2022 Best public high schools in North Carolina

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• 11-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  114 reviews

Senior: A great opportunity to learn and take classes not typically available in high school! Many of the classes count for college credit, and all classes are honors level or above. There is a great support system in place to make sure all students get what they need. Living in Durham is also a great experience and a lot of fun. The main adjustment for me was getting used to the food (which is free!), but it was doable.... Read 114 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 680

• Student-teacher ratio 7:1

• Guilford County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.36 out of 5  116 reviews

Senior: The Early College at Guilford is a great college preparatory program, and for students interested in STEM, the resources are wonderful! You are allowed to take free college courses for 2 years, and you have access to lots of resources that come with being on a college campus. The art and design clubs and culture is not the best, but you have access to college level facilities for the last two years, which is a great opportunity.... Read 116 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 200

• Student-teacher ratio 25:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  198 reviews

Senior: My years at Raleigh Charter have allowed me to grow as an individual and as a intellectual. Although Raleigh Charter’s academic rigor is challenging, it enables the student to have a well-rounded education which can prepare them for any walks of life. In addition, the non academic features of the school are also very rewarding. There is almost always an event that one can attended every week as a break from academic students. There are an array of clubs present that can allow students to grow their interests ranging from STEM to liberal arts. As a small school, There are many different ways students can be involved into the community and make an impact. The only thing I would change about Raleigh Charter is the diversity. If there were more minorities whether teachers are students, there would be more perspectives to take from. Nonetheless, the community is very inclusive and welcoming!... Read 198 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 569

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  479 reviews

Junior: Green Hope High School offers a variety of classes, at the honors, academic, and AP level. There are also many clubs available. At Green Hope, there are also many opportunities for free tutoring during lunch, and students also have opportunities during lunch to meet with their teachers. However, the communication between the school and families is abysmal. The weekly newsletter send to parents is usually very unhelpful. For example, when it was time for the Pre-ACTs, the newsletter only told parents a week in advance! There is also little to no information about what the clubs actually do, and to find information, students must either email the club president directly or attend every single interest meeting! It is very inconvenient, and can discourage students from joining clubs. Overall however, Green Hope High School is a very good school, especially when compared to other schools in the county.... Read 479 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,247

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  532 reviews

Sophomore: Panther Creek is a very diverse high school with a friendly environment.I met some of the kindest and most involved teachers here. On the other hand, there are some uninterested, hot tempered teachers too. For example, the Spanish department is made up of teachers who would rather be doing anything than teaching. The Spanish department is just one department among many others. The science and math departments consist of excellent teachers. A complaint I have about Panther Creek High school is that they do not have a health science department. This was very disappointing for me to find out since I want to work in the medical field one day. Something that I cannot dismiss is the variety of clubs and sports that Panther Creek has to offer. There is a club for almost anything at this school. From Chinese Yo-Yo club to the Muslim Student association, Panther Creek has a broad selection. Overall Panther Creek is a good High school to attend!... Read 532 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,470

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  275 reviews

Parent: Very competitive student body. Great teachers. Great facilities. Good prep for college. Great parental involvement. Good school spirit. To sum up East in one sentence: East can fill out two orchestras but can't field a football team. But basketball and lacrosse very strong. The school district is a mess of politically correct madness focused on equity above academics. They are destroying what was once a great high school. But that is happening in every public school, so there's no alternative other than paying for private school.... Read 275 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,540

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Union County Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.04 out of 5  438 reviews

Senior: I had and still am having an amazing experience at Marvin Ridge High School. My fellow peers, teachers, and staff at Marvin have been accepting of all people that attend Marvin Ridge High school. I would know because I am Greek Orthodox at a school with majority of the students being Catholic or atheist and I feel at home. Marvin has allowed me to discover and have so many amazing opportunity's which is why my experience was overall great!... Read 438 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,929

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  41 reviews

Alum: I graduated from STEM last May, and let me tell you, these 4 years were some of the best years of my life. I met my best friends at this school - the tight-knit community of your class (~50-60 students) allows you to form friendships that will last a lifetime. I have also had the wonderful opportunity to be taught by some of the kindest teachers I've ever had - I can truthfully say that both the faculty and administration at this school care about you and genuinely want you to succeed in life - and will give you all the support to do so. The workload was tough - as it is with any Early College. But the students, faculty and administration made it all bearable. Go STEM! So proud to be an alum.... Read 41 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 254

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  243 reviews

Senior: Chapel Hill High School is an amazing school. There are so many opportunities for people with all types of different interests. Although the school culture can be quite competitive, the dynamic prepares students for college! One of the biggest problems at Chapel Hill High School is its achievement gap. The student population is mostly made up of the white upper-middle-class and teachers and administrators alike lack the motivation and skills to support students from different backgrounds, especially minority groups of students. Amongst the competitive and challenging academics and the high expectations of staff, it is easy to be left behind at Chapel Hill. It's a great school for those who enjoy being constantly challenged and are on the college trajectory, but it is still a school that needs improvements, such as closing its achievement gap, lowering student stress levels, and making better choices about allocating its many resources.... Read 243 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,526

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  677 reviews

Junior: Ardrey Kell school is the best school there is to get you ready for college. Aside from everyone trying to be the best of the best, the facility here is amazing. Everywhere you turn there is always someone ready to be by your side. Academics are amazing. Not only are you put to the test, you are also challenged in the classes that you are in. If you're in an AP class, it's AP. The sports a amazing. Everyone one the team is competitive but also caring. Although there isn't a a huge diversity of races at the school, all races get along with each other. Ardrey Kell is the place to be!... Read 677 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 3,437

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  719 reviews

Senior: As someone who's going into their senior year, I can comfortably say I've loved my experience at Enloe. I've always loved the community--- the students and staff come together to create a unique environment that welcomes all kinds of students. Even through the pandemic the school worked hard to keep this sense of community and I really appreciated their efforts to make sure students had everything they needed to continue their education, despite the circumstances. The academic opportunities and continuous rigor is one of my favorite things about Enloe. As a graduating Senior, I feel prepared and comfortable with the idea of college thanks to this school!... Read 719 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,337

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Chapel Hill, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.98 out of 5  52 reviews

Senior: Absolutely excellent! I've been in many schools across the globe and this one is by far my favorite. The small classes mean teachers are more in-touch and understanding, and that participation is much easier. The students and the atmosphere of the school itself is extremely welcoming and non-judgmental. Everyone, the students, the teachers, and the parents, are super involved in extracurriculars, so whilst we may not have as many as larger state schools, we are able to do much more with what we have. Everyone is so enthusiastic and charitable. Student-led clubs are also always pushing for ways to make it a kinder, more diverse, and more environmentally friendly place.... Read 52 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 509

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Winston Salem/Forsyth County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.37 out of 5  146 reviews

Senior: Early college is like no other traditional high school or magnet school it’s in its own category Early college is the best decision I could’ve made. Going into early college all the upperclassman were always nice and always wanted to help you navigate around the school. The classrooms are small and the teachers are all so amazing they know how to teach and they also care about you a lot. Overall, my early college experience has been amazing I’ve learned so much and I’m going to graduate with an associates degree I don’t know why a lot of students don’t even apply to it they should it’s the best!... Read 146 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 255

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Guilford County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.24 out of 5  42 reviews

Senior: I have attended this school for 3 years now and it has been an amazing and unique experience. The office staff is extremely nice and helpful and the teachers are exceptional with their courses. The teachers have taught both honors & AP classes very well and I passed every class and exam. The opportunities were also endless in terms of clubs and service-learning. The environment is welcoming for new students and there is diversity everywhere. Since it was a small school, I was able to develop a relationship with every student in my class. Within a few days of my first year, it felt like family. By junior and senior year, I attended college classes at the university which helped with college readiness. Now, I can transfer credits and save lots of money in college! The only drawback was that our school did not offer arts or sports which is something that I would like to see differently. But, I was still able to pursue my interest in tennis through my district highschool.... Read 42 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 187

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Durham, NC•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  59 reviews

Parent: We love the atmosphere of this school, the teachers are fun but also serious about teaching and learning. Expectations are high and students work hard but they don't have tons of homework, and many classes have lots of hands-on activities. We love the personalized learning method, students can move ahead quickly if they have already mastered the material - so much better than spending hours bored in class while the teacher goes over something you already know! It's a little confusing to understand how the grading works at first, but it's worth the hassle. We're so glad we took a chance and tried something different.... Read 59 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 586

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Chapel Hill-Carrboro City Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  210 reviews

Junior: I am having an amazing time at CHS! The teachers are wonderful people who care for their students, regardless of being a public high school. I look forward to each class every day! The students at CHS are great too! The students at CHS are welcoming, regardless of race, age or gender. I had recently moved from The Bahamas to CHS, and I felt right at home because of the wonderful care from both students and teachers. I highly recommend CHS to anyone looking for the best years of their lives. P.S., the cafeteria food is AMAZING!... Read 210 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 849

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Union County Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.06 out of 5  387 reviews

Senior: From my experience as a student at Weddington High school, the staff and faculty make it their personal duty to make sure each and every student can succeed. From holding early morning tutoring sessions and rearranging lesson plans to focus on a more challenging topic for a longer amount of time, to going out of their way to get to know each student on a personal level, the teachers at Weddington make it heavily apparent that they truly care for their students. Over the course of the 4 years I have spent here, I have accumulated multiple strong bonds with my teachers that have made my High School experience very unique. The quality of education at Weddington is also something that I have found to be very profound. But with that being said, the school’s high standards for students does create levels of stress and academic competition that is higher than the average High school.... Read 387 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,756

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Guilford County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  157 reviews

Senior: First and foremost, the student body is amazing. Everyone is super talented and interesting, and because we’re all art kids, the vast majority of us are super nice. One thing in particular that I love is that everyone dresses so differently and is not afraid to dress how they want to. Everyday I see people in sweatpants and a T-shirt, in dresses, in full goth, in the gayest outfits ever, and also a bunch of people cross-dressing, which has been such a welcoming and pleasant atmosphere since the day I walked in. I also really like that we’re on the block schedule, meaning students have 4 90-minute class periods each day, and get new classes at the beginning of the second semester. This means that students take 8 classes every year, which is more than most other high schools. My biggest complaint is that since we’re a small school, we have limited academic classes, especially for foreign language. This is balanced out with lots of tremendous arts classes, but is a challenge nonetheless.... Read 157 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 335

• Student-teacher ratio 8:1

• Huntersville, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.03 out of 5  267 reviews

Alum: I spent eight years at LNC and made great friends and even greater memories. The sporting events are always fun to attend, especially with the Knightmare student section. The majority of teachers are amazing and you have many opportunities to take AP and Dual Enrollment courses. They also have a great lunch program where you can order from places like Chik-Fil-A and Panda Express. The only thing I didn’t enjoy with LNC was how everyone had their own social group that they always stuck with. Overall, I enjoyed my time at LNC and I will forever be a Knight!... Read 267 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,207

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.92 out of 5  144 reviews

Sophomore: I am a sophomore at Wake Early College of Health and Sciences, and I got to say that it has been a great school so far. The teachers here are great as they are very knowledgeable of their subjects and capable of explaining concepts to students. In addition, this school provides us with many opportunities to learn more about different careers. As a part of our early college program, we become full-time college students at Wake Tech. This is great considering that we get to graduate with an associate's degree at no extra cost. This not only helps families financially but also saves two years of time and prepares students for college. Overall, my experience at Wake Early College of Health and Sciences has been great!... Read 144 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 339

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Gaston County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.19 out of 5  234 reviews

Sophomore: I love being a part of the Rams family. HST has a wide range of sports, clubs, and social outings. They give every opportunity for students to get involved on and off campus. The staff is wonderful, every teacher I’ve had goes to great lengths to make sure the whole class can understand and apply the concepts that they teach. They usually offer after/before school tutoring and plenty of extra credit opportunities. Everything about my experience at Highland Tech has been wonderful. Currently, I’m a part of 7 extracurriculars and loving every single one. The classes are definitely more challenging, and typically have a heavier work load, so if you have difficulty with time management, HST may not be for you. It would also be beneficial to you to get involved. I didn’t realize what a difference it would make in my freshman year. Going to HST rather than my feeder school was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my academic career, and I recommend you do the same. Go Rams!... Read 234 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 555

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Union County Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.31 out of 5  160 reviews

Junior: I’ve been attending CATA for three years now and I’ve never been happier at a school before! The teachers are all amazing; they’re all so supportive, engaging, and teach incredibly well. On top of that, the environment itself is very comfortable. It’s a very diverse school where everyone can express themselves freely without judgement and I really appreciate the open atmosphere at CATA. Though we may not have the best athletics (which I personally don’t have much interest in as it is), our school is very competitive in terms of academics. I feel like I’m actually somewhat challenged here which I’m personally very grateful for. CATA definitely isn’t your typical public school and I’d recommend it to anybody who has interest in going.... Read 160 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 843

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Davidson, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 4.39 out of 5  71 reviews

Senior: Community School of Davidson has the best teachers I have ever had, they truly care about you and they go out of their way to help you. For example I had emailed a teacher at 10:30 pm, and I didn't want or expect them to get back to me that night but sure enough at 11 pm they did. The learning style here is something I have never experienced, in that they don't have test ever week and in a history class I had we look at a war that happened and got articles from both countries that were involved to see how they both blamed each other. But the other students are nice, but most of the students have been there since preschool so they take our school for granted. Also the students there are 85% well off, which isn't a bad thing but there just isn't a diversity of wealth or race. Overall CSD is a good school and they try their best!... Read 71 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,430

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• New Hanover County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.9 out of 5  116 reviews

Junior: IBECH will definitely be a challenging school, that will push you to achieve your fullest potential. It will take sometime to get used to the fast pace curriculum, but with the close familly like support from students and staff members, you can surely succeed! Yes, I will admit IBECH is a small school, but that's its biggest pro because this made everyone be super close! Along with that, everyone will help eachother enormously because we are all struggling! Whether it was gathering in study groups on the UNCW campus, creating group chats, or making study guides for everyone the close knit facilities inevitably helped you thrive! Another pro in the academic standpoint of IBECH, is that if you have difficultues in class or on assignments the teachers will step up and help you out because they understand how demanding the curriculum is! Also if you enjoy sports IBECH lets you do sports at your districted highschool, so you don't have to worry about it! Anyway IBECH 10/10 would recommend!... Read 116 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 235

• Student-teacher ratio 24:1

• Wayne County Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.35 out of 5  86 reviews

Senior: This school is not for the faint of heart! You will be required to work your tail off. The staff are skilled and are willing to help you because they know how to the best way possible. The activities are fun and engaging. If you work hard, you'll leave high school with an associate's degree.... Read 86 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 236

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1