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Best Elementary Schools in Raleigh, NC (2025-26)
Every ranked elementary school in Raleigh, NC, ordered by SchoolGrade. A grade rewards actual test performance against the projection for each school's student context, so a B in a high-poverty school can outrank an A- elsewhere on impact. Click a column heading to sort, or filter by school, city or district.
Raleigh, NC rankings: Elementary Schools
Raleigh, NC elementary schools ranked
How Raleigh, NC's elementary schools compare
A: 20B: 14C: 15D: 13F: 1
54% of the 63 ranked elementary schools in Raleigh, NC earn an A or B (20 A grades, 14 B, 15 C, 13 D, 1 F), against 46% of elementary schools nationwide. 52 schools meet or beat the proficiency projected from their student context (83% here, 70% nationally), and 18 exceed it. On average 60% of tested students meet the state bar against a projected 46% (national averages: 46% actual, 37% projected).
The biggest overperformers, by actual proficiency above projection: Rise Southeast Raleigh Charter (54% against 16%, C), Quest Academy (95% against 61%, A+), Doral Academy Of North Carolina (65% against 33%, B+), Preeminent Charter (44% against 17%, D), The Exploris School (67% against 41%, B+).
Districts with the most schools in the top quarter (the top 16): Wake County Schools (13).
The largest ranked elementary schools: Harris Creek Elementary (852 students, C, #40), Abbotts Creek Elementary (801 students, A, #11), Sycamore Creek Elementary (786 students, A, #8).
Of the top 25, 9 are magnet schools and 3 are charters. Selective and specialised schools tend to post high actual scores; the projection column is the fairer comparison for a neighborhood school.
Elementary schools in Raleigh, NC that are not ranked
1 graded elementary schools are listed here rather than ranked, each for the reason given. Every one has its own page with its full SchoolGrade report.
Special-purpose schools (1)
Alternative, special-education and vocational schools serve a different mission and a different student body, so they are graded but not ranked against regular schools.
- F Mount Vernon, Raleigh
About this ranking
- Scope: public elementary schools in Raleigh, NC, as grouped on its schools page; the North Carolina ranking covers the whole state.
- Order: SchoolGrade, then actual proficiency, then name; schools with the same grade and score share a rank.
- Ranked: regular public schools that NCES lists as open, not fully online, with at least 30 students. Others are listed with the reason.
- Tags: Magnet and Charter from the NCES school directory; K-12 marks schools serving every grade that are ranked with the elementary schools.
- Grades are the 2025-26 SchoolGrade model. How SchoolGrade works
Questions about elementary schools in Raleigh, NC
What is the best elementary school in Raleigh, NC?
Quest Academy in Raleigh ranks first among the 63 ranked elementary schools in Raleigh, NC with a SchoolGrade of A+, 95% of tested students meeting the state bar against a projected 61%.
How are elementary schools in Raleigh, NC ranked?
By SchoolGrade, the 2025-26 model that scores each school's actual test proficiency against the level projected for its student context, then by actual proficiency to break ties. Regular public schools that are open, not fully online and have at least 30 students are ranked; the rest are listed below the table with the reason.
How many elementary schools does Raleigh, NC have?
SchoolGrade grades 64 public elementary schools in Raleigh, NC; 63 are ranked here and 1 are listed as not ranked.