For the 2026 school year, there are 19 public preschools serving 7,646 students in Orange County, NC. The top-ranked public preschools in Orange County, NC are Seawell Elementary School, Morris Grove Elementary School and Hillsborough Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Orange County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 61% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Orange County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Preschools in Orange County (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Seawell Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
9115 Seawell School Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4343
Gr: PK-5 | 416 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #22.
Morris Grove Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
215 Eubanks Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-4800
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-4800
Gr: PK-5 | 383 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #33.
Hillsborough Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
402 North Nash Street
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6137
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6137
Gr: PK-5 | 435 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 23%
Rank: #44.
Mcdougle Elementary School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
890 Old Fayetteville Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-2435
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 969-2435
Gr: PK-5 | 497 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #55.
Estes Hills Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
500 N Estes Dr
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-4753
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-4753
Gr: PK-5 | 336 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #66.
Scroggs Elementary School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
501 Kildaire Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-7165
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-7165
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #77.
Ephesus Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1495 Ephesus Church Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 929-8715
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 929-8715
Gr: PK-5 | 410 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #88.
Carrboro Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
400 Shelton St
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 968-3652
Carrboro, NC 27510
(919) 968-3652
Gr: PK-5 | 515 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #99.
North Chatham Elementary School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
3380 Lystra Road
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 967-3094
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 967-3094
Gr: PK-5 | 588 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1010.
Rashkis Elementary School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
601 Meadowmont Ln
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 918-2160
Chapel Hill, NC 27517
(919) 918-2160
Gr: PK-5 | 455 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1111.
Fpg Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
101 Smith Level Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-6491
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-6491
Gr: PK-5 | 536 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1212.
River Park Elementary School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
240 St. Mary's Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9326
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9326
Gr: PK-5 | 523 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1313.
Northside Elementary School
(Math: 46% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
350 Caldwell St
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2220
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2220
Gr: PK-5 | 412 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1414.
Pathways Elementary School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
431 Strouds Creek Road
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9136
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-9136
Gr: PK-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1515.
New Hope Elementary School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1900 New Hope Church Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-9696
Chapel Hill, NC 27514
(919) 942-9696
Gr: PK-5 | 528 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 73%
Rank: #1616.
Central Elementary School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
154 Hayes St
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-3622
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-3622
Gr: PK-5 | 261 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #1717.
Grady Brown Elementary School
(Math: 34% | Reading: 40%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1100 New Grady Brown Rd
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6138
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 732-6138
Gr: PK-5 | 406 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #1818.
Efland Cheeks Elementary School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 28%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
4401 Fuller Rd
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4042
Efland, NC 27243
(919) 245-4042
Gr: PK-5 | 532 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked public preschools in Orange County, NC?
The top-ranked public preschools in Orange County, NC include Seawell Elementary School, Morris Grove Elementary School and Hillsborough Elementary School. Orange County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public preschools are located in Orange County?
18 public preschools are located in Orange County.
What is the racial composition of students in Orange County?
Orange County public preschools minority enrollment is 52% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Orange County are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public preschools in Orange County include: Central Elementary School vs. River Park Elementary School, Hillsborough Elementary School vs. River Park Elementary School, Morris Grove Elementary School vs. Mcdougle Elementary School
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
