Alamance-burlington Schools, NC

Original Research by School Decision on Alamance-burlington Schools

Alamance-Burlington Schools is a mid-sized district serving Alamance County through a span of towns including Burlington, Graham, Mebane, Haw River, Elon, and smaller communities across rural and suburban areas. The district enrolls students across all grade levels from pre-kindergarten through dual-credit college coursework, operating around three high schools plus a newer fourth campus opened in the past few years, along with a career and technical education center and early college program through Alamance Community College.

The district's academic performance on state end-of-grade testing sits below the middle of North Carolina's range. In grades three through eight, math proficiency hovers around the middle of the scale, while English language arts trails somewhat further behind. Science proficiency runs closer to the median. These results suggest that students are reaching the proficient level at moderate rates, with room for growth across subjects. A parent reviewing these figures may want to discuss progress trajectories and support programs with the school directly.

The student body is diverse. White students make up a plurality, followed closely by a substantial Hispanic enrollment and a significant Black student population. Asian students and those identifying as multiracial are also present. The exact share of students qualifying for free or reduced-price lunch was not available in the data, so families should seek that figure directly from the district if household economics matter to their school choice. Similarly, data on the proportion of students receiving special education services or those still learning English were not provided, leaving gaps around support capacity for those populations.

In the past few years, the district has undertaken major capital and operational changes. A new high school opened in the east part of the county, reshaping attendance zones for students in Mebane, Haw River, and nearby areas and reducing crowding at two longer-established high schools. A substantial bond funded security and facility upgrades across the system, including key-card entry and security vestibules in all buildings, plus renovation and equipment work at individual schools. More recently, the district implemented a district-wide classroom cell phone policy restricting use during instructional time, a shift parents will see immediately in the school day.

Chronic absenteeism stands as a concern. The district's rate falls in the bottom tier compared with other Alamance County districts, meaning a meaningful share of students are absent chronically. This is a pattern worth exploring with school leadership to understand both causes and what supports exist.

Per-pupil spending in Alamance-Burlington is notably higher than the county median, reflecting investment in programs and staffing, though the district's overall proficiency outcomes have not yet caught up to that spending level. Housing in the district's towns is modestly priced and has been holding or rising slightly in value. Mortgage and rent affordability sit near national norms, making the area accessible to families across income ranges, though rising mortgage rates and shelter costs affect purchasing power.

The district offers college-credit pathways through its early college program and career and technical education center, providing alternatives to traditional classroom progression for students who benefit from vocational or accelerated college pathways. The specific roster of advanced placement, honors, and program breadth at individual high schools was not available, so families focused on upper-level course rigor should request that detail from the schools directly.

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District Context

Officially reported figures, 2024-25.

Enrollment

22,477

Grades

PK–13

Schools

Student body

Hispanic 31%

Black 25%

White 35%

Asian 2%

Two+ 7%

Am. Indian / AK Native 0%

Hawaiian / Pac. Isl. 0%

By economic status

Percent proficient by grade, as reported

Economically disadvantaged

Not disadvantaged

ELA

Gr 3

28%

47%

Gr 4

36%

60%

Gr 5

28%

56%

Gr 6

32%

51%

Gr 7

25%

48%

Gr 8

32%

54%

Gr 38

30%

53%

Math

Gr 3

47%

70%

Gr 4

37%

62%

Gr 5

33%

61%

Gr 6

36%

60%

Gr 7

29%

54%

Gr 8

30%

53%

Gr 38

35%

60%

Science

Gr 5

41%

64%

Gr 8

40%

63%

Gr 38

40%

64%

Schools in this District

38 schools are officially reported under this district.

Alexander Wilson Elementary

Altamahaw-Ossipee Elementary

B. Everett Jordan Elementary

E M Yoder Elementary

Eastern Alamance High

Edwin M Holt Elementary

North Graham Elementary

Pleasant Grove Elementary

South Graham Elementary

South Mebane Elementary

Southern Alamance High

Southern Alamance Middle

Sylvan Elementary

Western Alamance High

Western Alamance Middle

Woodlawn Middle

Broadview Middle

Eastlawn Elementary

Grove Park Elementary

Harvey R Newlin Elementary

Hillcrest Elementary

Hugh M Cummings High

Marvin B Smith Elementary

R Homer Andrews Elementary

Turrentine Middle

Walter M Williams High

Ray Street Academy

Audrey W. Garrett Elementary

Hawfields Middle

Highland Elementary

ABSS Early College at ACC

Career and Technical Education Center

Alamance Virtual School

Southeast Alamance High

Academic Performance

Percent of students meeting or exceeding state standards, by grade.

Mathematics

1 grade reported

45%

Grades 3-8

English Language Arts

1 grade reported

39%

Grades 3-8

Science

1 grade reported

50%

Grades 3-8

Housing & Real Estate

Data as of April 2026 | District-weighted from constituent ZIP codes

Home Values

Typical home value$292,244

Year-over-year change+1.7%

Range across 10 ZIP codes$226K to $562K

vs. state typical0.87x

vs. national typical0.79x

Home value trend (12 months)

ZIP code home values (10 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Value	YoY	Weight
27217	Burlington	$226K	+1.5%	23.9%
27253	Graham	$304K	+1.3%	19.3%
27349		$315K	+3.3%	13.7%
27215	Burlington	$298K	+1.4%	13.2%
27302	Mebane	$355K	-0.2%	10.9%
27298	Liberty	$278K	+4.8%	6.9%
27244	Elon	$318K	+1.5%	5.9%
27258	Haw River	$326K	+1.0%	4.4%
27249	Gibsonville	$293K	+1.7%	1.3%
27312	Pittsboro	$562K	+0.9%	0.3%

Rental Market

Typical monthly rent$1,487/mo

Year-over-year change+1.3%

Range across 7 ZIP codes$1,327 to $1,849/mo

Rent trend (12 months)

ZIP code rents (7 ZIP codes)

ZIP	City	Rent/mo	YoY	Weight
27217	Burlington	$1,358	+1.8%	23.9%
27253	Graham	$1,568	+1.2%	19.3%
27215	Burlington	$1,327	+0.4%	13.2%
27302	Mebane	$1,626	+1.5%	10.9%
27258	Haw River	$1,849	—	4.4%
27249	Gibsonville	$1,847	—	1.3%
27312	Pittsboro	$1,750	0.0%	0.3%

Affordability

Est. monthly mortgage (20% down at 6.48%)$1,475/mo

Home price / national median income3.5x

Annual rent / national median income21.3%

Rent exceeds est. mortgage by$13/mo

Comparison

State typical home value$337,273 (-0.2% YoY)

National typical home value$368,198 (+0.6% YoY)

State ZHVI trend (12 months)

National ZHVI trend (12 months)

Economic Context

30-year fixed mortgage rate6.48%

National unemployment rate4.3%

National median household income$83,730

CPI: Rent of shelter (index)447.05

30-year fixed mortgage rate (12 months)

National unemployment rate (12 months)

National median household income (12 months)

CPI: Rent of shelter (index) (12 months)

Sources: Zillow Home Value Index and Zillow Observed Rent Index (Zillow Group), Realtor.com via Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis (FRED)

Data Currently Unavailable

Civil Rights Data (CRDC)

This profile is derived exclusively from publicly available federal and state datasets. It may not reflect the most current information available. We encourage parents and families to supplement this data with information published directly on the school’s website, which may include more recent figures, additional programs, or updated enrollment data.