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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best North Carolina Alternative Public Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 59 alternative public elementary schools serving 3,633 students in North Carolina.
The top-ranked alternative public elementary schools in North Carolina are One Academy, Davidson River School and Performance Learning Center. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina alternative public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 12% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 15% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Alternative Public Elementary Schools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
One Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
501 Martin Luther King Jr Blvd
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 663-5899
Gr: 6-12 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #22.
Davidson River School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
970 Ecusta Rd
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-9567
Gr: 6-12 | 61 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #33.
Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
4521 Weddington Road
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6800
Gr: 6-12 | 77 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #4 - 84. - 8.
Asbury Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
221 Salem Church Road
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 736-4766
Gr: 6-12 | 34 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #4 - 84. - 8.
Bridges School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
140 Vashti Dr
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 808-3040
Gr: 6-12 | 11 students Student-teacher ratio: 4:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #4 - 84. - 8.
Central Davie Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
160 Martin Luther King Jr. Roa
Mocksville, NC 27028
(336) 751-5712
Gr: 3-12 | 19 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #4 - 84. - 8.
North Whiteville Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
310 S Martin Luther King Jr Av
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4161
Gr: 6-12 | 16 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #4 - 84. - 8.
Shaw Academy
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
18700 Old Wire Road
Laurinburg, NC 28352
(910) 276-0611
Gr: 6-12 | 122 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #99.
The Coast
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39% )
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
1109 Old Ocean Highway
Bolivia, NC 28422
(910) 312-2780
Gr: 6-12 | 96 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #1010.
Jackson Community School
Alternative School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
3/
10
Bottom 50%
3770 Skyland Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Gr: 5-12 | 50 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #1111.
Henderson County Career Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
300 East Campus Drive
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 697-4629
Gr: 6-12 | 114 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #1212.
Pender Innovative Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
1886 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 789-6073
Gr: K-12 | 38 students Student-teacher ratio: 5:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #1313.
Stoner-thomas School
Alternative School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
215 County School Road
Lexington, NC 27292
(336) 248-5421
Gr: K-12 | 91 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Horizons Elementary School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
332 Greenhaven Dr. Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Gr: K-5 | 29 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
The Score Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
401 Moss Street
Reidsville, NC 27320
(336) 634-3209
Gr: K-12 | 32 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1616.
Yadkin Success Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
733 East Main Street
Yadkinville, NC 27055
(336) 551-1166
Gr: 6-12 | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1717.
River Oaks Middle School
Alternative School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4700 New Bern Ave
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 231-5600
Gr: 6-8 | 7 students Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
H L Trigg Community
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1004 Parkview Drive
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(252) 335-1765
Gr: 6-12 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Pruette Scale Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
900 English Road
High Point, NC 27262
(336) 878-5380
Gr: 6-12 | 10 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 90%
Rank: #2020.
The Oaks Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
The Oaks Academy, 4700 East Us
Murphy, NC 28906
(828) 837-6775
Gr: 6-12 | 43 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 9%
Rank: #2121.
Thomas Academy
Alternative School
Charter School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
206-b Rube Mccray Circle
Lake Waccamaw, NC 28450
(910) 646-2237
Gr: 6-12 | 62 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #22 - 2722. - 27.
Davidson County High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2061 E Holly Grove Road
Lexington, NC 27292
(336) 242-1459
Gr: 6-12 | 64 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #22 - 2722. - 27.
Henderson High School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1215 North Main St
Salisbury, NC 28144
(704) 639-3134
Gr: 6-12 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #22 - 2722. - 27.
J. C. Roe Center
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
2875 Worth Drive
Wilmington, NC 28412
(910) 395-4472
Gr: 6-12 | 14 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #22 - 2722. - 27.
Kingswood School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
271 Mercantile Drive
Winston Salem, NC 27105
(336) 703-4128
Gr: PK-12 | 9 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #22 - 2722. - 27.
Lake Forest Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1802 S 15th Street
Wilmington, NC 28401
(910) 772-2515
Gr: K-8 | 45 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #22 - 2722. - 27.
Montgomery Learning Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
310 S Main
Troy, NC 27371
(910) 572-1161
Gr: 6-12 | 54 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2828.
Scale School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19% )
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1401 Summit Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27405
(336) 545-2031
Gr: 6-12 | 15 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2929.
Mount Vernon
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5418 Chapel Hill Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 233-4313
Gr: K-8 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #3030.
Rutherford Opportunity Center
Alternative School
(Math: 11-19% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
140 Old Caroleen Road
Forest City, NC 28043
(828) 248-5294
Gr: 6-12 | 82 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 29%
Rank: #31 - 3831. - 38.
Bragg Street Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
504 Bragg Street
Sanford, NC 27330
(919) 775-2686
Gr: 6-12 | 40 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #31 - 3831. - 38.
The Community Learning Center Pinckney
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
160 Pinckney Road
Carthage, NC 28327
(910) 947-2603
Gr: 6-12 | 77 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #31 - 3831. - 38.
Gateway School
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1889 Dudley Shoals Road
Granite Falls, NC 28630
(828) 396-8373
Gr: 6-12 | 53 students Student-teacher ratio: 6:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #31 - 3831. - 38.
Hallyburton Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
205 South Main Street
Drexel, NC 28619
(828) 437-4184
Gr: 6-12 | 73 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #31 - 3831. - 38.
Phoenix Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
204 Taylor St
Oxford, NC 27565
(919) 690-2300
Gr: K-12 | 17 students Student-teacher ratio: 9:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Show 24 more Alternative public schools in North Carolina (out of 59 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked alternative public elementary schools in North Carolina?
The top-ranked alternative public elementary schools in North Carolina include One Academy, Davidson River School and Performance Learning Center.
How many alternative public elementary schools are located in North Carolina?
59 alternative public elementary schools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina alternative public elementary schools minority enrollment is 66% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

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