Best Schools in Harnett County, NC
Harnett County, NC has 49 public schools (9 high, 11 middle, 24 elementary) serving 33,749 students. On average they score 50% on state proficiency tests against a projected 43%, so schools in Harnett County don't meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Harnett County, NC
The top high schools in Harnett County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Harnett County Early College
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 102 Students
2. Pine Forest High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cumberland County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1572 Students
3. South Johnston High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston County Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1331 Students
4. Overhills High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1971 Students
5. Western Harnett High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1386 Students
6. Harnett Central High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1474 Students
7. Lee County High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1508 Students
8. Triton High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1287 Students
9. Star Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 12 • 18 Students
Best Middle Schools in Harnett County, NC
The top middle schools in Harnett County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Herbert Akins Road Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wake County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 827 Students
2. Fuquay-varina Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wake County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1164 Students
3. Pine Forest Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cumberland County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 738 Students
4. Benson Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 511 Students
5. Highland Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 875 Students
6. Western Harnett Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 820 Students
7. Overhills Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 799 Students
8. Dunn Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 412 Students
9. Harnett Central Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1024 Students
10. Coats-erwin Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 606 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Harnett County, NC
The top elementary schools in Harnett County, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Anderson Creek Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Anderson Creek Academy • Charter • Grades KG - 5 • 288 Students
2. Willow Springs Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Wake County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 656 Students
3. Lafayette Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 625 Students
4. Long Hill Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Cumberland County Schools • Public • Grades 2 - 5 • 442 Students
5. Benson Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Johnston County Public Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 608 Students
6. Benhaven Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 1030 Students
7. Highland Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 891 Students
8. Moncure School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chatham County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 213 Students
9. Overhills Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 930 Students
10. Johnsonville Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 475 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Harnett County, NC
County-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Harnett County, NC has a total population of 133,568 with 28% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 89%, and 25% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Harnett County, NC
K-12 Students
High School Graduates
Adults 25+ with HS diplomas
College Graduates
Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher
Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood Harnett County, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
17.97 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
3.03 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
14.94 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Harnett County, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Harnett County, NC.
ISP Report Card
Internet Infrastructure Grade
Average Download Speed
Speed Most Residents Can Get
Digital Connectivity Index
ISP Connectivity Demand Report
To read more about these statistics, please visit Harnett County, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Harnett County, NC
How many schools are in Harnett County, NC?
Harnett County, NC has 49 public schools: 9 high schools, 11 middle schools and 24 elementary schools, serving 33,749 students in total.
How do schools in Harnett County perform on state tests?
On average, 49 schools in Harnett County score 50% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 43%, so on average schools in Harnett County don't meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Harnett County?
Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.
Best Schools in Cities Near Harnett County, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 45%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 52%
- Projected: 39%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 40%
- Impact Grade: Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 63%
- Projected: 53%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 63%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Greatly Exceeds Expectations
- Actual: 64%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 50%
- Projected: 41%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 44%
- Projected: 38%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Cities, towns and school districts in Harnett County
8 places in Harnett County with graded public schools. Each link opens that place's ranked schools.
Cities and towns (8)
- Lillington (6)
- Angier (4)
- Dunn (4)
- Spring Lake (4)
- Bunnlevel (2)
- Erwin (2)
- Buies Creek (1)
- Coats (1)
School districts (1)
- Harnett County Schools (28 schools)