CHAPEL HILL- Three of Chapel Hill-Carrboro’s high schools placed in the top five statewide for SAT scores this year. Jeff Nash, executive director for community relations, says that’s due to the hard work of students and teachers.

“We’re certainly excited that the scores look good. That’s always a nice tribute to our teachers and the hard work of our students and their families,” says Nash. “But of course we are always careful not to rest on that. There is a lot more to do, and we will continue pushing forward.”

Among public non-charter and non-magnet schools, Chapel Hill High and East Chapel Hill High ranked first and second in the state, with SAT scores averaging 1,797 and 1,783. Carrboro High ranked fifth, with an average score of 1,683. The district’s average score has increased by twenty points in the last two years.

In general, students in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro school system score about 300 points higher than the state and national averages, with 30 percent more students in the district taking the test than across the country.

However, Nash says district-wide participation is dropping due to the rise in ACT testing.

“Every student is taking the ACT and it’s paid for by the state, so in a lot of cases where a student has the option to use an ACT or SAT with their college application, it would just be a good idea for the student to use their ACT test, either because its higher or because they don’t have to pay to take the SAT,” says Nash. “I think we’re seeing a drop in our state, and probably other states too where students are taking the ACT.”

Nonetheless, Nash says 86 percent of all Chapel Hill-Carrboro high-schoolers take the SAT.

The district also showed a 7.7 percent increase in the number of students taking Advanced Placement exams, according to numbers just released by The College Board.

Key Statistics:
• Chapel Hill High, East Chapel Hill High and Carrboro High ranked first, second and fifth in the state for SAT scores.
• CHCCS scores are nearly 300 points higher on SAT than the average score in N.C. and the United States.
• Number of students taking SAT is 15% higher in CHCCS than in N.C.
• Number of students taking SAT is almost 30% higher in CHCCS than in the United States.

Related Stories
‹
CHCCS Students Hold Highest SAT Scores in State
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools saw improvements across all their schools’ SAT scores this past year and held the highest combined score in North Carolina, according to released 2019 SAT results. Nearly 70 percent of high school seniors within the school system took the SAT. With combined composite scores from the verbal and math portions of […]
Police Charge 2 Juveniles After Gunfire Near Carrboro High School; Schools Given 'All Clear' After Tightening Security
Local law enforcement issued an "all clear" after a gunfire investigation near Carrboro High School Tuesday, which had caused the campus and nearby schools to raise their level of security.
Preparation for Project Graduation 2026 is Underway! — On Air Today (Mar. 24, 2026)
Project Graduation student co-chairs Ellie Zerden, Aylin McGowan and Natalie Fitzhugh share details of this year's party with 97.9 The Hill.
CHCCS' Ongoing Review of Elementary Schools Ahead of Closure Discussions — Speaking of Schools (Mar. 23, 2026)
CHCCS Chief Communications Officer Andy Jenks joins 97.9 The Hill on Monday, Mar. 23 to talk about the recent hot topics around the district.
Orange, Chatham County School Districts Closed Monday Due To Hazardous Weather
Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, Orange County Schools and Chatham County Schools will all be closed on Monday, Mar. 16, due to forecasted hazardous weather conditions. The trio of local school districts sent out alerts to their families on Sunday night to share their decisions and warn of the impending weather. “Monday’s weather forecast calls for […]
In Split Vote, CHCCS School Board Chooses 3 Elementary Schools to Study for Closure
After weeks of debate and waffling between which elementary schools to study, the CHCCS Board of Education made its choices last Thursday.
CHCCS Board of Education Discuss Criteria for Elementary School Closure Study, But Decision Still Unclear
The CHCCS Board of Education recently met to continue its conversation on the future elementary school closures.
CHCCS Board of Education Approves Site Plans for Carrboro Elementary Replacement Project
Carrboro Elementary School is not in talks for which CHCCS elementary school will close, with plans to replace the existing building instead.
CHCCS Board of Education Weighs Closing 2 Elementary Schools Amid Enrollment, Funding Declines
The CHCCS Board of Education began its latest round of feedback on Feb. 5 about how to approach closing at least one elementary school in the face of waning enrollment and funding challenges.
CHCCS, Orange County Schools on 2-Hour Delay for Thursday as Districts Monitors Overnight Precipitation
With the threat of wintry mix and freezing temperatures on Wednesday night, Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools announced it will operate on a two-hour delay for Thursday morning.
›