North Carolina is a state located in the southeastern United States. It is bordered by South Carolina and Georgia to the south, Tennessee to the west, Virginia to the north, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. North Carolina has a population of approximately 10.5 million people and is divided into 100 counties. Each county has its own governing body responsible for local government services such as law enforcement public health services and public works departments.
The state of North Carolina has 115 school districts which serve over 1.5 million students in grades K-12 across more than 2,500 schools. These school districts are organized along county lines with each district providing educational services for students within their boundaries. The largest school district in North Carolina is Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools which serves over 147,000 students while the smallest district covers only 3 schools with fewer than 500 students enrolled. Each district is governed by an elected board of education responsible for setting policies on curriculum standards and budgeting for educational services.
In addition to public schools there are also several charter schools which allow parents to choose an alternative form of education for their children outside the traditional public school system. These charter schools must follow certain regulations set forth by the state but otherwise operate independently from local school districts with their own board of directors overseeing operations. Finally there are several private schools throughout North Carolina that provide K-12 education outside of the public system although they may be subject to certain regulations set forth by state or local governments.
There are many public and private high schools in the state of North Carolina. It is rather difficult for you to choose one that fits you most. In order for you to better evaluate your choice, we have ranked these high schools based on latest SAT/ACT scores, graduation rates, and state test scores from the North Carolina Department of Education. See below for top 50 high schools throughout the state of North Carolina.
| # | High Schools | Honor |
| 1 |
A L Brown High School
Kannapolis City Schools School District Cabarrus County 415 E 1st Street Kannapolis, NC 28083 Telephone: (704) 932-6125 |
Bronze |
| 2 |
Ashe County High School
Ashe County Schools School District Ashe County 184 Campus Drive West Jefferson, NC 28694 Telephone: (336) 246-2400 |
Bronze |
| 3 |
Athens Drive High School
Wake County Schools School District Wake County 1420 Athens Drive Raleigh, NC 27606 Telephone: (919) 233-4050 |
Silver |
| 4 |
Bear Grass High School
Martin County Schools School District Martin County 6344 E Bear Grass Rd Williamston, NC 27892 Telephone: (252) 792-3721 |
Silver |
| 5 |
Cape Fear High School
Cumberland County Schools School District Cumberland County 4762 Clinton Road Fayetteville, NC 28301 Telephone: (910) 483-0191 |
Bronze |
| 6 |
Cary High School
Wake County Schools School District Wake County 638 Walnut St Cary, NC 27511 Telephone: (919) 460-3549 |
Silver |
| 7 |
Chapel Hill High School
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools School District Orange County 1709 High School Rd Chapel Hill, NC 27516 Telephone: (919) 929-2106 |
Honorable Mention |
| 8 |
Croatan High School
Carteret County Public Schools School District Carteret County 1 Cougar Lane Newport, NC 28570 Telephone: (252) 393-7022 |
Silver |
| 9 |
East Chapel Hill High School
Chapel Hill-Carrboro Schools School District Orange County 500 Weaver Dairy Road Chapel Hill, NC 27514 Telephone: (919) 969-2482 |
Honorable Mention |
| 10 |
Eastern Wayne High School
Wayne County Public Schools School District Wayne County 1135 New Hope Rd Goldsboro, NC 27534 Telephone: (919) 751-7120 |
Silver |
| 11 |
East Surry High School
Surry County Schools School District Surry County 801 W Main Street Pilot Mountain, NC 27041 Telephone: (336) 368-2251 |
Bronze |
| 12 |
Fairmont High School
Robeson County Schools School District Robeson County 5419 Old Stage Road Fairmont, NC 28340 Telephone: (910) 628-6727 |
Bronze |
| 13 |
Freedom High School
Burke County Schools School District Burke County 511 Independence Boulevard Morganton, NC 28655 Telephone: (828) 433-1310 |
Bronze |
| 14 |
Goldsboro High School
Wayne County Public Schools School District Wayne County 901 E Beech St Goldsboro, NC 27530 Telephone: (919) 731-5930 |
Bronze |
| 15 |
Green Hope High School
Wake County Schools School District Wake County 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road Cary, NC 27519 Telephone: (919) 380-3700 |
Silver |
| 16 |
Havelock High School
Craven County Schools School District Craven County 101 Webb Boulevard Havelock, NC 28532 Telephone: (252) 444-5112 |
Bronze |
| 17 |
Highland School of Technology
Gaston County Schools School District Gaston County 1600 N Morris Street Gastonia, NC 28052 Telephone: (704) 810-8818 |
Bronze |
| 18 |
Hiwassee Dam High School
Cherokee County Schools School District Cherokee County 267 Blue Eagle Circle Murphy, NC 28906 Telephone: (828) 644-5916 |
Bronze |
| 19 |
Independence High School
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools School District Mecklenburg County 1967 Patriot Dr Charlotte, NC 28227 Telephone: (980) 343-6900 |
Silver |
| 20 |
Jack Britt High School
Cumberland County Schools School District Cumberland County 7403 Rockfish Road Fayetteville, NC 28306 Telephone: (910) 429-2800 |
Bronze |
| 21 |
Jones Senior High School
Jones County Schools School District Jones County 1490 Hwy 58 South Trenton, NC 28585 Telephone: (252) 448-2451 |
Bronze |
| 22 |
Jordan-Matthews High School
Chatham County Schools School District Chatham County 910 East Cardinal Street Siler City, NC 27344 Telephone: (919) 742-2916 |
Silver |
| 23 |
Monroe High School
Union County Public Schools School District Union County 1 High School Dr Monroe, NC 28112 Telephone: (704) 296-3130 |
Bronze |
| 24 |
Mount Airy High School
Mount Airy City Schools School District Surry County 1011 N South St Mount Airy, NC 27030 Telephone: (336) 789-5147 |
Silver |
| 25 |
Nash Central High School
Nash-Rocky Mount Schools School District Nash County 4279 Nash Central High Road Rocky Mount, NC 27804 Telephone: (252) 451-2860 |
Bronze |
| 26 |
North Edgecombe High School
Edgecombe County Schools School District Edgecombe County 7589 NC 33-NW Tarboro, NC 27886 Telephone: (252) 823-3562 |
Bronze |
| 27 |
North Johnston High School
Johnston County Schools School District Johnston County 5915 US Hwy 301 N Kenly, NC 27542 Telephone: (919) 284-2031 |
Bronze |
| 28 |
North Surry High School
Surry County Schools School District Surry County 2440 W Pine Street Mount Airy, NC 27030 Telephone: (336) 789-5055 |
Bronze |
| 29 |
Perquimans County High School
Perquimans County Schools School District Perquimans County 305 Edenton Road St Hertford, NC 27944 Telephone: (252) 426-5778 |
Bronze |
| 30 |
Providence High School
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools School District Mecklenburg County 1800 Pineville-Matthews Rd Charlotte, NC 28270 Telephone: (980) 343-5390 |
Honorable Mention |
| 31 |
PSRC Early College at RCC
Robeson County Schools School District Robeson County 5160 Fayetteville Road Lumberton, NC 28360 Telephone: (919) 111-1111 |
Bronze |
| 32 |
Raleigh Charter High School
Raleigh Charter High School District Wake County 1111 Haynes Street Raleigh, NC 27604 Telephone: (919) 715-1155 |
Gold: #24 of 100 |
| 33 |
Robbinsville High School
Graham County Schools School District Graham County 301 Sweetwater Road Robbinsville, NC 28771 Telephone: (828) 479-3330 |
Bronze |
| 34 |
Salisbury High School
Rowan-Salisbury Schools School District Rowan County 500 Lincolnton Rd Salisbury, NC 28144 Telephone: (704) 636-1221 |
Bronze |
| 35 |
Sanderson High School
Wake County Schools School District Wake County 5500 Dixon Drive Raleigh, NC 27609 Telephone: (919) 881-4800 |
Silver |
| 36 |
South Brunswick High School
Brunswick County Schools School District Brunswick County 280 Cougar Drive Bsl Southport, NC 28461 Telephone: (910) 845-2204 |
Bronze |
| 37 |
South Robeson High School
Robeson County Schools School District Robeson County 3268 South Robeson Rd Rowland, NC 28383 Telephone: (910) 422-3987 |
Bronze |
| 38 |
South Stanly High School
Stanly County Schools School District Stanly County 40488 S Stanly School Rd Norwood, NC 28128 Telephone: (704) 474-3155 |
Bronze |
| 39 |
Surry Central High School
Surry County Schools School District Surry County 716 South Main Street Dobson, NC 27017 Telephone: (336) 386-8842 |
Bronze |
| 40 |
Swain County High School
Swain County Schools School District Swain County 1415 Fontana Road Bryson City, NC 28713 Telephone: (828) 488-2152 |
Bronze |
| 41 |
The Early College at Guilford
Guilford County Schools School District Guilford County 5608 West Friendly Avenue Greensboro, NC 27410 Telephone: (336) 316-2860 |
Gold: #18 of 100 |
| 42 |
Thomas Jefferson Classical Academy
Thomas Jefferson Class Academy School District Rutherford County 2527 US 221A Hwy Mooresboro, NC 28114 Telephone: (828) 657-9998 |
Honorable Mention |
| 43 |
Union High School
Sampson County Schools School District Sampson County 455 River Road Clinton, NC 28328 Telephone: (910) 592-4026 |
Bronze |
| 44 |
Wayne Early/Middle College High Schools
Wayne County, Goldsboro, NC |
Bronze |
| 45 |
Weaver Academy for Performing & Visual Arts and Advanced Technology
Guilford County Schools School District Guilford County 300 S Spring St Greensboro, NC 27401 Telephone: (336) 370-8282 |
Honorable Mention |
| 46 |
West Caldwell High School
Caldwell County Schools School District Caldwell County 300 W Caldwell Drive Lenoir, NC 28645 Telephone: (828) 758-5583 |
Bronze |
| 47 |
West Charlotte High School
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools School District Mecklenburg County 2219 Senior Dr Charlotte, NC 28216 Telephone: (980) 343-6060 |
Bronze |
| 48 |
West Wilkes High School
Wilkes County Schools School District Wilkes County 6598 Boone Trail Millers Creek, NC 28651 Telephone: (336) 973-4503 |
Bronze |
| 49 |
Wilkes Central High School
Wilkes County Schools School District Wilkes County 1179 Moravian Falls Rd Wilkesboro, NC 28697 Telephone: (336) 667-5277 |
Silver |
| 50 |
Woods Charter School
Woods Charter School District Chatham County 208 Cole Park Plaza Chapel Hill, NC 27517 Telephone: (919) 960-8353 |
Honorable Mention |
