2024 Niche Standout High Schools in North Carolina

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  209 reviews

Senior: J.D Clement Early College High School is a great school and program! This school helps student adjust to college life and trust students to take care of themselves on campus. The staff is amazing and gives help whenever is needed. I am African American and being on Central's campus helps me feel comfortable. I believe it is a perfect opportunity for the future of my life and I can remain stress-free with the great staff we have.... Read 209 reviews

• grade A

• Students 395

• Student-teacher ratio 33:1

• Free or reduced lunch 28%

• Durham Public Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  209 reviews

Senior: What I like about City of Medicine Academy is that it is a small school. I am able to connect with my teachers as well as the students around me. We have to wear scrubs to school everyday and each grade level has its own color scrubs, which lets everyone know that persons grade level and it is easier to identify people. I love the classes that we are able to take in our senior year. We can take EMT or FON (Fundamentals of Nursing) I am taking FON and this class prepares us to get certified to be a CNA. This was also one of the reason I wanted to come to this school, because of the opportunities they give. I personally wouldn't change anything from my school! Everything works well! Our school is different. We don't have any sports or things like that. We would have to go to our base school to play sports, which is something I would change since I love sports.... Read 209 reviews

• grade A

• Students 352

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Free or reduced lunch 37%

• Surry County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.2 out of 5  45 reviews

Senior: Surry early is a very inclusive and diverse school. I loved that you could always be yourself and no one really judged each other. Everyone who goes to surry early really wanted to be there. That’s what makes it so special everyone’s working towards something. We also get to learn how to do college instead of being thrown in. We Have many great opportunities to excel and tutoring programs. All our books and college fees are paid for. We get a 2 year degree for free. Almost all of the high school teachers are supportive and have refreshing ways of teaching. I have loved my time at surry early and would recommend it a thousand times over. If your family doesn’t think they could pay for college, surry early is a great option. They want to help those who can’t afford college. The only things I would change about it is to bring back high school clubs. Before we had a time in the week where we had clubs and got to interact that’s now gone. Overall it’s an amazing environment.... Read 45 reviews

• grade A

• Students 296

• Student-teacher ratio 33:1

• Free or reduced lunch 23%

• Cumberland County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  208 reviews

Senior: My experience with Cross Creek Early College High School has been a long and thorough journey. One thing I can say about Cross Creek is that they are exceptional in College Readiness. Cross Creek will make sure that by time you are a senior that you are prepared to apply to colleges, get scholarships, and be in college after graduation. You spend time taking multiple high school courses that are honors and through a partnership with Fayetteville State University take college courses as well. All so that when a student is graduated they have college credits that are enough to be a junior in college. Overall I am glad that I attended Cross Creek for all four years of high school because I have gained so much. The teachers, staff, and students are all very focused, helpful, and proficient in assisting students in every way they are able to.... Read 208 reviews

• grade A

• Students 246

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Free or reduced lunch 39%

• Guilford County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  58 reviews

Junior: The academy is very small and inclusive. Small classes allow for more individual instruction and help, which is very helpful. Classes are instructed very well. Some things about the academy I would like to change is the fun students get to have!... Read 58 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 196

• Student-teacher ratio 9:1

• Free or reduced lunch 54%

• Cumberland County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.15 out of 5  142 reviews

Senior: CIECHS has offered many opportunities that have allowed me to grow as a student and individual. Teachers take time to talk one-on-one with students to ensure academic success. Alongside high school classes, I have taken nearly 50 credits worth of college classes. In these classes, I have met diverse groups of people and further broadened my horizons. Teachers and staff at CIECHS have the student's best interest at heart and work everyday to prove that.... Read 142 reviews

• grade A

• Students 281

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Free or reduced lunch 41%

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.84 out of 5  408 reviews

Senior: East Mecklenburg High School is a great and diverse high school with an IB program and with multiple AP classes. For me personally, I love attending here as there are a lot of different classes and pathways I can take to help establish what I want to have as a career. I would recommend future students to enroll here as I had a good time and I hope they do too!... Read 408 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 2,141

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 29%

• Asheboro City Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.59 out of 5  171 reviews

Senior: I enjoy the effort that teachers put into their work. One can genuinely see that teachers try their best to make sure their students can excel in whatever they are doing. I believe we still need more investments into resources, which is already being done, but teachers still need a lot of help dealing with so many students.... Read 171 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,316

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 51%

• Rowan-Salisbury Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.21 out of 5  80 reviews

Junior: It is a great school filled with many amazing classmates, so I didn't had any problems with finding friends despite the low amount of students. The teachers are very one on one with teaching, so it helps me learn better in general. While it is a school that has cons having no sports or club to apply to, it makes up for that with the various school events throughout the year. Our school's hours are 9 am to 4:30 pm which seems like a bad thing, however we do get more learning in, time dedicated to study and a degree in the end! My only complaint is that the school doesn't have an actual campus, it is small.... Read 80 reviews

• grade A minus

• Students 239

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Free or reduced lunch 46%

• Newton Conover City Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  121 reviews

Sophomore: Currently, I'm a sophomore attending my first year here at NCHS. I used to move constantly and I've never been to a school like this one. The opportunities I have been given to improve myself academically are astonishing. For instance, my upcoming junior year I have signed myself up to participate in the CVCC (Catawba County Community College) courses. I'll be able to switch out electives for college course to count as credits that'll better my future. Words cannot describe how ecstatic I am to start my future ready and prepared.... Read 121 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 691

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 44%

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  767 reviews

Senior: At Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, the teachers have been exceptional in valuing their students and imparting necessary skills for various subjects. Alongside this, I have also had the pleasure of making wonderful friends who provide support during both the good and bad times. On the downside, I have found it hard to blend with other students due to my Indian background. It has been challenging to relate to their experiences, leaving me unsure of myself. However, I have pushed through and achieved academic accomplishments that have boosted my confidence. I think it would be beneficial if we made some changes in the way we accept students from diverse backgrounds. We should take into account the different experiences of those who have grown up in different environments. To celebrate our school's diversity, I suggest organizing events like Cultural Fairs. This way, people can learn more about what makes our school unique and appreciate the diverse cultures represented here.... Read 767 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,723

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 29%

• Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  309 reviews

Freshman: Reviewing the times spent at Independence during my Freshman year brings a mix of bittersweet and nostalgic memories. What I can recount that brought the most remarkable memories is from the warmth of the smiles from every teacher that peered through the hallway in the morning - they were always ready to help and care for every pupil without any lack of patience. Moreover, most students are always welcome to talk to new people and build relationships in the classroom in a positive light. However some students can behave negatively forcing a teacher to stop their instruction. Further on, drug use is a dire issue on campus, therefore I would like to see a change from the school to enforce stricter rules on drugs to end the struggle for other students including me to not have to go into polluted restrooms with people skipping class to vape.... Read 309 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,992

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 26%

• Burke County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.83 out of 5  103 reviews

Senior: I have experienced many thigs at Freedom, some good and some not as good. The education at Freedom is very good and I believe it to be good for college preparation. The teachers I will also write highly of as I am very satisfied with my teachers. With a high diversity letting one really connect with others of different races and ethnicities. However, the safety of the school has had some problems in the past. There have been many students who have gotten into fights and the threats are very prevalent. Overall I have had a fairly good experience with Freedom High School and would recommend it to others.... Read 103 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,337

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Free or reduced lunch 40%

• Cumberland County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  335 reviews

Alum: It’s definitely not the perfect school, and it has its ups and downs, but Pine Forest was the place I needed to be to grow. When I started at Pine Forest as a freshman, I was socially awkward and didn’t like being around a lot of people. Now that I’ve graduated, I can say that pine Forest helped me grow as a student and a person, I can now confidently say that I feel good being in a largely populated atmosphere. Part of that was taught from the teachers, and part from the fellow students. The people I’ve met and created into my friend group will most definitely be with me for the rest of my life. As for the workload given at Pine Forest, it was tough but do-able, I had my fair share of troubles with tests, and homework, and sports, but the environment and people around me continued to push me and help me strive through. I ended up graduating with a 4.2 gpa. I don’t think I could’ve grown as much anywhere else.... Read 335 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,494

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Free or reduced lunch 49%

• Buncombe County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.71 out of 5  153 reviews

Alum: I graduated from Enka High in June of 2022. I loved the experience. Most of the teachers were amazing and would help you succeed in any way they could. I had a few good teachers that supported me in my education and in life. I could go to these teachers whenever I needed to talk about anything school related or otherwise. The students were really supportive. At first I felt like I would be alone, but so many different groups of people opened up to me even though I was the shy one and they encouraged me to get involved in activities such as chorus, International thespian society, and drama club. Overall, I loved my experience at Enka high school and I would happily do it all over again.... Read 153 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,015

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 35%

• Guilford County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  248 reviews

Alum: I actually came to western as a senior and the teacher were very welcoming from the start to the end. With the Covid pandemic I started going to school online and my teacher sent me emails and messages checking in, they were also very supportive of my transition into school. For the most part I loved the AP program there it was taught in a way that broke everything down and it was very easy for me to learn. Like I previously stated my class were online but they had a study session after school hours for those who were behind in work or/and need extra assistance; which was great for me because there was one class that I needed and one on one understanding. With me being at home (virtually) a lot of times I’d have to turn off my volume and/or my camera because of my siblings which included a toddler that was with me during the day due to Covid; my teachers were very understanding of my situation and the oftentimes posted the lecture on the homepage for those who missed a day/lecture.... Read 248 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,374

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Free or reduced lunch 40%

• Henderson County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.8 out of 5  121 reviews

Junior: The teachers and staff are awesome! The High School offers dual enrollment, lots of AP courses, and just and overall selection of courses. The school has a large student body of over 1100 but not too big that you cannot get to know everyone.... Read 121 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 1,068

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 37%

• Lincoln County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  119 reviews

Alum: Lincolnton High School was an overall amazing School. The faculty and staff put the wellbeing of their students over the wellbeing and image of the school. Whether or not a student was physically showing struggle, Lincolnton High School faculty would do their best to make every educational setting a welcoming environment. Many of the staff were the back bone of Lincolnton High. My overall viewpoint and experience of Lincolnton High School is that their strong point is their caring and hands on staff.... Read 119 reviews

• grade B+

• Students 827

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 36%

• Gaston County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.95 out of 5  226 reviews

Senior: Ashbrook High wasn't all that bad, in fact during my freshman year it was one the best! Ever since I turned into a Senior, nothing stays the same so the school has gotten progressively less interactive, and more enforced work flow. The security has "improved" over a couple of years, they start scanning students every day before and after the bell rings!... Read 226 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,269

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Free or reduced lunch 43%

• Chatham County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.05 out of 5  82 reviews

Senior: My experience in Jordan-Matthews was great the diversity found here is unmatchable. I developed a community that allows me to collaborate with people who have different perspectives from mine, motivate myself and others through group work, and create valuable relationships and connections with community members. They offered me with multiple programs to help my transition from middle school to high school. I developed close relationships with staff and administration. Having such programs and close relationships to staff and administration offered to me has helped me expand my friendships and grow as an individual. This is why I LOVE Jordan-Matthews!! GO JETS!!... Read 82 reviews

• grade B

• Students 881

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Free or reduced lunch 53%

• Wilson County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  194 reviews

Senior: My 4 years of high school was good, even during the pandemic. What I like about James Hunt High is that the teachers are well with helping you out and counselors. What I want them to change at that is school is the Food there because most kids go from 7:30-2:30 without eating because they either run out or they don’t serve good food. S/O to princpal Eddie Doll, he’s a good man!... Read 194 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,065

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Free or reduced lunch 28%

• Alamance-Burlington Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.47 out of 5  201 reviews

Senior: The sense of community and school spirit is something to be admired at Williams. Graduates of Williams have come back to the school to teach or to just show their support as often and in any way they can. The ambitious students at Williams are the ones who demonstrate the true driven educational integrity that Williams is capable of. Although given that Williams is a public school with lots of diversity, you get the diamonds in the rough, as well as the ones who collectively make it difficult for diamonds to shine, whether they realize it or not. At the end of the day though, with just enough contagious light, people can inspire others and they can come together to allow any school or any business to grow and advance the best way they can.... Read 201 reviews

• grade B

• Students 1,198

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Free or reduced lunch 36%

• Henderson County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.6 out of 5  134 reviews

Senior: At first I was really intimidated by the idea of attending high school. I had pictured strict teachers, impossible assignments, etc. However when I arrived I quickly discovered that I couldn't have been more wrong. The school was small but had so many kind/talented people (both teachers and classmates). They provided me with help and assistance whenever I needed it. My peers worked with me whenever I was having trouble understanding a part of the curriculum and made sure I wasn't left behind. It was thanks to the school's support that I had such an invaluable experience.... Read 134 reviews

• grade B

• Students 910

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Free or reduced lunch 40%

• Moore County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.1 out of 5  81 reviews

Senior: North Moore High is a place just like home. Where all your peers are like your brothers and sisters and where all the staff is like your mom or dad. North Moore High truly is special. Our motto "Respect, Responsibility, and Integrity" defines who we are. Not only are we all family but even though we are a small school we are big. Have you ever heard the term " Go Big or Go Home?" Well, that's us! We either go big or go home no in-between. If I were to describe my school in just three words it would be "The Mustang Way" because that's who we are and once a Mustang always a Mustang!... Read 81 reviews

• grade B

• Students 614

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Free or reduced lunch 47%

• Cumberland County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  134 reviews

Sophomore: Teachers form great connections with students and start to feel like family. However, some teachers assign a lot of work, taking away from a student's free time. The student body is very welcoming with bullying being non-existent. I would recommend adding sports if possible, as it is something a lot of students have been asking for and would increase the amount of students applying to the school.... Read 134 reviews

• grade B

• Students 256

• Student-teacher ratio 11:1

• Free or reduced lunch 46%