Best High Schools in the Durham, NC Area
Carolina School Hub provides school rankings and test data on the best high schools in Durham, NC and its suburbs. See student growth information, assessment data and independent ratings on 29 high schools in the Durham area including Woods Charter School, East Chapel Hill High School, and Chapel Hill High School.
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.
Ranking of Durham Area's Best High Schools
Woods Charter School
# 1 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 25
Woods Charter School is located in the 27516 ZIP Code area of Chatham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of A from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Woods Charter School has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#4 high school in North Carolina| (99th percentile in state) |
East Chapel Hill High School
# 2 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 25
East Chapel Hill High School is located in the 27514 ZIP Code area of Orange County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of A from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, East Chapel Hill High School has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#6 high school in North Carolina(99th percentile in state)
Chapel Hill High School
# 3 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 24
Chapel Hill High School is located in the 27516 ZIP Code area of Orange County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of A from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Chapel Hill High School has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#13 high school in North Carolina(97th percentile in state)
Research Triangle High School
# 4 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 23
Research Triangle High School is located in the 27709 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Research Triangle High School has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#18 high school in North Carolina| (96th percentile in state) |
Carrboro High School
# 5 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 23
Carrboro High School is located in the 27510 ZIP Code area of Orange County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Carrboro High School has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#24 high school in North Carolina(95th percentile in state)
Durham School of the Arts
# 6 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 23
Durham School of the Arts is located in the 27701 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Durham School of the Arts has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#27 high school in North Carolina(94th percentile in state)
Eno River Academy
# 7 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 22
Eno River Academy is located in the 27278 ZIP Code area of Orange County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Eno River Academy has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#34 high school in North Carolina| (93rd percentile in state) |
Chatham Charter School
# 8 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 21
Chatham Charter School is located in the 27344 ZIP Code area of Chatham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Chatham Charter School has received a 9-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#44 high school in North Carolina| (91st percentile in state) |
Seaforth High School
# 9 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 21
Seaforth High School is located in the 27312 ZIP Code area of Chatham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Seaforth High School has received a 10-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#53 high school in North Carolina(89th percentile in state)
Northwood High School
# 10 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 20
Northwood High School is located in the 27312 ZIP Code area of Chatham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Northwood High School has received a 9-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#81 high school in North Carolina(83rd percentile in state)
Voyager Academy
# 11 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 20
Voyager Academy is located in the 27704 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Voyager Academy has received a 9-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#84 high school in North Carolina| (82nd percentile in state) |
Roxboro Community School
# 12 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 19
Roxboro Community School is located in the 27573 ZIP Code area of Person County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Roxboro Community School has received a 9-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#93 high school in North Carolina| (80th percentile in state) |
C E Jordan High School
# 13 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 19
C E Jordan High School is located in the 27707 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, C E Jordan High School has received a 8-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#102 high school in North Carolina(78th percentile in state)
Riverside High School
# 14 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 18
Riverside High School is located in the 27712 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Riverside High School has received a 8-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#128 high school in North Carolina(73rd percentile in state)
Cedar Ridge High School
# 15 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 18
Cedar Ridge High School is located in the 27278 ZIP Code area of Orange County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Cedar Ridge High School has received a 8-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#144 high school in North Carolina(69th percentile in state)
North Carolina Cyber Academy
# 16 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 18
North Carolina Cyber Academy is located in the 27713 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, North Carolina Cyber Academy has received a 5-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#162 high school in North Carolina| (66th percentile in state) |
NC Virtual Academy
# 17 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 18
NC Virtual Academy is located in the 27713 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, NC Virtual Academy has received a 5-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#180 high school in North Carolina| (62nd percentile in state) |
Orange High School
# 18 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 17
Orange High School is located in the 27278 ZIP Code area of Orange County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Orange High School has received a 6-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#215 high school in North Carolina(54th percentile in state)
Excelsior Classical Academy
# 19 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 17
Excelsior Classical Academy is located in the 27704 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Excelsior Classical Academy has received a 6-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#276 high school in North Carolina| (41st percentile in state) |
The School for Creative Studies
# 20 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 17
The School for Creative Studies is located in the 27704 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, The School for Creative Studies has received a 5-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#283 high school in North Carolina(40th percentile in state)
Discovery Charter School
# 21 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 16
Discovery Charter School is located in the 27503 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Discovery Charter School has received a 5-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#308 high school in North Carolina| (34th percentile in state) |
Person High School
# 22 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 16
Person High School is located in the 27573 ZIP Code area of Person County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Person High School has received a 4-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#314 high school in North Carolina(33rd percentile in state)
Chatham Central High School
# 23 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 16
Chatham Central High School is located in the 27207 ZIP Code area of Chatham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Chatham Central High School has received a 3-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#337 high school in North Carolina(28th percentile in state)
Jordan Matthews High School
# 24 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 15
Jordan Matthews High School is located in the 27344 ZIP Code area of Chatham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Jordan Matthews High School has received a 3-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#366 high school in North Carolina(22nd percentile in state)
Hillside High School
# 25 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 15
Hillside High School is located in the 27707 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Hillside High School has received a 3-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#371 high school in North Carolina(21st percentile in state)
Northern High School
# 26 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 15
Northern High School is located in the 27704 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Northern High School has received a 3-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#377 high school in North Carolina(20th percentile in state)
Durham Charter School
# 27 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 15
Durham Charter School is located in the 27703 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Durham Charter School has received a 6-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#392 high school in North Carolina| (17th percentile in state) |
Durham's Performance Learning Center
# 28 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 14
Durham's Performance Learning Center is located in the 27703 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of ALT from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Durham's Performance Learning Center has received a 2-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#419 high school in North Carolina(11th percentile in state)
Southern School of Energy and Sustainability
# 29 High School in Durham AreaAverage ACT Scores: 14
Southern School of Energy and Sustainability is located in the 27703 ZIP Code area of Durham County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Southern School of Energy and Sustainability has received a 2-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>
#428 high school in North Carolina(9th percentile in state)
1 - 29 of 29 High Schools |
Rankings for the best high schools in the Durham 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.
On this site, you'll find SAT data and/or other assessment information for the best high schools in Durham 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 Durham and the best middle schools in Durham and its suburbs.
High Schools on this page were drawn from the following counties:
Deciding on a High School
Deciding which Durham 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 Durham 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 Durham area.