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If you live in the Tar Heel State, you might have wondered what the best public high schools are in North Carolina. This is understandable — for many students, finding the best high school is just as important as scoping out the right university. For students whose academic interests are defined early, public high schools that offer specialized curriculums are a huge draw. At these schools, students not only prepare for the next step in their academic careers but also develop skills that translate well to college.

North Carolina is a beautiful state known for its natural beauty, like the Great Smoky Mountains and Outer Banks. But North Carolina is also home to some of the best public high schools in the country. From general public high schools to STEM-focused campuses, the best public high schools in North Carolina are well-equipped to foster a wide variety of student interests.

What’s more, with UNC Chapel Hill, Duke, and Wake Forest consistently topping the list of highly-ranked universities, high school students in North Carolina are well-positioned to transition to any number of amazing colleges.

Best Public High Schools in North Carolina

When assembling this list, we reviewed several factors. These factors include the school’s statewide ranking, the number of students who passed at least one AP exam, average SAT and ACT scores, and graduation rates. Additionally, we reviewed the College Readiness Index of each school. The College Readiness Index calculates values for schools based on student performance on both state-required tests and AP/IB exams. Finally, while this list is selective, it is presented in alphabetical order for ease of reading.

So, without further ado, let’s take a look at 20 of the best public high schools in North Carolina to see how they help prepare high schoolers for the next step in their academic careers.

1)

• Location: Charlotte (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)
• Enrollment: 3,569
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 60%

I don’t have the numbers to back this up, but with over 3,500 students, Ardrey Kell has got to be among the biggest high schools in the US. It’s also an academic powerhouse, with dozens of AP courses and a graduation rate of 96%. At the same time, I can’t help but question the name. On its website, AKHS refers (benignly) to the Ardry and Kell families as “two of the most prestigious families in Lower Providence” without acknowledging that both were slave owners and supporters of the Confederacy. Maybe a rebranding is in order?

2)

• Location: Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,625
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 60%

Not to be confused with East Chapel Hill High School (with whom I hope there exists a Yankees-Red Sox-style rivalry), CHHS is the “Home of the Panthers.” Apparently, being a Panther entails a great deal of alliteration, as CHHS’s website posits that “Every Panther is Prepared to Pursue a Positive Purpose.” Chapel Hill HS doubles down with a drab declaration, writing that “Chapel Hill High School [will] serve our community by engaging and empowering our students to be responsible and successful global citizens through educational excellence.”

3)

• Location: Newton (Newton Conover City Schools)
• Enrollment: 161
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 74%

Discovery High School is a bit of an enigma. To be sure, the rate at which its students take AP exams is impressive (74%). At the same time, scratch the surface of the data and you’ll see that its AP exam pass rate is only 52%, which is lower than the district rate (56%) and the rate of the state as a whole (65%). This suggests that while DHS might encourage exam participation, it’s not doing a great job preparing its students. At the same time, its vision is “Discover Your Path!” which, I must admit, feels vaguely threatening. This vibe continues when one reads about DHS’s behavior norms and core values, which include “EF Hutton,” “The Pepsi Philosophy,” and “The Weak Mind Rule.”

4)

• Location: Greensboro (Guilford County Schools)
• Enrollment: 190
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 23:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 55%

As the #1 ranked high school in North Carolina (and #16 in the nation), ECG has much to recommend it. It’s ranked first in the state in SAT scores and boasts a 90% college attendance rate. What’s more, it aims to “make a positive difference in the lives of students by providing exceptionally challenging educational opportunities that support academic development at the highest standards.” It does this by “building bridges at the earliest opportunity between high school, college, and beyond, our school seeks to awaken and mature the creative, social, and academic abilities of students.” Given the rigorous academic load, the relative dearth of clubs is perhaps unsurprising. Check out their slick (but long) .

5)

• Location: Chapel Hill (Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools)
• Enrollment: 1,403
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 58%

ECHHS has everything you would expect from one of the best public high schools in North Carolina. AP courses? Check. Dual enrollment? Check. Blandly inspiring mission statement? Check. 100+ student clubs to pad out that resume? Check and check.

6)

• Location: Cary (Wake County Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,119
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 56%

In some ways, Green Hope HS is exactly what you expect from one of the best public high schools in North Carolina. It offers a bevy of AP courses, supplies a computer to every student, and has the obligatory Model UN team. At the same time, according to the school report card, Green Hope HS only has 3.49 book titles per student, far lower than the 16.04 per student rate for the state of North Carolina.

7)

• Location: Cary (Wake County School)
• Enrollment: 2,143
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 75%

With only 6.5% of its students classified as economically disadvantaged, GLHS certainly benefits from some structural advantages. That being said, there’s no denying GLHS’s academic successes. Not only do 75% of its students take at least one AP exam, but 77% of those students score at least a 3 or better. With over 2,000 enrolled students, there’s something for every interest. GLHS offers over 100 “Gator Time” options, including “No Woman, No Girl,” which, despite its confusing name, is actually trying to help women.

8)

• Location: Gastonia (Gaston County Schools)
• Enrollment: 526
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 44%

When students enter HST, they choose one of the three academies — 1) Business, Legal, and Information Sciences, 2) Health Sciences, or 3) Engineering Technology. Within each academy are various subject pathways (e.g., computer science, dental science, or graphic design). As befits one of the best public high schools in North Carolina, HST has an only-mildly-cringy .

9)

• Location: Waxhaw (Union County Public Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,044
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 39%

Like all of the schools on this list, Marvin Ridge HS offers a host of AP courses and boasts a higher-than-state-average SAT score (1,223). At the same time, what sets MRHS apart is its IB Pathway and IB Diploma programs. (Perhaps this explains its lower-than-average AP participation rate.)

10)

• Location: Asheville (Buncombe County Schools)
• Enrollment: 376
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 37%

It feels necessary to point out that while Nesbitt Discovery Academy’s AP participation rate is only 37%, its AP pass rate is over 90%. While it’s difficult to find out much about the school from its website, it does have a charming “” video.

11)

• Location: Greensboro (Guilford County Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,028
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 20:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 43%

Thankfully, Northwest Guilford High School has opted to eschew the big-cat-mascot trend. Instead, it has opted for “the Vikings,” which makes sense given North Carolina’s long history of Viking settlements. In any case, NGHS offers 23 AP courses and a larger-than-average visual art department. (It offers 10 visual art classes compared to the district average of 4.)

12)

• Location: Jacksonville (Onslow County Schools)
• Enrollment: 188
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 29:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 26%

While Onslow ECHS’s AP participation rate is lower than some of the schools on this list, their dual-enrollment numbers (in partnership with Coastal Carolina Community College) are impressive. In fact, by their junior and senior year, OECHS students will be taking exclusively college-level courses. While their website is sparse, their heart is in the right place. In their no-frills mission statement, they assert that “We will provide the opportunity to access an affordable four-year college or university for our students.” There seem to be a number of student-run clubs.

13)

• Location: Cary (Wake County Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,555
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 47%

Perhaps due to the surfeit of Panther mascots in North Carolina, Panther Creek High School has chosen (looks at notes) — the catamount as its mascot. If you’re wondering what a “catamount” is, you’re not alone. It turns out that “catamount” is another word for — wait for it — panther. In any case, as the second-best school in Wake County, PCHS has much to recommend it, including a bevy of AP courses and an 86% college enrollment rate.

14)

• Location: Greensboro (Guilford County Schools)
• Enrollment: 277
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 8:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 60%

With an eye-poppingly low student-teacher ratio, the Weaver Academy offers an unparalleled educational experience. Furthermore, it balances arts — orchestra, choir, band, theater — with more traditional trades, including auto-tech, collision repair, and culinary arts. (Check out the smooth jazz of .) All that being said, its mission statement — “We will move the people of our school community to serve and lead in a diverse, changing world” — feels vaguely threatening.

15)

• Location: Charlotte (Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,086
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 42%

While Providence HS’s AP participation rate is an average (for this list) 42%, its passing rate is an impressive 89%! Furthermore, Providence touts its low teacher turnover rate, its culture of high expectations, and its wide variety of extracurricular activities.

16)

• Location: Raleigh (Raleigh Charter High School)
• Enrollment: 192
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 64%

With 79% of faculty holding advanced degrees and an AP participation rate of 64%, there’s no doubt that this high school offers a top-notch education. This being the case, it’s no surprise that RCHS is consistently ranked one of the best public high schools in North Carolina. What’s more, RCHS’s explicit anti-racist mission is refreshing among the sea of bland vision statements. (While understandable, it’s a shame this anti-racist message comes from a charter school.)

17)

• Location: Greensboro (Guilford County Schools)
• Enrollment: 192
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 47%

Located on the campus of North Carolina’s Agricultural and Technical State University in Greensboro, STEM EC is too busy educating its students to put much time into its website. Like the vast majority of the schools on this list, STEM EC offers dual-enrollment, AP courses, and clubs that are going to look good on students’ CVs.

18)

• Location: Cary (Wake County Schools)
• Enrollment: 277
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 92%

A partnership between Wake County Schools and North Carolina State University, its tagline is “preparing tomorrow’s problem solvers.” Its mascot is the wolf, and, while we read that the wolf “symbolizes [the] school and the spirit of the community,” its deeper symbolism remains a mystery. Wake STEM has a competitive application process and its list of clubs attests to its academically focused student body. (Perhaps because of its association with NCSU, Wake STEM is particularly attentive to its .)

19)

• Location: Raleigh (Wake County Schools)
• Enrollment: 2,485
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 46%

Enloe HS has a storied history. The original Enloe opened in 1962 as the first integrated secondary school in North Carolina. Though it’s long since moved out of its original buildings, the modern-day Enloe continues to excel. It’s now a magnet school that offers a top-notch educational experience with AP and IB courses.

20)

• Location: Chapel Hill (Woods Charter School)
• Enrollment: 509 (grades K-12)
• Student-Teacher Ratio: 9:1
• % AP Exam Participation: 52%

Serving students from pre-K-12, this school “envision[s] a world where every young person wholeheartedly engages in an extraordinary educational journey that leads to a life of leadership and service.” Their commitment to enlightened pedagogy is enabled by its amazing 9:1 student-teacher ratio. What’s more, it’s very proud of the it has placed on the roof of its building.

Final Thoughts

Preparing for college starts in high school. Whether it be joining a variety of extracurriculars or opting for advanced classes, students should be aware of how their high school career will translate into their collegiate one.

Ultimately, any list of “best public high schools in North Carolina” is going to be subjective. For students looking at any major, there are a wide variety of high schools in North Carolina that will prepare them well for the next step in their academic careers.

Consider checking out the following relevant blogs:

• Best Public High Schools in California
• Top Public High Schools in New Jersey
• Best Public High Schools in NYC
• 10 Best Online High Schools
• Best Private High Schools in San Antonio
• Top Private High Schools in Dallas
• Best Private High Schools in Houston