THE BEST SCHOOLS FORT BRAGG NC: DAYCARE - HIGH SCHOOL

So, you just got your orders for Fort Bragg. Now what? If you’re a parent, one of the first things you need to do when relocating to a new area is figure out childcare options. That includes choosing where your child will go to school, whether that means a public or private school, on post or off.

Luckily, there are quite a few options for schools and daycare centers around and within Fort Bragg. Choosing the best school districts is a big factor in making your next housing decision. So, keep reading to learn more about the schools near Fort Bragg.

Why Housing Decisions Drive School Access at Fort Bragg

Education around Fort Bragg is organized around address-based eligibility, which means the first meaningful question in any PCS is not “Where will my kids go to school?” but “Are we living on-post or off-post?”

That single housing choice determines:

• Access to Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools on-post
• High school zoning for grades 9–12
• Public school district assignment off-post
• Eligibility for on-post childcare versus state-licensed childcare off-post

Families who ignore this relationship often discover that school placement, childcare availability, and transportation policies are fixed variables that aren’t flexible to a military family’s PCS.

Who Controls Education for Military Families at Fort Bragg?

Two systems serve Fort Bragg families, and understanding who controls what prevents mismatched expectations.

Federal: DoDEA operates elementary and middle schools on post for eligible families.

State: North Carolina public school districts control enrollment for families who live off post and for all high school students, regardless of residence.

Schools in Fort Bragg, NC

School-age children living on Fort Bragg can attend any of the Department of Defense-run schools on post.

Keep in mind that there are certain eligibility requirements that must be met to enroll in an on-post school. There are nine such schools available for children living on Fort Bragg, including elementary and middle schools.

Daycare on Fort Bragg

If you’re looking for childcare on post at Fort Bragg, there are 12 options to choose from. On-post child care centers offer full-day, part-day, and hourly care options for your child.

Fort Bragg School District

Schools on Fort Bragg are part of the Fort Bragg School District, and you can find the contact information below.

Fort Bragg School District

Address: 312 South Lincoln St., Fort Bragg, 95437-4416

Phone: (707) 961-2850

There is one primary school that serves pre-k and first grade, five elementary schools available for grades pre-k through fifth, and one intermediate school for grades second through fifth.

1. Bowley Elementary School

Address: 3445 R. Miller Street Bldg 1-3479 Fort Bragg, NC 28307

Phone: 1 (910) 861-7025

2. Devers Elementary School

Address: 3355 Varsity St., Bldg. 9-5536 Fort Bragg, NC 28307

Phone: 1 (910) 861-7050

3. Gordon Elementary School

Address: 4200 Percy Blvd., Bldg. L-6323 Cameron, NC 28326

Phone: 1 (910) 861-7075

4. Poole Elementary School

Address: 3561 Percy Blvd., Bldg. L-8101 Cameron, NC 28326

Phone: 1 (910) 907-0209

5. Shughart Elementary School

Address: 4780 Camel Road, Bldg. L-1017 Cameron, NC 28326

Phone: 1 (910) 907-0273

6. Hampton Primary School

Address: 4503 Honeycutt Road, Bldg. B-7757 Fort Bragg, NC 28307

Phone: 1 (910) 861-7100

7. Irwin Intermediate School

Address: 91 Rhine Road, Bldg. B-6138 Fort Bragg, NC 28307

Phone: 1 (910) 861-7125

Middle Schools in Fort Bragg

Those with children in grades sixth through eighth have two middle schools to choose from on post; both have a student body of about 350 kids.

1. Albritton Middle School

Address: Normandy Drive, Bldg. 4-3331 Fort Bragg, NC 28307

Phone: 1 (910) 861-7000

2. Shughart Middle School

Address: 4800 Camel Road Bldg L-1017 Cameron, NC 28326

Phone: 1 (910) 861-7230

High Schools in Fort Bragg

Students in grades 9-12 will need to attend off-post schools, which are located in Cumberland and Harnett counties.

Schools Near Fort Bragg

Families living off-post have no shortage of great schools and daycare facilities to choose from in Cumberland County and its surrounding counties. Visit the corresponding websites to get more information about these nearby education and childcare options.

Daycares Near Fort Bragg, NC

Leaving your child in someone else’s care can be one of the hardest decisions a parent has to make. When looking for the right facility or in-home daycare, reading reviews on Care.com and Yelp and taking a tour of the facility itself when possible are the best ways to make a decision about where to send your child.

Public Schools Near Fort Bragg, NC

Families that choose to live in off-post housing will need to enroll in schools within their associated district. Public school districts generally don’t allow out-of-district enrollment. There are five public school districts near Fort Bragg:

1. Cumberland County School District

Address: 810 Gillespie St. Fayetteville, NC 28306

Phone: 1 (910) 678-2300

Cumberland County Schools is the largest district near Fort Bragg, so chances are you will be enrolling your child at one of the over 50 elementary schools, 18 middle schools, or 17 high schools if you live off-post.

More than 50,000 students are enrolled in the district, with many of them connected to Fort Bragg. To that end, the district’s site has a tool to locate the school you should enroll in based on your new address and offers support for military students through school adjustments and parent deployments.

2. Harnett County School District

Address: 601 South Main Street Lillington, NC 27546

Phone: 1 (910) 893-8151

Harnett County School District has 28 schools in its district, with an enrollment of over 20,000 students in grades pre-k through 12th.

The robust website includes a directory dedicated to helping parents understand all the district has to offer its students (and their parents), like sports, band, honor clubs, transportation info, booster club organizations, and more. Harnett County School District also offers support services for military families.

3. Hoke County School District

Address: 310 Wooley St. Raeford, NC 28376

Phone: 1 (910) 875-4106

Hoke County Schools has 14 schools in the district, eight elementary schools, three middle schools, one high school near Fort Bragg, one early college high school, and an alternative school.

The district has schools to meet children’s needs at all levels. The alternative school, J W Turlington, provides a different setting to ensure kids in grades 6-12 are able to graduate. And Hoke County’s SandHoke Early College High School is highly rated, and its students enroll in college courses starting their second year of high school.

4. Lee County School District

Address: 106 Gordon St. Sanford, NC 27330

Phone: 1 (919) 774-6226

Lee County Schools is a unique district, with 13 schools and learning centers serving children from age 3 all the way up to 21. The district has three top-ranked schools: Lee Early College, Tramway Elementary School, and Greenwood Elementary School.

According to Public School Review, nearly 90% of students in this district graduate from high school and go on to enroll in higher education.

5. Moore County School District

Address: 5277 Highway 15-501 South Carthage, NC 28327

Phone: 1 (910) 947-2976

Moore County Schools boasts a total enrollment of nearly 13,000 students across its 24 schools. Students in this district have plenty of options when it comes to advanced courses, arts education, digital learning, and programs for those with special needs.

And military students will find plenty of support when transitioning to a new school within this district, as the schools work closely with Fort Bragg to ensure student success.

Private Schools Near Fort Bragg, NC

Parents who opt to send their children to a private school near Fort Bragg are met with quite a few options as well. The majority of private schools in the area have a religious affiliation. According to Private School Review, these are some of the top private schools in Cumberland County.

1. Berean Baptist Academy

Address: 518 Glensford Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28314

Phone: 1 (910) 868-2511

Berean Baptist Academy was established in 1975 and is affiliated with Berean Baptist Church. The school is one of the largest private schools in the area, with nearly 600 students, but it offers small classes with a 14:1 student-teacher ratio.

2. Fayetteville Academy

Address: 3200 Cliffdale Road, Fayetteville, NC 28303

Phone: 1 (910) -868-5131

Fayetteville Academy is an independent, college-preparatory school serving children in grades pre-k through 12th. The academy has an enrollment of nearly 400 and boasts small class sizes (13 students) with a ratio of six students for every one teacher.

3. Fayetteville Christian School

Address: 1422 Ireland Drive, Fayetteville, NC 28304

Phone: 1 (910) 483-3905

Fayetteville Christian School places among the top private schools in North Carolina for its size (a student body of approximately 650), sports offerings, and extracurriculars. The school boasts alumni from Harvard Business School, John Hopkins Medical School, Clemson, and Howard University.

4. Flaming Sword Campus

Address: 3230 Legion Road, Hope Mills, NC 28348

Phone: 1 (910) 764-3500

Flaming Sword Campus is the first private school for students with autism and other developmental disabilities. The school has an average class size of 10 students and has an annual enrollment of over 130 students from pre-k to 12th grade. The school also offers before- and after-school care.

5. Village Christian Academy

Address: 908 S. McPherson Church Road, Fayetteville, NC 28314

Phone: 1 (910) 483-5500

Village Christian Academy offers plenty of sports and extracurriculars for its roughly 575 pre-k through 12th-grade students, including golf, volleyball, tennis, band, forensics, and Key Club, among others. While class sizes are a little larger at Village Christian Academy, the student-to-teacher ratio is below the national average, with one teacher for every nine students.

There Are Many Childcare Options Near Fort Bragg

Moving to a new area can be stressful, and making sure your child is enrolled in the best school or daycare facility is such a huge part of settling in. There are plenty of educational options to make sure your child’s mental and physical well-being will be taken care of.

Use the above information to help narrow down the choices so you can focus your time and energy on other things, like finding your new favorite place to order takeout.

FAQs: Fort Bragg Schooling and Childcare

Where will my child go to high school at Fort Bragg?

All high school students attend public high schools off-post based on residential zoning.

Can I choose DoDEA if I live off-post?

No. DoDEA schools serve families living on post.

Does Fort Bragg offer full-day childcare?

Yes. Child Development Centers offer full-day care, and FCC homes offer small-ratio environments.

Do public districts allow out-of-district transfers?

Not generally. Transfers are limited to specific circumstances.

When should I join childcare waitlists?

As soon as PCS orders drop, not after arrival.

Suggested reads:

• Dining Facilities (DFAC) - Fort Bragg
• Welcome to Fort Bragg, NC: Your Comprehensive Guide
• Which Branch of the Military Should I Join? What to Consider