Best Raleigh Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 32 public middle schools serving 19,608 students in Raleigh, NC.
The top-ranked public middle schools in Raleigh, NC are Quest Academy, Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy and Magellan Charter. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Raleigh, NC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 51% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 56% (versus the 50% statewide average). Middle schools in Raleigh have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of North Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Raleigh, NC (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Quest Academy
Charter School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
10908 Strickland Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 841-0441
Gr: K-8 | 139 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #22.
Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
567 East Hargett St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5644
Gr: 6-13 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #33.
Magellan Charter
Charter School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
9324 Baileywick Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 844-0277
Gr: 3-8 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #44.
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
301 Ashe Avenue, Governor More
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 508-9088
Gr: 6-13 | 335 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #55.
Pine Hollow Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5365 Bartram Place
Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 694-8880
Gr: 6-8 | 776 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
Leesville Road Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8406 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 870-4141
Gr: 6-8 | 795 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #99.
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: #1010.
Martin Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1701 Ridge Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 881-4970
Gr: 6-8 | 1,011 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1111.
Hilburn Drive Academy
(Math: 60% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
7100 Hilburn Drive
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 571-6800
Gr: PK-8 | 596 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #1212.
Wakefield Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2300 Wakefield Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 562-3500
Gr: 6-8 | 803 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1313.
The Exploris School
Charter School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
401 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 715-3690
Gr: K-8 | 448 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #1414.
Oberlin Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2816 Oberlin Rd
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 881-4860
Gr: 6-8 | 1,049 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1515.
West Millbrook Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
8115 Strickland Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 870-4050
Gr: 6-8 | 1,164 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1616.
Durant Road Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
10401 Durant Rd
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 870-4098
Gr: 6-8 | 649 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #1717.
Dillard Drive Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5200 Dillard Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4228
Gr: 6-8 | 977 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #1818.
Raleigh Oak Charter
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
2600 Sumer Drive
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 424-7626
Gr: K-8 | 373 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #1919.
Centennial Campus Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4217
Gr: 6-8 | 477 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #2020.
Carroll Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4520 Six Forks Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-1370
Gr: 6-8 | 898 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2121.
River Bend Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
5601 Wallace Martin Way
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 694-8690
Gr: 6-8 | 995 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2222.
Neuse River Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2700 Old Milburnie Rd
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 266-8500
Gr: 6-8 | 877 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2323.
Preeminent Charter
Charter School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3815 Rock Quarry Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 235-0511
Gr: K-8 | 667 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2424.
Governor Morehead School For The Blind
Special Education School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
303 Ashe Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 733-6192
Gr: K-12 | 35 students Student-teacher ratio: 2:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #2525.
East Millbrook Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3801 Spring Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 850-8755
Gr: 6-8 | 731 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 88%
Rank: #2626.
Rise Southeast Raleigh Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3420 Idlewood Village Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 446-4777
Gr: K-8 | 484 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 98%
Rank: #2727.
River Oaks Middle School
Alternative School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4700 New Bern Ave
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 231-5600
Gr: 6-8 | 7 students Minority enrollment: 86%
Rank: #2828.
Longview
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
318 N King Charles Rd
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7691
Gr: 6-12 | 18 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 89%
Rank: #2929.
Mount Vernon
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5418 Chapel Hill Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 233-4313
Gr: K-8 | 70 students Student-teacher ratio: 3:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #3030.
Connections Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1280 Buck Jones Rd
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 694-8910
Gr: 6-8 | 8 students Student-teacher ratio: 1:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: n/an/a
American Leadership Academy - Johnston
Charter School
3770 Us-70 Bus
Raleigh, NC 27614
(984) 302-3630
Gr: K-12 | 2,082 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: n/an/a
Ncvps
343 E. Six Forks Road Suite 1
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 513-8550
Gr: 7-13

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Raleigh, NC?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Raleigh, NC include Quest Academy, Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy and Magellan Charter.
How many public middle schools are located in Raleigh?
32 public middle schools are located in Raleigh.
What is the racial composition of students in Raleigh?
Raleigh public middle schools minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is more than the North Carolina public middle schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Raleigh are often viewed compared to one another?

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