For the 2026 school year, there are 24 blue ribbon public high schools serving 12,102 students in North Carolina.
Blue ribbon schools have been recognized by the Department of Education for achieving superior standards of academic excellence. Read more about this national school awards program and how blue ribbon schools work.
The top-ranked blue ribbon public high schools in North Carolina are Highland School Of Technology, Nesbitt Discovery Academy and Central Academy Of Technology And Arts. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina blue ribbon public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 80% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 78% (versus the 58% statewide average).
North Carolina blue ribbon public high school have a Graduation Rate of 91%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Brunswick County Early College, with ≥95% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Blue Ribbon Public High Schools in North Carolina (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Highland School Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gr: 9-12 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
175 Bingham Rd Ste 10
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Gr: 9-12 | 372 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 17%
Rank: #33.
Central Academy Of Technology And Arts
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
600 Brewer Dr
Monroe, NC 28112
(704) 296-3088
Monroe, NC 28112
(704) 296-3088
Gr: 9-12 | 875 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #44.
Raleigh Charter High School
Charter School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1307 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 715-1155
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 715-1155
Gr: 9-12 | 552 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #55.
Brunswick County Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
50 College Road Ne
Supply, NC 28462
(910) 756-5030
Supply, NC 28462
(910) 756-5030
Gr: 9-13 | 307 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #66.
Providence High School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1800 Pineville-matthews Rd
Charlotte, NC 28270
(980) 343-5390
Charlotte, NC 28270
(980) 343-5390
Gr: 9-12 | 2,167 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Early College At Guilford
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
5608 West Friendly Avenue
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 316-2860
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 316-2860
Gr: 9-12 | 193 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Haywood Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
185 Freedlander Drive
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 565-4000
Clyde, NC 28721
(828) 565-4000
Gr: 9-13 | 167 students Student-teacher ratio: 42:1 Minority enrollment: 15%
Rank: #99.
J D Clement Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Gr: 9-13 | 380 students Student-teacher ratio: 27:1 Minority enrollment: 96%
Rank: #1010.
Sampson Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1801 Sunset Ave
Clinton, NC 28329
(910) 592-7177
Clinton, NC 28329
(910) 592-7177
Gr: 9-13 | 216 students Student-teacher ratio: 24:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1111.
Psrc Early College At Rcc
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5160 Fayetteville Road
Lumberton, NC 28360
(910) 737-5232
Lumberton, NC 28360
(910) 737-5232
Gr: 9-13 | 257 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #1212.
Cross Creek Early College
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 500-7551
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 500-7551
Gr: 9-12 | 253 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #1313.
Caldwell Early College
(Math: 80-84% | Reading: 85-89% )
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2859 Hickory Blvd Sw
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Gr: 9-13 | 317 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 26%
Rank: #1414.
Rutherford Early College High School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
286 Icc Loop Road
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 288-2202
Spindale, NC 28160
(828) 288-2202
Gr: 9-13 | 208 students Student-teacher ratio: 52:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #15 - 1715. - 17.
Mcdowell Early College
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
54 College Drive
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 659-0411
Gr: 9-13 | 193 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #15 - 1715. - 17.
Pender Early College High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
100 East Industrial Drive
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 362-7925
Burgaw, NC 28425
(910) 362-7925
Gr: 9-13 | 202 students Student-teacher ratio: 51:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #15 - 1715. - 17.
Stem Early College Nc A&t Su
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
402 Laurel Street
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 370-8580
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 370-8580
Gr: 9-12 | 192 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #1818.
Mount Airy High School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1011 N South St
Mount Airy, NC 27030
(336) 789-5147
Mount Airy, NC 27030
(336) 789-5147
Gr: 9-12 | 620 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1919.
Socrates Academy
Charter School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3909 Weddington Rd
Matthews, NC 28105
(704) 321-1711
Matthews, NC 28105
(704) 321-1711
Gr: K-12 | 1,039 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #2020.
A&t Four Middle College
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1601 East Market Street
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 691-0941
Greensboro, NC 27411
(336) 691-0941
Gr: 9-12 | 162 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 99%
Rank: #2121.
Sallie B Howard School
Charter School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1004 Herring Avenue E
Wilson, NC 27893
(252) 293-4150
Wilson, NC 27893
(252) 293-4150
Gr: K-12 | 1,228 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #2222.
Saint Stephens High School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 54%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
3205 34th Street Drive Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9841
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 256-9841
Gr: 9-12 | 1,268 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2323.
Greene Early College High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
818 Highway 91
Snow Hill, NC 28580
(252) 747-9044
Snow Hill, NC 28580
(252) 747-9044
Gr: 9-13 | 150 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #2424.
Academy At Smith
Magnet School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2225 South Holden Road
Greensboro, NC 27407
(336) 316-5866
Greensboro, NC 27407
(336) 316-5866
Gr: 9-12 | 246 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked blue ribbon public high schools in North Carolina?
The top-ranked blue ribbon public high schools in North Carolina include Highland School Of Technology, Nesbitt Discovery Academy and Central Academy Of Technology And Arts.
How many blue ribbon public high schools are located in North Carolina?
24 blue ribbon public high schools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina blue ribbon public high schools minority enrollment is 54% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the North Carolina public high schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
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