Explanation of Types of Public Schools in North Carolina

Note: All of the school types below are public schools, in that they are funded primarily through public tax dollars.

  • Regular School: a public school that students are assigned to attend because they live in the school's attendance area or attendance zone. Such schools are sometimes called “zoned schools,” “neighborhood schools” or “ZIP code schools,” and are normally only open for enrollment to students from a predetermined set of neighborhoods or ZIP codes. Regular schools are by far the most common type of school in the Charlotte area.
  • Charter School: a tuition-free, public school created on the basis of a license or “charter” made with the State Board of Education. Charter schools typically have greater freedom than traditional public schools in personnel policies, curriculum and teaching philosophy. In return, they must make a commitment to meet state standards of accountability. Charter schools are also normally open to students from counties and towns outside of where they are located. Enrollment decisions at charter schools are often lottery-based, with special consideration given to siblings of currently enrolled students.

Student Growth Index Explained

The Student Growth Index of a school is meant to measure how well the school has been growing student learning over time (i.e., years). North Carolina's public schools receive web-based reporting through the Education Value-Added Assessment System (EVAAS). EVAAS is meant to offer an objective way to measure student progress and the value schools add to students' educational attainment. EVAAS is a statistical analysis of North Carolina state assessment data, and the system provides NC schools with growth data to consider, in addition to achievement data.

If a school has a Student Growth Index of between -2.0 and 2.0, the school is deemed to have "met growth", (i.e., met its average projected growth target). A school with a Student Growth Index of less than -2.0 is considered to have "not met growth". Finally, a school with an index of greater than 2.0 is deemed to have "exceeded growth".

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Best High Schools in the Charlotte, NC Area

Best High Schools in Charlotte, NC Area Best High Schools in Charlotte, NC Area

Carolina School Hub provides school rankings and test data on the best high schools in Charlotte, NC and its suburbs. See student growth information, assessment data and independent ratings on 108 high schools in the Charlotte area including Lake Norman Charter School, Providence High School, and Marvin Ridge High School. Here you'll find information on high schools in Charlotte and some of its key suburbs including Charlotte NC, Concord NC, and Monroe NC.

The list below is not meant be used as a definitive guide to which area high school would be best for any individual student. For schools that are close to one another in rankings, differences in available data are in most cases very small.

On this site, you'll find SAT data and/or other assessment information for the best high schools in Charlotte and its suburbs - as well as in other major metro areas in the Carolinas. Use Carolina School Hub as your starting point for researching public high schools in North Carolina and South Carolina. Here you'll also find rankings of the best elementary schools in Charlotte and the best middle schools in Charlotte and its suburbs.



Ranking of Charlotte Area's Best High Schools

Rank School Name City
School
Type		    
Grades
Served
1 Lake Norman Charter School Huntersville, NC Charter 5-12
2 Providence High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
3 Marvin Ridge High School Waxhaw, NC Regular 9-12
4 Levine Middle College High School Matthews, NC Regular 11-13
5 Community School of Davidson Davidson, NC Charter K-12
6 Gray Stone Day Misenheimer, NC Charter 9-12
7 Central Academy of Technology Monroe, NC Regular 9-12
8 Ardrey Kell High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
9 Weddington High School Matthews, NC Regular 9-12
10 Bessemer City Early College High School Dallas, NC Regular 9-13
11 Highland School of Technology Gastonia, NC Regular 9-12
12 Pine Lake Preparatory School Mooresville, NC Charter K-12
13 Cuthbertson High School Waxhaw, NC Regular 9-12
14 Challenger Early College High School Hickory, NC Regular 9-12
15 Collaborative College for Technology & Leadership Statesville, NC Regular 9-13
16 Newton-Conover Health Science High School Newton, NC Regular 9-12
17 William Amos Hough High School Cornelius, NC Regular 9-12
18 Union County Early College Monroe, NC Regular 9-13
19 Myers Park High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
20 Cabarrus-Kanapolis Early College High School Concord, NC Regular 9-13
21 Cato Middle College High School Charlotte, NC Regular 11-13
22 Lincoln Charter School Denver, NC Charter K-12
23 Charlotte Engineering Early College-UNCC Charlotte, NC Regular 9-11
24 Lake Norman High School Mooresville, NC Regular 9-12
25 Cox Mill High School Concord, NC Regular 9-12
26 Stanly Early College High School Albemarle, NC Regular 9-13
27 Hickory Ridge High School Harrisburg, NC Regular 9-12
28 Rowan County Early College Salisbury, NC Regular 9-12
29 Northwest School of the Arts Charlotte, NC Regular 6-12
30 Union Academy Monroe, NC Charter K-12
31 South Iredell High School Statesville, NC Regular 9-12
32 Piedmont High School Monroe, NC Regular 9-12
33 Porter Ridge High School Indian Trail, NC Regular 9-12
34 Math School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
35 Mooresville Senior High School Mooresville, NC Regular 9-12
36 North Lincoln High School Lincolnton, NC Regular 9-12
37 The Visual and Performing Arts Center Statesville, NC Regular 9-13
38 South Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
39 East Lincoln High School Denver, NC Regular 9-12
40 Sun Valley High School Monroe, NC Regular 9-12
41 Queen's Grant Community School Mint Hill, NC Charter K-12
42 Concord High School Concord, NC Regular 9-12
43 Mountain Island Charter School Mt. Holly, NC Charter K-12
44 Parkwood High School Monroe, NC Regular 9-12
45 South Point High School Belmont, NC Regular 9-12
46 Forestview High School Gastonia, NC Regular 9-12
47 Bandys High School Catawba, NC Regular 9-12
48 Central Cabarrus High School Concord, NC Regular 9-12
49 Northwest Cabarrus High School Concord, NC Regular 9-12
50 Carson High School China Grove, NC Regular 9-12
51 Mount Pleasant High School Mount Pleasant, NC Regular 9-12
52 Stuart W Cramer High School Belmont, NC Regular 9-12
53 Fred T Foard High School Newton, NC Regular 9-12
54 Cherryville High School Cherryville, NC Regular 9-12
55 Butler High School Matthews, NC Regular 9-12
56 Saint Stephens High School Hickory, NC Regular 9-12
57 East Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
58 Jay M Robinson High School Concord, NC Regular 9-12
59 Hickory High School Hickory, NC Regular 9-13
60 Piedmont Community Charter School Gastonia, NC Charter K-12
61 West Rowan High School Mount Ulla, NC Regular 9-12
62 Hawthorne High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
63 West Stanly High School Oakboro, NC Regular 9-12
64 South Stanly High School Norwood, NC Regular 9-12
65 Phillip O Berry Academy of Technology Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
66 Cochrane Collegiate Academy Charlotte, NC Regular 6-12
67 Maiden High School Maiden, NC Regular 9-12
68 Independence High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
69 Biotech School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
70 East Gaston High School Mount Holly, NC Regular 9-12
71 Renaissance High School at Olympic High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
72 Salisbury High School Salisbury, NC Regular 9-12
73 Newton-Conover High School Newton, NC Regular 9-12
74 West Lincoln High School Lincolnton, NC Regular 9-12
75 Mallard Creek High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
76 East Rowan High School Salisbury, NC Regular 9-12
77 Lincolnton High School Lincolnton, NC Regular 9-12
78 North Iredell High School Olin, NC Regular 9-12
79 Bunker Hill High School Claremont, NC Regular 9-12
80 North Stanly High School New London, NC Regular 9-12
81 Charlotte Secondary School Charlotte, NC Charter 6-12
82 Forest Hills High School Marshville, NC Regular 9-12
83 Ashbrook High School Gastonia, NC Regular 9-12
84 North Mecklenburg High School Huntersville, NC Regular 9-12
85 Monroe High School Monroe, NC Regular 9-12
86 Hopewell High School Huntersville, NC Regular 9-12
87 Hickory Career & Arts Magnet High School Hickory, NC Regular 6-12
88 West Iredell High School Statesville, NC Regular 9-12
89 South Rowan High School China Grove, NC Regular 9-12
90 Sugar Creek Charter School Charlotte, NC Charter K-11
91 North Gaston High School Dallas, NC Regular 9-12
92 Carolina International School Concord, NC Charter K-12
93 A L Brown High School Kannapolis, NC Regular 9-12
94 North Rowan High School Spencer, NC Regular 9-12
95 Bessemer City High School Bessemer City, NC Regular 9-12
96 Performance Learning Center Concord, NC Regular 6-12
97 International Business & Communications Studies at Olympic High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
98 Hunter Huss High School Gastonia, NC Regular 9-12
99 Statesville High School Statesville, NC Regular 9-12
100 Albemarle High School Albemarle, NC Regular 9-12
101 Vance High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
102 Rocky River High School Mint Hill, NC Regular 9-12
103 International Studies & Global Economics at Olympic High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
104 West Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
105 Garinger High Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
106 West Charlotte High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
107 Charlotte Learning Academy Charlotte, NC Charter 6-12
108 Harding University High School Charlotte, NC Regular 9-12
Rank School Name City
1 Lake Norman Charter School Huntersville, NC
2 Providence High School Charlotte, NC
3 Marvin Ridge High School Waxhaw, NC
4 Levine Middle College High School Matthews, NC
5 Community School of Davidson Davidson, NC
6 Gray Stone Day Misenheimer, NC
7 Central Academy of Technology Monroe, NC
8 Ardrey Kell High School Charlotte, NC
9 Weddington High School Matthews, NC
10 Bessemer City Early College High School Dallas, NC
11 Highland School of Technology Gastonia, NC
12 Pine Lake Preparatory School Mooresville, NC
13 Cuthbertson High School Waxhaw, NC
14 Challenger Early College High School Hickory, NC
15 Collaborative College for Technology & Leadership Statesville, NC
16 Newton-Conover Health Science High School Newton, NC
17 William Amos Hough High School Cornelius, NC
18 Union County Early College Monroe, NC
19 Myers Park High School Charlotte, NC
20 Cabarrus-Kanapolis Early College High School Concord, NC
21 Cato Middle College High School Charlotte, NC
22 Lincoln Charter School Denver, NC
23 Charlotte Engineering Early College-UNCC Charlotte, NC
24 Lake Norman High School Mooresville, NC
25 Cox Mill High School Concord, NC
26 Stanly Early College High School Albemarle, NC
27 Hickory Ridge High School Harrisburg, NC
28 Rowan County Early College Salisbury, NC
29 Northwest School of the Arts Charlotte, NC
30 Union Academy Monroe, NC
31 South Iredell High School Statesville, NC
32 Piedmont High School Monroe, NC
33 Porter Ridge High School Indian Trail, NC
34 Math School Charlotte, NC
35 Mooresville Senior High School Mooresville, NC
36 North Lincoln High School Lincolnton, NC
37 The Visual and Performing Arts Center Statesville, NC
38 South Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC
39 East Lincoln High School Denver, NC
40 Sun Valley High School Monroe, NC
41 Queen's Grant Community School Mint Hill, NC
42 Concord High School Concord, NC
43 Mountain Island Charter School Mt. Holly, NC
44 Parkwood High School Monroe, NC
45 South Point High School Belmont, NC
46 Forestview High School Gastonia, NC
47 Bandys High School Catawba, NC
48 Central Cabarrus High School Concord, NC
49 Northwest Cabarrus High School Concord, NC
50 Carson High School China Grove, NC
51 Mount Pleasant High School Mount Pleasant, NC
52 Stuart W Cramer High School Belmont, NC
53 Fred T Foard High School Newton, NC
54 Cherryville High School Cherryville, NC
55 Butler High School Matthews, NC
56 Saint Stephens High School Hickory, NC
57 East Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC
58 Jay M Robinson High School Concord, NC
59 Hickory High School Hickory, NC
60 Piedmont Community Charter School Gastonia, NC
61 West Rowan High School Mount Ulla, NC
62 Hawthorne High School Charlotte, NC
63 West Stanly High School Oakboro, NC
64 South Stanly High School Norwood, NC
65 Phillip O Berry Academy of Technology Charlotte, NC
66 Cochrane Collegiate Academy Charlotte, NC
67 Maiden High School Maiden, NC
68 Independence High School Charlotte, NC
69 Biotech School Charlotte, NC
70 East Gaston High School Mount Holly, NC
71 Renaissance High School at Olympic High School Charlotte, NC
72 Salisbury High School Salisbury, NC
73 Newton-Conover High School Newton, NC
74 West Lincoln High School Lincolnton, NC
75 Mallard Creek High School Charlotte, NC
76 East Rowan High School Salisbury, NC
77 Lincolnton High School Lincolnton, NC
78 North Iredell High School Olin, NC
79 Bunker Hill High School Claremont, NC
80 North Stanly High School New London, NC
81 Charlotte Secondary School Charlotte, NC
82 Forest Hills High School Marshville, NC
83 Ashbrook High School Gastonia, NC
84 North Mecklenburg High School Huntersville, NC
85 Monroe High School Monroe, NC
86 Hopewell High School Huntersville, NC
87 Hickory Career & Arts Magnet High School Hickory, NC
88 West Iredell High School Statesville, NC
89 South Rowan High School China Grove, NC
90 Sugar Creek Charter School Charlotte, NC
91 North Gaston High School Dallas, NC
92 Carolina International School Concord, NC
93 A L Brown High School Kannapolis, NC
94 North Rowan High School Spencer, NC
95 Bessemer City High School Bessemer City, NC
96 Performance Learning Center Concord, NC
97 International Business & Communications Studies at Olympic High School Charlotte, NC
98 Hunter Huss High School Gastonia, NC
99 Statesville High School Statesville, NC
100 Albemarle High School Albemarle, NC
101 Vance High School Charlotte, NC
102 Rocky River High School Mint Hill, NC
103 International Studies & Global Economics at Olympic High School Charlotte, NC
104 West Mecklenburg High School Charlotte, NC
105 Garinger High Charlotte, NC
106 West Charlotte High School Charlotte, NC
107 Charlotte Learning Academy Charlotte, NC
108 Harding University High School Charlotte, NC

Rankings for the best high schools in the Charlotte area were created independently by Carolina School Hub. The test data for this site was derived from the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction and South Carolina Department of Education.

You can click on a specific school name above for more information on test scores, student data and more.

High Schools in Charlotte NC Area - Click any of the pushpins below to see more details on each school


High Schools on this page were drawn from the following counties:

Deciding on a High School

Deciding which Charlotte area high school is best for your child requires consideration of a number of factors. Most area high schools offer a well-rounded curriculum, without an area of true specialization. Others may be more specialized in terms of their curriculum.

In addition, some high schools in Charlotte and its North Carolina suburbs offer a wide range of sports and other extracurricular activities, while others offer a more limited set of opportunities. One size does not fit all when it comes to choosing a high school in the Charlotte area.


Charlotte Area Public Schools
Best Elementary Schools in Charlotte Area
Best Middle Schools in Charlotte Area
Best High Schools in Charlotte Area
Charlotte Area Charter Schools

South Carolina Suburbs
York County, SC Schools
Lancaster County, SC Schools