Wesley Chapel Elementary ranks sixth in North Carolina

Wesley Chapel Elementary scored a 99.67 out of 100 and ranked No. 6 among 1,505 elementary schools in North Carolina, according to the 2027 U.S. News & World Report elementary school rankings.

The U.S. News profile lists 729 students and a 15-to-1 student-teacher ratio at the K-5 school and reports 94% math proficiency and 88% reading proficiency on state assessments. Both figures topped the Union County Public Schools (UCPS) district averages of 74% in math and 59% in reading, according to U.S. News.

Two other Waxhaw-area schools also cracked the statewide top 10. Rea View Elementary in Waxhaw ranked No. 8 with a 99.53 score, and Sandy Ridge Elementary ranked No. 10 with a 99.4 score. Both posted 93% math proficiency and 87% reading proficiency.

The rankings are based on 2023-2024 state assessment data and use four equally weighted factors: math proficiency, math performance, reading proficiency and reading performance. Half the formula measures raw scores, and the other half accounts for socioeconomic demographics, according to U.S. News.

Several other area elementary schools also placed well statewide. Marvin Elementary ranked No. 22 with 90% math and 84% reading proficiency. New Town Elementary in Waxhaw came in at No. 52, and Kensington Elementary in Waxhaw ranked No. 120. Waxhaw Elementary ranked No. 702 with a 53.32 score.

Separately, UCPS announced in September that it led the state in overall End-of-Grade and End-of-Course proficiency for the second consecutive year, with 73.8% of students scoring proficient in 2025-2026. The state average was 59.2%.

Superintendent Dr. Andrew Houlihan said at the Sept. 2 Board of Education meeting that the results reflected sustained effort across the district. "To have the highest proficiency rates in the state for two consecutive years is quite an achievement," Houlihan said, according to the district. "We have made a 10.8 percentage point increase over the last five years and have surpassed pre-pandemic test scores."

The UCPS proficiency figures come from the 2025-2026 school year, while the U.S. News rankings draw on 2023-2024 state assessment data.

North Carolina's top 10 elementary schools

The U.S. News statewide rankings page lists the following schools at the top of its 2027 North Carolina elementary school rankings:

Three of the state's top 10 elementary schools are in the Waxhaw area and part of UCPS.