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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best North Carolina Magnet Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 78 magnet public preschools serving 39,691 students in North Carolina.
Learn more about how magnet schools work. The top-ranked magnet public preschools in North Carolina are Highland Mill Montessori, Grand Oak Elementary School and Pearsontown Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina magnet public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 46% (versus the 46% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Magnet Public Preschools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Highland Mill Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3201 Clemson Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Gr: PK-6 | 341 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #22.
Grand Oak Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
15410 Stumptown Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-2063
Gr: PK-5 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #33.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #44.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #55.
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1413 Hampton Valley Rd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Gr: PK-5 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Chantilly Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
701 Briar Creek Rd
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-0692
Gr: PK-6 | 316 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #6 - 86. - 8.
Lincoln Heights Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1900 New Castle St
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-9442
Gr: PK-6 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #99.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #1010.
The Downtown School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
601 N Cherry Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4125
Gr: PK-8 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1111.
Sedgefield Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
715 Hartford Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5830
Gr: PK-6 | 485 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1212.
Hunter Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1018 E Davie St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7676
Gr: PK-5 | 658 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1313.
R Brown Mcallister Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
505 Sunnyside Drive Se
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6270
Gr: PK-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1414.
Combs Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2001 Lorimer Rd
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4300
Gr: PK-5 | 695 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #1515.
Barnette Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
13659 Beatties Ford Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-0372
Gr: PK-5 | 818 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1616.
Morehead Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
909 Cobb Street
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3954
Gr: PK-5 | 278 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1717.
Conn Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1220 Brookside Drive
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 856-7637
Gr: PK-5 | 595 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #1818.
Fuller Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
806 Calloway Drive
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7625
Gr: PK-5 | 545 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #1919.
Douglas Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 58% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
600 Ortega Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-4894
Gr: PK-5 | 562 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #2020.
Stough Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
4210 Edwards Mill Road
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4950
Gr: PK-5 | 550 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2121.
Joyner Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2300 Lowden St.
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 856-7650
Gr: PK-5 | 569 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #2222.
Fpg Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
101 Smith Level Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 942-6491
Gr: PK-5 | 536 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #2323.
Wiley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
301 St. Mary's Street
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 856-7723
Gr: PK-5 | 429 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2424.
Isaac Dickson Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 55% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
125 Hill Street
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 350-6800
Gr: PK-5 | 390 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 44%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Erwin Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
600 West Terrell Street
Greensboro, NC 27406
(336) 370-8151
Gr: PK-5 | 221 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #25 - 2625. - 26.
Lucy S. Herring Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 55-59%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
98 Sulphur Springs Road
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 350-6600
Gr: PK-5 | 255 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 32%
Rank: #2727.
Burton Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1500 Mathison Avenue
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3908
Gr: PK-5 | 293 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 91%
Rank: #2828.
David D Jones Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
502 South Street
Greensboro, NC 27406
(336) 370-8230
Gr: PK-5 | 660 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2929.
Kingswood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
200 E. Johnson Street
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3481
Gr: PK-5 | 427 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #3030.
Eastfield Global Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
170 Eastfield School Road
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-3730
Gr: PK-5 | 279 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #3131.
Idlewild Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
7101 Idlewild Rd
Charlotte, NC 28212
(980) 343-6411
Gr: PK-5 | 850 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #3232.
Lincoln Heights Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
307 Bridge St
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 557-2587
Gr: PK-5 | 667 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #33 - 3633. - 36.
Brooks Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 47% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
700 Northbrook Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-1350
Gr: PK-5 | 471 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #33 - 3633. - 36.
Ira B Jones Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
544 Kimberly Avenue
Asheville, NC 28804
(828) 350-6700
Gr: PK-5 | 369 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #33 - 3633. - 36.
Poe Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
400 Peyton St
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 250-4777
Gr: PK-5 | 324 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Show 43 more Magnet public schools in North Carolina (out of 78 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked magnet public preschools in North Carolina?
The top-ranked magnet public preschools in North Carolina include Highland Mill Montessori, Grand Oak Elementary School and Pearsontown Elementary School.
How many magnet public preschools are located in North Carolina?
78 magnet public preschools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina magnet public preschools minority enrollment is 73% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public preschools average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

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