An excellent education can open up a world of possibilities. We have so many great schools in the state of North Carolina. Did you know that a bachelor’s degree holder earns approximately $26,000 more a year? A good school will also provide students with the foundational skills they need to succeed in the workforce. This can occur even if pursuing a college degree is not the best postsecondary option.

When deciding where to buy a house, many families look at the school district first. I know that is on the top of my list for the future. In today’s highly competitive housing market, this consideration and ability to choose is not something every family can afford. There are more than 13,000 school districts in the U.S., each of them slightly different. There are several common denominators, when compared, which can serve as indicators of an impactful district.

Thanks to Stacker, a list was compiled of the best school districts in North Carolina based on Niche rankings. According to Niche, school districts are ranked based on academic performance (SAT/ACT scores and state proficiency tests), teacher salaries, expenses per student, and access to extracurricular activities. Check out 10 of the best school districts in North Carolina below.

  • #10. Elkin City Schools (Elkin)

    • Number of schools: 3 (1,219 students)
    • Graduation rate: 77% (62% reading proficient and 53% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $49,027 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #9. Newton Conover City Schools (Newton)

    • Number of schools: 7 (3,001 students)
    • Graduation rate: 94% (44% reading proficient and 38% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $45,303 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #8. Wake County Schools (Cary)

    • Number of schools: 191 (163,404 students)
    • Graduation rate: 90% (56% reading proficient and 50% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $44,525 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #7. Mount Airy City Schools (Mount Airy)

    • Number of schools: 4 (1,640 students)
    • Graduation rate: 87% (47% reading proficient and 43% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $45,948 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #6. Mooresville Graded School District (Mooresville)

    • Number of schools: 8 (6,080 students)
    • Graduation rate: 94% (55% reading proficient and 54% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $43,268 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #5. Asheville City Schools (Asheville)

    • Number of schools: 10 (4,443 students)
    • Graduation rate: 91% (59% reading proficient and 46% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $43,761 (12:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #4. Watauga County Schools (Boone)

    • Number of schools: 10 (4,756 students)
    • Graduation rate: 90% (59% reading proficient and 52% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $44,660 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #3. Union County Public Schools (Monroe)

    • Number of schools: 52 (41,707 students)
    • Graduation rate: 93% (60% reading proficient and 63% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $45,429 (16:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #2. Polk County Schools (Columbus)

    • Number of schools: 20 (12,426 students)
    • Graduation rate: 91% (67% reading proficient and 64% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $45,683 (14:1 student to teacher ratio)
  • #1. Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools (Chapel Hill)

    • Number of schools: 7 (2,201 students)
    • Graduation rate: 92% (62% reading proficient and 58% math proficient)
    • Average teacher salary: $47,040 (13:1 student to teacher ratio)

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