The top reported proficiency rate is 96% in Science. The lowest is 86% in Math.
Original Research by School Decision on The Expedition School
The Expedition School is a charter school serving kindergarten through eighth grade in Hillsborough, Orange County. The school enrolls a mid-sized population distributed fairly evenly across its grade band, with student composition that is predominantly white, with smaller shares of Hispanic, multiracial, and Asian students, and very small populations of Black students and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander students. Data on free-or-reduced-price lunch eligibility and special-education and English-learner enrollment were not available.
On state end-of-grade tests in 2024–25, the school's proficiency rates were strong across the board. In English language arts, a substantial majority of tested students in grades three through eight achieved proficiency or above. Math proficiency was solid. Science proficiency was notably high, though the science assessment changed from the prior year, making year-to-year comparison impossible. Overall, the school's proficiency index places it in the top quartile relative to other districts in Orange County.
Hillsborough itself is a small historic county seat with a walkable downtown anchored by brick storefronts, galleries, restaurants with outdoor seating, and civic buildings clustered around Churton and King Streets. The town has cultivated a cultural identity around arts and local food, hosting monthly art walks in the warmer months and a farmers' market. Riverwalk Greenway, a paved path along the Eno River, connects neighborhoods and is part of the Mountains-to-Sea Trail. Growth has been deliberate and slow by Triangle standards, with recent development concentrated in master-planned subdivisions on the south and east edges, including Collins Ridge, a mixed-density project near downtown with townhouses and apartments alongside single-family homes. Housing values in the area have risen with the regional market. The town is served by free local transit circulators and regional bus connections to Chapel Hill, Durham Tech, and UNC Hospital.
In July 2025, Tropical Storm Chantal caused extensive flooding at the school's original location in the Eno River Mill facility, destroying much of the building's contents and rendering nearly half the structure unusable. The school relocated to a temporary donated space and expects to remain there for up to a year while repairs proceed. Because of the disruption and recovery timeline, the school shifted from its usual modified year-round calendar to a traditional school calendar for 2025–26 to ensure sufficient instructional time. This schedule change is relevant for families planning childcare and summer activities.
Parents considering The Expedition School should plan to ask about the rebuilding process, timeline, and conditions in the temporary space, since this represents a meaningful departure from normal operations and will shape the day-to-day learning environment during the school year.
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