Ranking: 7 of the top 10 public high schools in NC are in the Triangle. Here’s the list

Kimberly Cataudella
Updated ·4 min read

Of the public high schools ranked as the top 10 in North Carolina by Niche, an organization that collects data on K-12 schools and colleges, seven are in the Triangle.

Each of those schools received A+ overall scores from the national school ranking website.

For the full list and more details about each school, visit niche.com/k12/search/best-public-high-schools/s/north-carolina.

Here are the top Triangle schools on the list.

NC’s top public high school is in Durham

#1. North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics in Durham is a public high school.

  • Address: 1219 Broad St. in Durham

  • Website: ncssm.edu

NCSSM was ranked the #1 public high school in America. Last year, the school was ranked #2. There are two campus locations in Durham and Morganton. NCSSM is a boarding school.

This public high school offers 11th and 12th grade instruction for selected students with interest in STEM.

These top-10 high schools are in the Triangle

#3. Raleigh Charter High School in Raleigh is a public charter school.

“It has 569 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 14 to 1,” Niche says. “According to state test scores, 87% of students are at least proficient in math and 95% in reading.”

Raleigh Charter School is also ranked #2 for the best public high school teachers in North Carolina and #2 for best college prep public high schools in the state.

#4. Green Hope High School in Cary is a public school.

  • Address: 2500 Carpenter Upchurch Rd. in Cary

  • Website: wcpss.net

“It has 2,247 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 19 to 1,” Niche says. “According to state test scores, 81% of students are at least proficient in math and 81% in reading.”

Green Hope High School also ranks #6 for best high schools for athletes in North Carolina and #6 for best college prep public high schools in the state.

#5. William G. Enloe High School in Raleigh is a public magnet school.

“It has 2,337 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 60% of students are at least proficient in math and 71% in reading.”

William G. Enloe High School also ranks #2 for best magnet high schools in North Carolina and #4 for best college prep public high schools in the state.

#6. Panther Creek High School in Cary is a public school.

“It has 2,470 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 21 to 1,” says Niche. “According to state test scores, 80% of students are at least proficient in math and 83% in reading.”

Panther Creek High School also ranks #7 for best college prep public high schools in North Carolina and #16 for best high schools for STEM in the state.

#7. Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill is a public school.

  • Address: 9217 Seawell School Rd. in Chapel Hill

  • Website: chccs.org/chhs

“It has 1,526 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 16 to 1. According to state test scores, 80% of students are at least proficient in math and 75% in reading.”

Chapel Hill High School also ranks #5 for best college prep public high schools in North Carolina and #13 for best high schools for STEM in the state.

#8. East Chapel Hill High School in Chapel Hill-Carrboro is a public school.

“It has 1,540 students in grades 9-12 with a student-teacher ratio of 17 to 1,” Niche says. “According to state test scores, 75% of students are at least proficient in math and 81% in reading.”

East Chapel Hill High School also ranks #3 for best college prep public high schools in North Carolina ND #7 for best high schools for STEM in the state.

Methodology: Niche ranks nearly 100,000 schools and districts based on statistics and millions of opinions from students and parents, their website says.

These Triangle public high schools send the most students off to college

Ranking: 12 of the top public elementary schools in NC are in the Triangle

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