Public School Review - Established 2003

Best North Carolina Magnet Public Elementary Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 187 magnet public elementary schools serving 108,386 students in North Carolina.
Learn more about how magnet schools work. The top-ranked magnet public elementary schools in North Carolina are Brown Summit Middle School, Cox Mill Elementary School and Highland Mill Montessori. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina magnet public elementary schools have an average math proficiency score of 47% (versus the North Carolina public elementary school average of 50%), and reading proficiency score of 47% (versus the 49% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Magnet Public Elementary Schools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Brown Summit Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥99% | Reading: ≥99%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
4720 Nc Highway 150 East
Browns Summit, NC 27214
(336) 656-0432
Gr: 6-8 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #22.
Cox Mill Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1450 Cox Mill Road
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6170
Gr: K-5 | 1,086 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #33.
Highland Mill Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3201 Clemson Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Gr: PK-6 | 341 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #44.
Rea Farms Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
11532 Golf Links Drive
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-0723
Gr: K-8 | 1,098 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #55.
Grand Oak Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
15410 Stumptown Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-2063
Gr: PK-5 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #66.
Hawks Nest Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gr: K-5 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #77.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #88.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #99.
Brooks Global Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
400 Ashland Drive
Greensboro, NC 27406
(336) 370-8228
Gr: K-5 | 314 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
General Greene Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1501 Benjamin Parkway
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 545-2015
Gr: K-5 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Underwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1614 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 856-7663
Gr: K-5 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1212.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Gr: 6-8 | 309 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1313.
Irwin Academic Center
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
329 N. Irwin Ave
Charlotte, NC 28202
(980) 343-5480
Gr: K-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1414.
Randolph Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4400 Water Oak Rd
Charlotte, NC 28211
(980) 343-6700
Gr: 6-8 | 1,215 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #1515.
Piedmont Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1241 E 10th St
Charlotte, NC 28204
(980) 343-5435
Gr: 6-8 | 1,108 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #1616.
Moore Square Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
301 South Person Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5737
Gr: 6-8 | 594 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1717.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Gr: 6-12 | 1,764 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #1818.
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1413 Hampton Valley Rd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Gr: PK-5 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #1919.
Northwest School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1415 Beatties Ford Rd
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-5500
Gr: 6-12 | 993 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #20 - 2220. - 22.
Chantilly Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
701 Briar Creek Rd
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-0692
Gr: PK-6 | 316 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #20 - 2220. - 22.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #20 - 2220. - 22.
Lincoln Heights Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1900 New Castle St
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-9442
Gr: PK-6 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2323.
Washington Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1000 Fayetteville St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7960
Gr: K-5 | 514 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2424.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #2525.
The Downtown School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
601 N Cherry Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4125
Gr: PK-8 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2626.
Foothills Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1040
Gr: 6-8 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #2727.
Sedgefield Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
715 Hartford Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5830
Gr: PK-6 | 485 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #2828.
Hunter Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1018 E Davie St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7676
Gr: PK-5 | 658 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2929.
Ligon Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
706 E Lenoir St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7929
Gr: 6-8 | 959 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #3030.
Crestdale Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
940 Sam Newell Rd
Matthews, NC 28105
(980) 343-5755
Gr: 6-8 | 989 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #3131.
Carnage Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1425 Carnage Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7600
Gr: 6-8 | 924 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
North Academy Of World Languages
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
12201 Hambright Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-0743
Gr: K-8 | 668 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
R Brown Mcallister Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 60-64%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
505 Sunnyside Drive Se
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6270
Gr: PK-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #3434.
South Academy Of International Languages
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
8300 Nations Ford Rd
Charlotte, NC 28217
(980) 343-5815
Gr: K-8 | 1,259 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #3535.
Rogers-herr Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
911 Cornwallis Road
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3970
Gr: 6-8 | 660 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Show 100 more Magnet public schools in North Carolina (out of 187 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked magnet public elementary schools in North Carolina?
The top-ranked magnet public elementary schools in North Carolina include Brown Summit Middle School, Cox Mill Elementary School and Highland Mill Montessori.
How many magnet public elementary schools are located in North Carolina?
188 magnet public elementary schools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina magnet public elementary schools minority enrollment is 75% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public elementary schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

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