The Orange County School district is comprised of thirteen schools: 7 elementary (including one year-round school), 3 middle schools, and 3 high schools. We pride ourselves on our dedicated, energetic and highly educated professional teaching and support staff. Our curricular and extra-curricular activities promote the academic, physical, emotional, and social development of our students.
Our instructional program is comprised of four 9-week quarters, divided into two 18-week semester blocks at the high school level. During the school year, parents are informed of student progress every nine weeks.
Number of Schools (6 traditional and 1 year-round elementary; 3 middle schools; 3 high schools) | 13 |
Number of Pre-K Programs | 9 |
Teachers | 553 |
Teacher Assistants | 122 |
Support Staff (Guidance, Psychology, Media etc) | 90 |
Principals | 13 |
Assistant Principals | 17 |
Central Office Administrators | 15 |
National Board Certified Teachers | 128 |
Licensed Staff with Advanced Degrees | 332 |
Students
Student Enrollment | 7,526 |
2014-15 Graduation rate | 88% |
Male/Female | 52.5%/47.5% |
American Indian | 0.2% |
Asian | 1.15% |
Black | 15.27% |
Pacific Islander | 0.07% |
Hispanic | 19.83% |
Multiracial | 3.85% |
White | 59.63% |
Our Community
Orange County Schools makes its home in the county seat of Hillsborough, NC. We serve the students and families of central and northern Orange County in a community that has a rich history spanning three centuries.
Hillsborough is within commuting distance of a number of public and private universities: The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina Central University, North Carolina State University, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, North Carolina A&T State University, Bennett College, St. Augustine College, Shaw University and Elon University, as well as community college system campuses (including one located in Hillsborough: Durham Technical Community College- Hillsborough Campus). Hospitals, regional medical centers, international airports, collegiate and professional sports venues, public golf courses and major centers for the performing arts are located within the county and the areas surrounding Orange County.
Many famous artists have made their homes in the Hillsborough/Orange County area including musicians James Taylor and Mike Cross, writers Betty Smith, Lee Smith, Annie Dillard,Michael Malone, Allan Gurganus, Jill McCorkle, Hal Crowther, David Payne, Francis Mayes and Jaki Shelton-Greene, playwright Paul Green and the late cartoonist/writer Doug Marlette. The nearby Carrboro Arts Center, the Durham Performing Arts Center, and the Hayti Heritage Center present regional, national, and international performances, programs, and plays for all ages. Annual events such as the American Dance Festival, the Durham Blues Festival, the Bimbe Cultural Festival, the North Carolina International Jazz Festival and a Native American Pow Wow take place in our area.
The Occaneechi Indian Village, located on the banks of the Eno River in downtown Hillsborough, has been built in celebration of Native American history and tradition. For the sports-minded, Hillsborough is in the heart of ACC, MEAC, and CIAA country for the entire spectrum of collegiate sports.
It is also only a short drive from Hillsborough to the Orange County Speedway, the fastest 3/8 mile oval asphalt in the Southeast United States. From March to October, folks of all ages flock to this well known stock car short track where future NASCAR stars are born. The Durham Bulls, a minor league team now affiliated with the Tampa Bay Rays, play their home games nearby in the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. For those who prefer professional sporting events, the Carolina Panthers football team, the 2006 Stanley Cup Champion Carolina Hurricanes ice hockey team and the Charlotte Bobcats basketball team venues are all just a short drive away.
