Best High Schools in North Carolina

High schools
594
Students
463,506
Avg actual
53%
Avg projected
50%
Impact
meet expectations

The top high schools in North Carolina, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Onslow Early College

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

88%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Onslow County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 186 Students

2. Crossroads Arts Sciences Early College

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

87%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Iredell-statesville Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 267 Students

3. Gaston Early College High School

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

86%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Gaston County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 230 Students

4. Highland Sch Of Technology

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

84%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Gaston County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 514 Students

5. Gaston Early College Of Medical Sciences

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

83%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Gaston County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 113 Students

6. Merancas Middle College-cpcc

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

81%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools • Public • Grades 11 - 13 • 202 Students

7. Early College At Guilford

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

80%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Guilford County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 195 Students

8. Cross Creek Early College

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

80%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Cumberland County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 246 Students

9. Stem Early College @ Nc A&t Su

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

78%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Guilford County Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 12 • 192 Students

10. Johnston Co Early College Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Johnston County Public Schools • Public • Grades 9 - 13 • 281 Students

See all 608 high schools here ranked

Best Middle Schools in North Carolina

Middle schools
486
Students
299,892
Avg actual
52%
Avg projected
45%
Impact
meet expectations

The top middle schools in North Carolina, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Brown Summit Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

73%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Guilford County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 235 Students

2. Mills Park Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

95%

Actual Test Scores

80%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Wake County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1630 Students

3. Marvin Ridge Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

80%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Union County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1358 Students

4. Magellan Charter

A+

SchoolGrade

92%

Actual Test Scores

68%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Magellan Charter • Charter • Grades 3 - 8 • 406 Students

5. Weddington Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

90%

Actual Test Scores

77%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Union County Public Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1450 Students

6. Harris Road Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

89%

Actual Test Scores

71%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Cabarrus County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1235 Students

7. The Brawley School

A+

SchoolGrade

89%

Actual Test Scores

77%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Iredell-statesville Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 639 Students

8. Apex Friendship Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

77%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Wake County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1397 Students

9. Davis Drive Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

88%

Actual Test Scores

80%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Wake County Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 959 Students

10. Community House Middle

A+

SchoolGrade

86%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools • Public • Grades 6 - 8 • 1412 Students

See all 453 middle schools here ranked

Best Elementary Schools in North Carolina

Elementary schools
1,690
Students
713,927
Avg actual
56%
Avg projected
42%
Impact
meet expectations

The top elementary schools in North Carolina, ranked by actual test performance against the projection for each school’s socioeconomic context.

SchoolActualProjectedImpact

1. Metrolina Reg Scholars Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

98%

Actual Test Scores

64%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 390 Students

2. White Oak Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

96%

Actual Test Scores

83%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Wake County Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 778 Students

3. Wesley Chapel Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

96%

Actual Test Scores

71%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Union County Public Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 760 Students

4. Quest Academy

A+

SchoolGrade

95%

Actual Test Scores

61%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Quest Academy • Charter • Grades KG - 8 • 142 Students

5. Telra Institute

A+

SchoolGrade

94%

Actual Test Scores

70%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Greatly Exceeds Expectations

Telra Institute • Charter • Grades KG - 9 • 467 Students

6. Providence Spring Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

76%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 602 Students

7. Sandy Ridge Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

93%

Actual Test Scores

81%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Union County Public Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 597 Students

8. Wrightsville Beach Elem

A+

SchoolGrade

92%

Actual Test Scores

74%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

New Hanover County Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 263 Students

9. Polo Ridge Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

92%

Actual Test Scores

79%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Meets Expectations

Charlotte-mecklenburg Schools • Public • Grades Pre K - 5 • 598 Students

10. Antioch Elementary

A+

SchoolGrade

92%

Actual Test Scores

75%

Projected Test Scores

Impact Grade:Exceeds Expectations

Union County Public Schools • Public • Grades KG - 5 • 862 Students

See all 1409 elementary schools here ranked

Education & Community Snapshot in North Carolina

State-level factors that shape the learning environment around local schools.

Community Factors

North Carolina has a total population of 10,439,388 with 25% of that population attending schools. The adult high school graduation rate is 90%, and 35% of adults have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Students in North Carolina

1,650,631

K-12 Students

High School Graduates

90%

Adults 25+ with HS diplomas

College Graduates

35%

Adults 25+ with a Bachelor’s degree or higher

Demographics statistics provided by Best Neighborhood North Carolina.

Safety

Crime Grades summarize reported incidents per 1,000 residents. Use them as neighborhood context, not a school rating.

Overall Crime Grade

C-

24.23 per 1,000 Residents

Violent Crime Grade

C-

4.14 per 1,000 Residents

Property Crime Grade

C-

20.09 per 1,000 Residents

Crime statistics provided by CrimeGrade in North Carolina.

Connectivity

Connectivity influences learning at home. We summarize internet infrastructure, typical download speed, and a digital connectivity index for North Carolina.

ISP Report Card

B+

Internet Infrastructure Grade

Average Download Speed

3,121 Mbps

Speed Most Residents Can Get

Digital Connectivity Index

66 / 100

ISP Connectivity Demand Report

To read more about these statistics, please visit North Carolina Internet Health Assessment.

Questions About Schools in North Carolina

How many schools are in North Carolina?

North Carolina has 3,246 public schools: 594 high schools, 486 middle schools and 1,690 elementary schools, serving 1,650,631 students in total.

How do schools in North Carolina perform on state tests?

On average, 3,246 schools in North Carolina score 55% proficient on state assessments. Given the socioeconomic context of their students we project 45%, so on average schools in North Carolina meet expectations.

How does SchoolGrade rank the best schools in North Carolina?

Every public school gets a SchoolGrade from A+ to F based on the share of students at or above the state proficiency bar. The Impact Grade compares that result with what we would expect given the school’s student and community context, so schools that outperform their circumstances stand out. Schools cannot pay to change a grade. Read the full methodology.

Best Schools in Cities Near North Carolina

Explore nearby cities to widen your school search.

South Carolina

  • Actual: 51%
  • Projected: 37%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Virginia

  • Actual: 72%
  • Projected: 47%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
West Virginia

  • Actual: 30%
  • Projected: 34%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
District of Columbia

  • Actual: 23%
  • Projected: 27%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Georgia

  • Actual: 39%
  • Projected: 40%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Maryland

  • Actual: 36%
  • Projected: 35%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Kentucky

  • Actual: 42%
  • Projected: 34%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Delaware

  • Actual: 33%
  • Projected: 37%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Tennessee

  • Actual: 40%
  • Projected: 37%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations
Pennsylvania

  • Actual: 47%
  • Projected: 47%
  • Impact Grade: Meets Expectations

Every city and county in North Carolina

School rankings for each place: 1612 cities, towns and neighborhoods, and 100 counties.

Counties

Cities and towns

School district map of North Carolina

Every public school district in North Carolina with graded schools. Hover for the district and its school count; click to open its page.

shaded by the district's average SchoolGrade, F to A; grey = not yet graded. Boundaries from the NCES EDGE composite school district file. Districts without a page (fewer than three graded schools) are not linked.

Largest school districts in North Carolina

The 25 districts with the most graded schools in North Carolina. Each district page lists every one of its schools.