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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Improved Public Middle Schools in North Carolina (2026)

The most improved public middle schools in North Carolina are Stars Charter, Moore Square Middle School and North Shelby.
A school's improvement is based on a its total rise in ranking spots during the last five years (2021-26).
Improved Rank Range: 503 1,810 Avg. Improved Rank: 904

Most Improved Public Middle Schools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Ranking Change (2021-26)
Grades
Location
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
Durham Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1256
(from 2,177 to 921)
Grades: K-10
807 West Chapel Hill Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 956-5599
Rank: #55.
Sallie B Howard School
Charter School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +1240
(from 1,734 to 494)
Grades: K-12
1004 Herring Avenue E
Wilson, NC 27893
(252) 293-4150
Rank: #66.
Forbush High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1238
(from 1,922 to 684)
Grades: 8-12
1525 Falcon Road
East Bend, NC 27018
(336) 551-1140
Rank: #77.
Shaw Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1141
(from 2,444 to 1,303)
Grades: 6-12
18700 Old Wire Road
Laurinburg, NC 28352
(910) 276-0611
Rank: #88.
Hilburn Drive Academy
(Math: 60% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +1084
(from 1,722 to 638)
Grades: PK-8
7100 Hilburn Drive
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 571-6800
Rank: #99.
South Davidson Middle And High School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1067
(from 1,958 to 891)
Grades: 6-12
14956 South Nc Hwy 109
Denton, NC 27239
(336) 242-5700
Rank: #1010.
G R Whitfield
(Math: 62% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1057
(from 1,902 to 845)
Grades: PK-8
4839 School Rd
Grimesland, NC 27837
(252) 752-6614
Rank: #1111.
Marjorie Williams Academy
Charter School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1018
(from 2,083 to 1,065)
Grades: K-12
129 Allen Circle
Crossnore, NC 28616
(828) 733-5241
Rank: #1212.
Davidson River School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +1012
(from 2,280 to 1,268)
Grades: 6-12
970 Ecusta Rd
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-9567
Rank: #1313.
Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +973
(from 2,242 to 1,269)
Grades: 6-12
4521 Weddington Road
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6800
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Asbury Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +949
(from 2,252 to 1,303)
Grades: 6-12
221 Salem Church Road
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 736-4766
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
North Whiteville Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +949
(from 2,252 to 1,303)
Grades: 6-12
310 S Martin Luther King Jr Av
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4161
Rank: #14 - 1614. - 16.
Vidant Health
Special Education School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +949
(from 2,252 to 1,303)
Grades: PK-12
Cme Annex 1100 South Elm Stree
Greenville, NC 27858
(252) 758-1101
Rank: #1717.
Central Davie Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +928
(from 2,231 to 1,303)
Grades: 3-12
160 Martin Luther King Jr. Roa
Mocksville, NC 27028
(336) 751-5712
Rank: #1818.
Royal Oaks Elementary School
(Math: 56% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
Rank Change: +891
(from 2,156 to 1,265)
Grades: K-8
608 Dakota Street
Kannapolis, NC 28083
(704) 260-6310
Rank: #1919.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +865
(from 1,176 to 311)
Grades: 6-12
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Rank: #2020.
J N Fries Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +792
(from 1,396 to 604)
Grades: 6-8
133 Stonecrest Circle Sw
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6510
Rank: #2121.
The Arts Based School
Charter School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +734
(from 1,425 to 691)
Grades: K-8
1380 Martin Luther King Jr Dr
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 748-4116
Rank: #2222.
Sherwood Githens Middle School
(Math: 43% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +727
(from 2,225 to 1,498)
Grades: 6-8
4800 Chapel Hill Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3966
Rank: #2323.
Ellerbe Middle School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 51%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +713
(from 2,086 to 1,373)
Grades: 6-8
128 W Ballard Street
Ellerbe, NC 28338
(910) 582-7925
Rank: #2424.
Community High School
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +673
(from 2,381 to 1,708)
Grades: 7-12
235 Old Us 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 686-7734
Rank: #2525.
Southern Wake Academy
Charter School
(Math: 38% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +663
(from 2,231 to 1,568)
Grades: 6-12
5108 Old Powell Rd
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 567-9955
Rank: #2626.
Northwest School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +639
(from 966 to 327)
Grades: 6-12
1415 Beatties Ford Rd
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-5500
Rank: #2727.
Elkin Middle School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +631
(from 1,051 to 420)
Grades: 7-8
300 Elk Spur St
Elkin, NC 28621
(336) 835-3175
Rank: #2828.
Leesville Road Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +611
(from 1,105 to 494)
Grades: 6-8
8406 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 870-4141
Rank: #2929.
East Middle School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +599
(from 1,976 to 1,377)
Grades: 6-8
130 Merlin's Maze
Biscoe, NC 27209
(910) 428-3278
Rank: #3030.
Highlands School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +597
(from 1,220 to 623)
Grades: K-12
545 Pierson Dr
Highlands, NC 28741
(828) 526-2147
Rank: #3131.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
Rank Change: +547
(from 1,094 to 547)
Grades: 6-8
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Rank: #3232.
Mattamuskeet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +545
(from 2,054 to 1,509)
Grades: PK-12
60 Juniper Bay Road
Swanquarter, NC 27885
(252) 926-0221
Rank: #3333.
Coulwood Stem Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 38%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +516
(from 1,875 to 1,359)
Grades: 6-8
500 Kentberry Dr
Charlotte, NC 28214
(980) 343-6090
Rank: #3434.
The School For Creative Studies
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
Rank Change: +507
(from 2,371 to 1,864)
Grades: 6-12
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Carnage Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
Rank Change: +503
(from 1,002 to 499)
Grades: 6-8
1425 Carnage Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7600
Show 100 more public schools in NC (out of 817 total schools)
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