PK-05 | 261 | · |
| Partnership Academy | Hillsborough | High | 09-12 | 40 | · |
| Virtual Academy School | Chapel Hill | High | 09-12 | 39 | · |
| Phoenix Academy High | Chapel Hill | High | 08-12 | 27 | · |
| UNC Hospital School | Chapel Hill | Combined | PK-12 | 0 | · |
| Carolina Achieve | Mebane | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
| West Triangle High School | Mebane | Elementary | M-M | · | · |
Cities in Orange County
About Orange County
In North Carolina, Orange County is a middle-population county of about 149,678 residents. 38 public schools across the county instructs about 19,582 students between them.
Looking at the broader picture, census numbers show the median household earns about $90,089 a year, 62% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher, and the poverty rate is around 5%. That income level is 43% higher than the North Carolina median.
In terms of grade levels, Orange County is made up of 21 elementary schools (8,196 students), 7 middle schools (4,231), 8 high schools (6,327), and 2 combined or other schools.
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools dominates the local landscape, accounting for roughly 11,392 students on its own.
Looking at the last 7 years. Total public-school enrollment in Orange County has decreased 5% since SY 2017-18, moving from about 20,537 students to 19,543. Over that span, Orange County lost 1 school, going from 35 to 34. The White share of public-school enrollment shrank from 54% to 49%.
On this page, the community for Orange County discusses open enrollment windows, redistricting talk, and busing logistics. Members of the local community share what they see day-to-day.
Frequently asked questions
Orange County school rankings
DATA · Census ACS 5-year · NCES Common Core of Data