Best Elementary Schools in the Raleigh, NC Area

Are you looking for information on the top public elementary schools in the Raleigh area? Below you'll find rankings on some of the best Raleigh-area elementary schools including Davis Drive Elementary School, Mills Park Elementary School, Sycamore Creek Elementary School, and Green Hope Elementary School. We also have data to help you compare such top traditional public elementary schools to the area's best charter schools including Magellan Charter School, Endeavor Charter School, Quest Academy, and Exploris Middle School.

The list below is not meant be used as a definitive guide to which Raleigh-area elementary school would be best for any individual child. For schools that are close to one another in rankings, differences in available data are in most cases very small.

Top Elementary Schools in the Raleigh Area

Rank	School Name	City	School Type	Grades Served
1	Davis Drive Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	K-5
2	Magellan Charter School	Raleigh, NC	Charter	3-8
3	Mills Park Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
4	Quest Academy	Raleigh, NC	Charter	K-8
5	Endeavor Charter School	Wake Forest, NC	Charter	K-8
6	Sycamore Creek Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
7	Green Hope Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
8	Triangle Math and Science Academy	Cary, NC	Charter	K-11
9	Morrisville Elementary School	Morrisville, NC	Regular	K-5
10	Holly Springs Elementary School	Holly Springs, NC	Regular	PK-5
11	Jones Dairy Elementary School	Wake Forest, NC	Regular	PK-5
12	Olive Chapel Elementary School	Apex, NC	Regular	PK-5
13	Highcroft Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
14	Holly Ridge Elementary School	Holly Springs, NC	Regular	PK-5
15	Holly Grove Elementary School	Holly Springs, NC	Regular	PK-5
16	Cedar Fork Elementary School	Morrisville, NC	Regular	PK-5
17	Exploris Middle School	Raleigh, NC	Charter	K-8
18	Alston Ridge Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
19	Pleasant Union Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
20	Willow Springs Elementary School	Willow Spring, NC	Regular	K-5
21	Heritage Elementary School	Wake Forest, NC	Regular	PK-5
22	Cleveland Elementary School	Clayton, NC	Regular	PK-5
23	Penny Road Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	K-5
24	Weatherstone Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
25	Carpenter Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
26	Baucom Elementary School	Apex, NC	Regular	PK-5
27	Lacy Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
28	Wake Forest Charter Academy	Wake Forest, NC	Charter	K-8
29	Turner Creek Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
30	Farmington Woods Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
31	Envision Science Academy	Wake Forest, NC	Charter	K-8
32	Underwood Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
33	Franklin Academy	Wake Forest, NC	Charter	K-12
34	Leesville Road Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
35	Laurel Park Elementary School	Apex, NC	Regular	PK-5
36	Combs Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
37	Olds Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
38	Oak Grove Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
39	Apex Elementary School	Apex, NC	Regular	PK-5
40	West Lake Elementary School	Apex, NC	Regular	PK-5
41	Northwoods Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
42	East Wake Academy	Zebulon, NC	Charter	K-12
43	Brassfield Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
44	Brooks Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
45	Jeffreys Grove Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
46	Cardinal Charter School	Cary, NC	Charter	K-8
47	North Forest Pines Drive Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
48	Middle Creek Elementary School	Apex, NC	Regular	PK-5
49	Root Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
50	Cary Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
51	Washington Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
52	Joyner Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
53	Ballentine Elementary School	Fuquay Varina, NC	Regular	PK-5
54	Riverwood Elementary School	Clayton, NC	Regular	PK-5
55	Rand Road Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
56	Hunter Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
57	Herbert Akins Rd Elementary School	Fuquay-Varina, NC	Regular	PK-5
58	Briarcliff Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
59	Youngsville Elementary School	Youngsville, NC	Regular	K-5
60	Richland Creek Elementary	Wake Forest, NC	Regular	PK-5
61	Sanford Creek Elementary School	Rolesville, NC	Regular	PK-5
62	Lead Mine Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
63	Powhatan Elementary School	Clayton, NC	Regular	PK-5
64	Banks Rd Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
65	River Dell Elementary School	Clayton, NC	Regular	PK-5
66	Dixon Road Elementary School	Willow Spring, NC	Regular	PK-5
67	Edward Best Elementary School	Louisburg, NC	Regular	PK-5
68	Swift Creek Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
69	Laurel Mill Elementary School	Louisburg, NC	Regular	PK-5
70	Kingswood Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
71	Yates Mill Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
72	Fuller Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
73	Vance Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
74	Wake Forest Elementary School	Wake Forest, NC	Regular	PK-5
75	Harris Creek Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
76	North Ridge Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
77	Coopers Elementary School	Elm City, NC	Regular	PK-5
78	Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School	Raleigh, NC	Charter	PK-8
79	West View Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
80	Rolesville Elementary School	Rolesville, NC	Regular	PK-5
81	Wiley Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	K-5
82	Adams Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	PK-5
83	Bunn Elementary School	Bunn, NC	Regular	K-5
84	Conn Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
85	Reedy Creek Elementary School	Cary, NC	Regular	K-5
86	Neuse Charter School	Smithfield, NC	Charter	K-12
87	York Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
88	Salem Elementary School	Apex, NC	Regular	PK-5
89	Vandora Springs Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
90	Hilburn Drive Academy	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-8
91	Dillard Drive Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
92	Durant Road Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
93	Long Mill Elementary School	Youngsville, NC	Regular	PK-5
94	Douglas Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
95	Forest Pines Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
96	Brier Creek Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
97	PreEminent Charter School	Raleigh, NC	Charter	K-8
98	Carver Elementary School	Wendell, NC	Regular	PK-5
99	Fuquay-Varina Elementary School	Fuquay-Varina, NC	Regular	PK-5
100	Glendale-Kenly Elementary School	Kenly, NC	Regular	PK-5
101	Stough Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
102	Polenta Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
103	Princeton Elementary School	Princeton, NC	Regular	PK-5
104	Fox Road Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
105	McGee's Crossroads Elementary School	Angier, NC	Regular	PK-5
106	Royal Elementary School	Louisburg, NC	Regular	PK-5
107	Wakelon Elementary School	Zebulon, NC	Regular	PK-5
108	Wakefield Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
109	Lockhart Elementary School	Knightdale, NC	Regular	PK-5
110	Brentwood Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
111	Crosscreek Charter School	Louisburg, NC	Charter	K-8
112	Partnership Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	K-5
113	East Clayton Elementary School	Clayton, NC	Regular	PK-5
114	Meadow School	Benson, NC	Regular	PK-8
115	Nashville Elementary School	Nashville, NC	Regular	PK-5
116	Wildwood Forest Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
117	Lake Myra Elementary School	Wendell, NC	Regular	PK-5
118	River Bend Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
119	Bailey Elementary School	Bailey, NC	Regular	PK-5
120	Louisburg Elementary School	Louisburg, NC	Regular	PK-5
121	Cedar Grove Elementary School	Nashville, NC	Regular	PK-5
122	Torchlight Academy	Raleigh, NC	Charter	K-8
123	Micro-Pine Level Elementary School	Pine Level, NC	Regular	PK-5
124	Four Oaks Elementary School	Four Oaks, NC	Regular	PK-5
125	Lynn Road Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
126	Timber Drive Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
127	Swift Creek Elementary School	Whitakers, NC	Regular	PK-5
128	West Clayton Elementary School	Clayton, NC	Regular	PK-5
129	Poe Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
130	Baileywick Road Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
131	Zebulon Elementary School	Zebulon, NC	Regular	PK-5
132	Franklinton Elementary School	Franklinton, NC	Regular	PK-5
133	Lincoln Heights Elementary School	Fuquay-Varina, NC	Regular	PK-5
134	Powell Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
135	Corinth-Holders Elementary School	Zebulon, NC	Regular	PK-5
136	Wilburn Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
137	Wilson's Mills Elementary School	Wilson's Mills, NC	Regular	PK-5
138	Benson Middle School	Benson, NC	Regular	5-8
139	Wendell Elementary School	Wendell, NC	Regular	K-5
140	Englewood Elementary School	Rocky Mount, NC	Regular	3-5
141	Forestville Road Elementary School	Knightdale, NC	Regular	PK-5
142	Knightdale Elementary School	Knightdale, NC	Regular	PK-5
143	East Garner Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
144	South Smithfield Elementary School	Smithfield, NC	Regular	PK-5
145	Aversboro Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
146	Smith Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
147	M B Hubbard Elementary School	Battleboro, NC	Regular	K-5
148	Middlesex Elementary School	Middlesex, NC	Regular	PK-5
149	Hodge Road Elementary School	Knightdale, NC	Regular	PK-5
150	Rocky Mount Prep	Rocky Mount, NC	Charter	K-12
151	Millbrook Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
152	Barwell Road Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
153	Walnut Creek Elmentary Sschool	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
154	Green Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
155	Benvenue Elementary School	Rocky Mount, NC	Regular	K-5
156	Spring Hope Elementary School	Spring Hope, NC	Regular	PK-5
157	Hope Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Charter	K-5
158	Benson Elementary School	Benson, NC	Regular	PK-4
159	West Smithfield Elementary School	Smithfield, NC	Regular	PK-5
160	Baskerville Elementary School	Rocky Mount, NC	Regular	K-5
161	Cooper Elementary School	Clayton, NC	Regular	PK-5
162	Creech Road Elementary School	Garner, NC	Regular	PK-5
163	Selma Elementary School	Selma, NC	Regular	PK-4
164	Bugg Elementary School	Raleigh, NC	Regular	PK-5
165	D S Johnson Elementary School	Rocky Mount, NC	Regular	3-5
166	Selma Middle School	Selma, NC	Regular	5-8
167	Williford Elementary School	Rocky Mount, NC	Regular	PK-5

Rankings for the best elementary schools in the Raleigh area were created independently by Carolina School Hub. The test data for this site was derived from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and South Carolina Department of Education.

You can click on a specific school name above for more information on elementary school test scores, student data and more.

Choosing an Elementary School in the Raleigh Area

When comparing regular Raleigh-area elementary schools to charter and magnet schools, one should keep in mind the differences between charter schools, magnet schools and traditional public schools.

Magnet schools are in most cases alternative public schools that offer a specialized curriculum. At the highest level, North and South Carolina magnet schools and traditional elementary schools tend to be managed by the same entity - the county school superintendent's office. Magnet schools normally can accept students from anywhere in the county in which they are located, and often limit the acceptance pool through a lottery system.

Charter schools, on the other hand, are each independently managed. They tend to accept students not only from the county in which they're located, but surrounding counties as well. Like magnets, charters tend to use a lottery-based acceptance method.

Regular elementary schools are sometimes called "zoned schools," "neighborhood schools" or "zip code schools." This is because they accept students from a limited geographical area - such as a town or a specific set of subdivisions. Regular schools do not tend to use a lottery system. Regular elementary schools are the most common kinds of schools in North and South Carolina.

Which Elementary Schools are Covered in the Raleigh Area

We hope you find the ratings and other information on elementary schools in the Raleigh area to be useful. Elementary Schools on this page were drawn from the following counties:

• Wake County, NC
• Johnston County, NC
• Nash County, NC
• Franklin County, NC