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Best Schools in Sanford, NC
Sanford, NC has 43 public schools (11 high, 9 middle, 19 elementary) serving 26,026 students. On average they score 53% on state proficiency tests against a projected 45%, so schools in Sanford meet expectations. Rankings below compare each school’s actual results with the projection for its socioeconomic context.
Best High Schools in Sanford, NC
The top high schools in Sanford, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Lee Early College
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 272 Students
2. Union Pines High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moore County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1438 Students
3. Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Ascend Leadership Academy: Lee County • Charter • Grades 6 - 12 • 547 Students
4. Chatham Central High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chatham County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 364 Students
5. Northwood High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chatham County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 940 Students
6. North Moore High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moore County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 593 Students
7. Overhills High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1971 Students
8. Southern Lee High School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1234 Students
9. Western Harnett High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1386 Students
10. Lee County High
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 1508 Students
Best Middle Schools in Sanford, NC
The top middle schools in Sanford, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. New Century Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moore County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 625 Students
2. Central Carolina Academy
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Central Carolina Academy • Charter • Grades 6 - 12 • 272 Students
3. Horton Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chatham County Schools • Public • Grades 5 - 8 • 375 Students
4. Sanlee Middle School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 809 Students
5. Crain's Creek Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moore County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 592 Students
6. Highland Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 875 Students
7. Western Harnett Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 820 Students
8. West Lee Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 607 Students
9. East Lee Middle
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 531 Students
Best Elementary Schools in Sanford, NC
The top elementary schools in Sanford, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.
1. Tramway Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 545 Students
2. Pittsboro Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chatham County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 4 • 510 Students
3. Carthage Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moore County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 332 Students
4. Highfalls Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moore County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 256 Students
5. Greenwood Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 530 Students
6. Deep River Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Lee County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 473 Students
7. J S Waters School
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Chatham County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 8 • 193 Students
8. Benhaven Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 1030 Students
9. Highland Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Harnett County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 891 Students
10. Cameron Elementary
SchoolGrade
Actual Test Scores
Projected Test Scores
Moore County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 226 Students
Education & Community Snapshot in Sanford, NC
City-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.
Community Factors
Sanford, NC has a total population of 68,679 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 85%, and 23% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Students in Sanford, 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 Sanford, NC.
Safety
Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.
Overall Crime Grade
22.84 per 1,000 Residents
Violent Crime Grade
4.14 per 1,000 Residents
Property Crime Grade
18.70 per 1,000 Residents
Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in Sanford, NC.
Connectivity
Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for Sanford, 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 Sanford, NC Internet Health Assessment.
Questions About Schools in Sanford, NC
How many schools are in Sanford, NC?
Sanford, NC has 43 public schools: 11 high schools, 9 middle schools and 19 elementary schools, serving 26,026 students in total.
How do schools in Sanford perform on state tests?
On average, 43 schools in Sanford score 53% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 45%, so on average schools in Sanford meet expectations.
How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in Sanford?
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 Sanford, NC
Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.
- Actual: 47%
- Projected: 44%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 45%
- Projected: 42%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 51%
- Projected: 46%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 58%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 42%
- Projected: 43%
- Impact Grade: Underperforms Expectations
- Actual: 53%
- Projected: 50%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 49%
- Projected: 49%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 57%
- Projected: 56%
- Impact Grade: Doesn't Meet Expectations
- Actual: 61%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
- Actual: 61%
- Projected: 54%
- Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Every school in Sanford
21 of 21 schools in Sanford carry a SchoolGrade. Grade distribution:
A: 3B: 6C: 4D: 6F: 2
All 21 public schools we grade in Sanford. The ranked lists above show the top ten per level; every school has its own page.
High schools (2)
Middle and junior high schools (5)
Elementary and primary schools (9)
- Benhaven Elementary
- Bt Bullock Elementary
- Deep River Elementary
- Greenwood Elementary
- Highland Elementary
- J Glenn Edwards Elementary
- Lee Early College
- Tramway Elementary
- Wb Wicker Elementary
Other schools and academies (5)
- Ascend Leadership Academy Lee County
- Bragg Street Academy
- Central Carolina Academy
- Floyd L Knight Children Center
- Mina Charter School Of Lee County
Private schools (3)
Private schools have a SchoolGrade only where their state publishes their test results.