For the 2026 school year, there are 46 magnet public high schools serving 57,053 students in North Carolina.
Learn more about how magnet schools work. The top-ranked magnet public high schools in North Carolina are Highland School Of Technology, Atkins Academic & Tech High School and Myers Park High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina magnet public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 54% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 58% statewide average).
North Carolina magnet public high school have a Graduation Rate of 86%, which is equal to the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Atkins Academic & Tech High School, with ≥99% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Magnet Public High Schools in North Carolina (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Highland School Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gr: 9-12 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #22.
Atkins Academic & Tech High School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3605 Old Greensboro Road
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-6754
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-6754
Gr: 9-12 | 1,187 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #33.
Myers Park High School
Magnet School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2400 Colony Rd
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5800
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5800
Gr: 9-12 | 3,225 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #44.
Philip J Weaver Educational Center
Magnet School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
300 South Spring Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 370-8282
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 370-8282
Gr: 9-12 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #55.
Williams Secondary Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2400 Carmine St
Charlotte, NC 28206
(980) 343-0040
Charlotte, NC 28206
(980) 343-0040
Gr: 7-12 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #66.
East Mecklenburg High School
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6800 Monroe Rd
Charlotte, NC 28212
(980) 343-6430
Charlotte, NC 28212
(980) 343-6430
Gr: 9-12 | 2,422 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #77.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Gr: 6-12 | 1,764 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #88.
Northwest School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1415 Beatties Ford Rd
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-5500
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-5500
Gr: 6-12 | 993 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #99.
Central Cabarrus High School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
505 Hwy 49 S
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6570
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6570
Gr: 9-12 | 1,369 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1010.
Athens Drive High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1420 Athens Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4050
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4050
Gr: 9-12 | 2,156 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #1111.
Enloe High School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
128 Clarendon Crescent
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7918
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7918
Gr: 9-12 | 2,643 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1212.
Military And Global Leadership
Magnet School
(Math: 60-79% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1411 Hawthorne Lane Ste A
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-6011
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-6011
Gr: 9-12 | 71 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1313.
Needham Broughton High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
723 Saint Marys St
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 856-7810
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 856-7810
Gr: 9-12 | 2,153 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1414.
South Mecklenburg High School
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8900 Park Rd
Charlotte, NC 28210
(980) 343-3600
Charlotte, NC 28210
(980) 343-3600
Gr: 9-12 | 2,534 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1515.
Millbrook High School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
2201 Spring Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 850-8787
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 850-8787
Gr: 9-12 | 2,498 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #1616.
Hopewell High School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
11530 Beatties Ford Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-5988
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-5988
Gr: 9-12 | 1,851 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #1717.
Phillip O Berry Academy Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 57%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
1430 Alleghany St
Charlotte, NC 28208
(980) 343-5992
Charlotte, NC 28208
(980) 343-5992
Gr: 9-12 | 1,533 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #1818.
North Mecklenburg High School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
11201 Old Statesville Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-3840
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-3840
Gr: 9-12 | 1,854 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 94%
Rank: #1919.
Hickory Career Arts Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
409 8th Avenue Ne
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Hickory, NC 28601
(828) 328-6738
Gr: 9-12 | 201 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2020.
Grimsley High School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
801 N Josephine Boyd St.
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 370-8180
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 370-8180
Gr: 9-12 | 1,967 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #2121.
Hawthorne Academy Of Health Sciences
Magnet School
(Math: 60-69% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1411 Hawthorne Ln
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-6011
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-6011
Gr: 9-12 | 239 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #2222.
Concord High School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 42%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
481 Burrage Road Ne
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6000
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6000
Gr: 9-12 | 1,128 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2323.
R J Reynolds High School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
301 N Hawthorne Road
Winston Salem, NC 27104
(336) 703-4145
Winston Salem, NC 27104
(336) 703-4145
Gr: 9-12 | 1,759 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2424.
Louisburg Magnet High School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
201 Allen Lane
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-3725
Louisburg, NC 27549
(919) 496-3725
Gr: 9-12 | 630 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #2525.
Garner High School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
2101 Spring Drive
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 662-2379
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 662-2379
Gr: 9-12 | 1,670 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2626.
Page High School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
201 Alma Pinnix Drive
Greensboro, NC 27405
(336) 370-8200
Greensboro, NC 27405
(336) 370-8200
Gr: 9-12 | 1,648 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #2727.
Western Guilford High School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 52%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
409 Friendway Road
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 316-5800
Greensboro, NC 27410
(336) 316-5800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,243 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #2828.
Surry Online Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
883 Zephyr Road
Dobson, NC 27017
(336) 386-8215
Dobson, NC 27017
(336) 386-8215
Gr: K-12 | 121 students Student-teacher ratio: 61:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #2929.
Academy At Smith
Magnet School
(Math: 50-59% | Reading: 40-49%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2225 South Holden Road
Greensboro, NC 27407
(336) 316-5866
Greensboro, NC 27407
(336) 316-5866
Gr: 9-12 | 246 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 97%
Rank: #3030.
Southeast Raleigh High School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
2600 Rock Quarry Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-2800
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-2800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,438 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Rank: #3131.
Parkland High School
Magnet School
(Math: 55-59% | Reading: 30%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1600 Brewer Road
Winston Salem, NC 27127
(336) 771-4700
Winston Salem, NC 27127
(336) 771-4700
Gr: 9-12 | 1,569 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 93%
Rank: #3232.
Penn-griffin Schools
Magnet School
(Math: 37% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
825 Washington Street
High Point, NC 27260
(336) 819-2870
High Point, NC 27260
(336) 819-2870
Gr: 6-12 | 539 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #3333.
Kearns Academy
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1710 Mcguinn Dr.
High Point, NC 27265
(336) 885-7905
High Point, NC 27265
(336) 885-7905
Gr: 9-12 | 108 students Student-teacher ratio: 8:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #3434.
Hillside High School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
3727 Fayetteville St
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-3925
Gr: 9-12 | 1,433 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #3535.
The School For Creative Studies
Magnet School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
5001 Red Mill Rd
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Durham, NC 27704
(919) 560-3535
Gr: 6-12 | 350 students Student-teacher ratio: 10:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Show 11 more Magnet public schools in North Carolina (out of 46 total schools)
Loading...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top-ranked magnet public high schools in North Carolina?
The top-ranked magnet public high schools in North Carolina include Highland School Of Technology, Atkins Academic & Tech High School and Myers Park High School.
How many magnet public high schools are located in North Carolina?
47 magnet public high schools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina magnet public high schools minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public high schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Recent Articles
AI Report Cards: Should Schools Evaluate AI Use?
Explore whether schools should assess student AI use, the benefits, risks, and what responsible AI report cards could look like in 2026.
The Parent’s Guide to School Cell Phone Bans in 2026
Learn how school cell phone bans work in 2026, why districts are adopting them, and what parents should expect.
Parental Involvement in Public Schools: 2026 Update
Explore the latest 2026 trends, research, and strategies shaping parental involvement in public schools and student success.
