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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Improved Public Schools in North Carolina (2026)

The most improved public schools in North Carolina are A&t Four Middle College, Bertie Early College High School and Moravian Falls Elementary School.
A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2021-26).
Improved Rank Range: 1,280 1,925 Avg. Improved Rank: 1,554

Most Improved Public Schools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2021-26)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
A&t Four Middle College
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1925
(from 2,381 to 456)
Grades: 9-12
1601 East Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 691-0941
Rank: #22.
Bertie Early College High School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 70-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1912
(from 2,231 to 319)
Grades: 9-13
717 Us Hwy 13 North
Windsor, NC 27983
(252) 794-2150
Rank: #33.
Moravian Falls Elementary School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Rank Change: +1878
(from 1,958 to 80)
Grades: PK-5
2001 Moravian Falls Rd
Moravian Falls, NC 28654
(336) 838-4077
Rank: #44.
Durham School Of Technology
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1872
(from 2,272 to 400)
Grades: 9-13
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-9183
Rank: #55.
East Robeson Primary
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1821
(from 2,126 to 305)
Grades: PK-3
4840 7th Street Road
Lumberton, NC 28358
(910) 671-6055
Rank: #66.
Stars Charter
Charter School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +1810
(from 2,040 to 230)
Grades: K-12
140 Southern Dunes Dr
Vass, NC 28394
(910) 695-1004
Rank: #77.
Gtcc Middle College High School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 80-84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1790
(from 2,150 to 360)
Grades: 9-13
613 East Main Street
Jamestown, NC 27282
(336) 819-2957
Rank: #88.
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1753
(from 2,434 to 681)
Grades: 9-12
409 8th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Rank: #99.
Moore Square Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1740
(from 2,050 to 310)
Grades: 6-8
301 South Person Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5737
Rank: #1010.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1687
(from 2,054 to 367)
Grades: PK-5
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Rank: #1111.
South Iredell High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1649
(from 1,976 to 327)
Grades: 9-12
299 Old Mountain Rd
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 528-4536
Rank: #1212.
Central Cabarrus High School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1595
(from 1,971 to 376)
Grades: 9-12
505 Hwy 49 S
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6570
Rank: #1313.
Hawthorne Academy Of Health Sciences
Magnet School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1593
(from 2,416 to 823)
Grades: 9-12
1411 Hawthorne Ln
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-6011
Rank: #1414.
Mountain Heritage High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +1575
(from 1,805 to 230)
Grades: 9-12
333 Mtn Heritage Hs Road
Burnsville, NC 28714
(828) 682-6103
Rank: #1515.
Rosman High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +1573
(from 1,742 to 169)
Grades: 9-12
749 Pickens Hwy
Rosman, NC 28772
(828) 862-4284
Rank: #1616.
Rockingham Co Early College High School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Rank Change: +1562
(from 1,569 to 7)
Grades: 9-13
215 Wrenn Memorial Road
Wentworth, NC 27375
(336) 342-4261
Rank: #1717.
Coltrane-webb Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1549
(from 2,156 to 607)
Grades: K-5
541 Sunnyside Drive Se
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6150
Rank: #1818.
Polk County Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥80%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1529
(from 2,231 to 702)
Grades: 9-12
1545 East Nc 108 Hwy
Columbus, NC 28722
(828) 894-2698
Rank: #1919.
Junius H Rose High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1496
(from 2,182 to 686)
Grades: 9-12
600 W Arlington Blvd
Greenville, NC 27834
(252) 321-3640
Rank: #2020.
North Shelby
Special Education School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-79%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1490
(from 1,868 to 378)
Grades: PK-12
1701 Charles Road
Shelby, NC 28152
(704) 476-8230
Rank: #2121.
Chase High School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1482
(from 2,198 to 716)
Grades: 9-12
1603 Chase High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-5883
Rank: #2222.
Caldwell Applied Sciences Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +1468
(from 1,659 to 191)
Grades: 9-12
2857 Hickory Boulevard
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4640
Rank: #2323.
Northwest Cabarrus High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +1454
(from 1,601 to 147)
Grades: 9-12
5130 Nw Cabarrus Drive
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6720
Rank: #2424.
Owen High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1451
(from 1,730 to 279)
Grades: 9-12
99 Lake Eden Road
Black Mountain, NC 28711
(828) 686-3852
Rank: #2525.
Haywood Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Rank Change: +1443
(from 1,461 to 18)
Grades: 9-13
185 Freedlander Drive
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 565-4000
Rank: #2626.
Richmond Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Rank Change: +1439
(from 1,477 to 38)
Grades: 9-13
1042 W Hamlet Ave
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 410-1922
Rank: #2727.
Dixon High School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1419
(from 1,839 to 420)
Grades: 9-12
160 Dixon School Rd
Holly Ridge, NC 28445
(910) 347-2958
Rank: #2828.
Hertford Co Early College
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1340
(from 1,984 to 644)
Grades: 9-13
109 Community College Rd
Ahoskie, NC 27910
(252) 332-7788
Rank: #2929.
South Point High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
Rank Change: +1316
(from 1,458 to 142)
Grades: 9-12
906 South Point Road
Belmont, NC 28012
(704) 836-9612
Rank: #3030.
Burns High School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1312
(from 1,799 to 487)
Grades: 9-12
307 E Stagecoach Trail
Lawndale, NC 28090
(704) 476-8335
Rank: #3131.
East Rutherford High School
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1301
(from 1,707 to 406)
Grades: 9-12
331 East High Rd
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 245-6424
Rank: #3232.
Mineral Springs Elementary School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1298
(from 2,318 to 1,020)
Grades: PK-5
1426 Green Lake Rd
Ellerbe, NC 28338
(910) 582-7915
Rank: #3333.
Tuscola High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1291
(from 1,647 to 356)
Grades: 9-12
564 Tuscola School Rd
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 456-2408
Rank: #3434.
Crossroads Arts And Science Early Colleg
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Rank Change: +1288
(from 1,306 to 18)
Grades: 9-13
476 N Center St
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 978-0034
Rank: #3535.
Enka High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1280
(from 1,633 to 353)
Grades: 9-12
475 Enka Lake Road
Candler, NC 28715
(828) 670-5000
Show 100 more public schools in NC (out of 2,528 total schools)
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