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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Public High Schools in North Carolina (2026)

The top-ranked public high schools in North Carolina are Highland School Of Technology, Nesbitt Discovery Academy and Central Academy Of Technology And Arts. The cities and towns with the highest concentration of top-ranked public high schools are Waxhaw, Wake Forest and Morrisville.
A school's overall testing rank is based on a it's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking. The average percentage of students achieving math proficiency in North Carolina is 51%. The percentage of students achieving reading proficiency is 50%.

Top-Ranked Public High Schools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Student Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Highland School Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
175 Bingham Rd Ste 10
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Central Academy Of Technology And Arts
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
600 Brewer Dr
Monroe, NC 28112
(704) 296-3088
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Rockingham Co Early College High School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
215 Wrenn Memorial Road
Wentworth, NC 27375
(336) 342-4261
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Raleigh Charter High School
Charter School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
1307 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 715-1155
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Union County Early College
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
4209a Old Charlotte Hwy
Monroe, NC 28110
(704) 290-1565
Rank: #77.
Weddington High School
(Math: 94% | Reading: 93%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 93% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
4901 Monroe-weddington Road
Matthews, NC 28104
(704) 296-6319
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Brunswick County Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
50 College Road Ne
Supply, NC 28462
(910) 756-5030
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Cumberland International Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-12
1200 Murchison Rd, J Knuckles
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 226-6485
Rank: #8 - 108. - 10.
Granville Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
1552 South Campus Dr
Creedmoor, NC 27522
(919) 528-5583
Rank: #1111.
Providence High School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 96% (Top 1%)
Reading: 91% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
1800 Pineville-matthews Rd
Charlotte, NC 28270
(980) 343-5390
Rank: #1212.
Surry Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
630 South Main Street
Dobson, NC 27017
(336) 386-3621
Rank: #1313.
Marvin Ridge High School
(Math: 93% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: 93% (Top 1%)
Reading: 91% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
2825 Crane Road
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 290-1520
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Alexander Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
345 Industrial Blvd
Taylorsville, NC 28681
(828) 632-8221
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Cabarrus Early College Of Technology
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
670 Concord Parkway North
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6750
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Cabarrus-kannapolis Early Coll
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
1531 Trinity Church Rd
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6780
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Collaborative College For Technology
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
500 West Broad Street
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 978-5450
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Crossroads Arts And Science Early Colleg
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
476 N Center St
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 978-0034
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Early College At Guilford
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
5608 West Friendly Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 316-2860
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Gaston Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
201 Hwy 321 South, Gaston Coll
Dallas, NC 28034
(704) 922-2405
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Haywood Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
185 Freedlander Drive
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 565-4000
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Henderson County Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
300 East Campus Drive
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 697-4561
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Stanly Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
141 College Drive
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 961-4400
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Wilkes Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
1328 S Collegiate Dr
Wilkesboro, NC 28697
(336) 838-6247
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Wilson Early College Academy
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
902 Herring St
Wilson, NC 27893
(252) 246-1418
Rank: #14 - 2614. - 26.
Yadkin Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
1001 College Drive
Yadkinville, NC 27055
(336) 386-3579
Rank: #2727.
Green Hope High School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 91% (Top 5%)
Reading: 90% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 380-3700
Rank: #28 - 3128. - 31.
Montgomery County Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
1011 Page St
Troy, NC 27371
(910) 898-9690
Rank: #28 - 3128. - 31.
Randolph Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
629 Industrial Park Avenue
Asheboro, NC 27205
(336) 625-1137
Rank: #28 - 3128. - 31.
Richmond Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
1042 W Hamlet Ave
Hamlet, NC 28345
(910) 410-1922
Rank: #28 - 3128. - 31.
Sandhoke Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 85-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: 90-94% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
1110 East Central Avenue
Raeford, NC 28376
(910) 878-5806
Rank: #3232.
Agriculture And Science Early College
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Reading: 80-89% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-13
158 Raider Rd
Olin, NC 28660
(704) 876-4056
Rank: #3333.
Cuthbertson High School
(Math: 94% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 94% (Top 1%)
Reading: 85% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
1400 Cuthbertson Rd
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 296-0105
Rank: #3434.
Johnston Co Early College Academy
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 80-89% (Top 5%)
Reading: ≥95% (Top 1%)
Grades: 9-13
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Rank: #3535.
Ardrey Kell High School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
Math: 90% (Top 5%)
Reading: 87% (Top 5%)
Grades: 9-12
10220 Ardrey Kell Road
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-0860
Show 100 more public schools in NC (out of 678 total schools)
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