The U.S. News & World Report released its updated lists ranking public North Carolina elementary, middle, and high schools for 2024. Rankings are based on factors such as student proficiency and performance.

For schools serving kindergarten through eighth grade, rankings rely on student proficiency in reading and writing and student performance on state tests.  

For high school rankings, college readiness, college curriculum breadth, state assessment proficiency, state assessment performance, underserved student performance, and graduation rate are all factors at various weights. 

Public schools that are listed include traditional public schools, magnet schools, charter schools, early colleges, and lab schools.  

A traditional public school is funded by the government, free to attend, and housed within a district. Magnet schools are schools in districts that cater to a specific subject or skill. 

Charter schools are free to attend but require applications from students to fill limited seats. 

Lab schools, or laboratory schools, test different educational models while allowing student teachers to work.

Top 10 elementary schools

1. The Academy at Lincoln – Magnet School (Guilford County Schools) 
2. Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy Charter School (Charlotte)
3.  White Oak Elementary – Traditional Public School (Wake County Public Schools)
4. Riverbend Elementary Schools – Traditional Public School (Haywood County  Schools)
5. Providence Spring Elementary – Traditional Public School (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)
6. Green Hope Elementary School – Traditional Public School (Wake County Public Schools)
7. Wrightsville Beach Elementary School– Traditional Public School (New Hanover County Schools)
8. Pine Lake Preparatory – Charter School (Mooresville)
9. Masonboro Elementary – Traditional Public School (New Hanover County Schools)
10. Rea View Elementary School– Traditional Public School (Union County Public Schools)

Top 10 middle schools

1. Brown Summit Middle School – Magnet School (Guilford County Schools)
2. Metrolina Regional Scholars Academy – Charter School (Charlotte)
3. Marvin Ridge Middle School – Traditional Public School (Union County Public Schools)
4. The Brawley School – Traditional Public School (Iredell-Statesville Schools)
5. Greensboro Academy – Charter School (Greensboro)
6. Mills Park Middle School – Traditional Public School (Wake County Public Schools Schools)
7. Weddington Middle School– Traditional Public School (Union County Public Schools)
8. Oakwood Middle School – Traditional Public School (Iredell-Statesville Schools)
9. Peak Charter Academy – Charter School (Apex) 
10. Davis Drive Middle School– Traditional Public School (Wake County Public Schools)

Top 10 high schools 

1. The Early College at Guilford– Public Early College (Guilford County Schools)
2. STEM Early College at N.C. A&T– Public Early College (Guilford County Schools)
3. Onslow Early College– Public Early College (Onslow County Schools)
4. Raleigh Charter High School– Charter School (Raleigh)
5. Woods Charter School– Charter School (Chapel Hill)
6. Wake STEM Early College – Public Early College (Wake County Public Schools)
7. Phillip J Weaver Ed Center– Magnet School (Guilford County Schools)
8. Discovery High School – Magnet School (Newton-Conover City Schools)
9. Green Level High School – Traditional Public School (Wake County Public Schools)
10. Highland School of Technology– Magnet School (Gaston County Schools)

To read the full lists and learn more about each school listed, visit this page  for the list on elementary schools, this page for the list on middle schools, and this page for high schools.