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Best High Schools in the Raleigh, NC Area

Best High Schools in Raleigh, NC Area Best High Schools in Raleigh, NC Area

Carolina School Hub provides school rankings and test data on the best high schools in Raleigh, NC and its suburbs. See student growth information, assessment data and independent ratings on 53 high schools in the Raleigh area including Green Level High School, Raleigh Charter High School, and Green Hope 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 Raleigh Area's Best High Schools

Smithfield-Selma High School

# 41 High School in Raleigh Area
Smithfield, NC (Johnston County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,518 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16

Smithfield-Selma High School is located in the 27577 ZIP Code area of Johnston County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Smithfield-Selma High School has received a 4-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#321 high school in North Carolina
(32nd percentile in state)

Smithfield-Selma High School

# 41 High School in Raleigh Area
Smithfield, NC (Johnston County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,518 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16
#321 high school in North Carolina
(32nd percentile in state)

East Wake High School

# 42 High School in Raleigh Area
Wendell, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,684 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16

East Wake High School is located in the 27591 ZIP Code area of Wake County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, East Wake High School has received a 4-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#325 high school in North Carolina
(31st percentile in state)

East Wake High School

# 42 High School in Raleigh Area
Wendell, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,684 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16
#325 high school in North Carolina
(31st percentile in state)

Southern Nash High School

# 43 High School in Raleigh Area
Bailey, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,018 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16

Southern Nash High School is located in the 27807 ZIP Code area of Nash County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Southern Nash High School has received a 3-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#345 high school in North Carolina
(27th percentile in state)

Southern Nash High School

# 43 High School in Raleigh Area
Bailey, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,018 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16
#345 high school in North Carolina
(27th percentile in state)

South Garner High School

# 44 High School in Raleigh Area
Garner, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,748 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16

South Garner High School is located in the 27529 ZIP Code area of Wake County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, South Garner High School has received a 3-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#347 high school in North Carolina
(26th percentile in state)

South Garner High School

# 44 High School in Raleigh Area
Garner, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,748 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16
#347 high school in North Carolina
(26th percentile in state)

Nash Central High School

# 45 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: PK-12  ⋅  708 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16

Nash Central High School is located in the 27804 ZIP Code area of Nash County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of B from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Nash Central High School has received a 3-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#352 high school in North Carolina
(25th percentile in state)

Nash Central High School

# 45 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: PK-12  ⋅  708 Students
Average ACT Scores: 16
#352 high school in North Carolina
(25th percentile in state)

Knightdale High School

# 46 High School in Raleigh Area
Knightdale, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,609 Students
Average ACT Scores: 15

Knightdale High School is located in the 27545 ZIP Code area of Wake County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Knightdale High School has received a 2-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#387 high school in North Carolina
(18th percentile in state)

Knightdale High School

# 46 High School in Raleigh Area
Knightdale, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,609 Students
Average ACT Scores: 15
#387 high school in North Carolina
(18th percentile in state)

Southeast Raleigh High School

# 47 High School in Raleigh Area
Raleigh, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,423 Students
Average ACT Scores: 15

Southeast Raleigh High School is located in the 27610 ZIP Code area of Wake County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Southeast Raleigh High School has received a 2-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#389 high school in North Carolina
(17th percentile in state)

Southeast Raleigh High School

# 47 High School in Raleigh Area
Raleigh, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,423 Students
Average ACT Scores: 15
#389 high school in North Carolina
(17th percentile in state)

Northern Nash High School

# 48 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: PK-12  ⋅  1,018 Students
Average ACT Scores: 15

Northern Nash High School is located in the 27804 ZIP Code area of Nash County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Northern Nash High School has received a 2-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#391 high school in North Carolina
(17th percentile in state)

Northern Nash High School

# 48 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: PK-12  ⋅  1,018 Students
Average ACT Scores: 15
#391 high school in North Carolina
(17th percentile in state)

Pine Springs Preparatory Remote Academy

# 49 High School in Raleigh Area
Holly Springs, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: K-11
Average ACT Scores: 15

Pine Springs Preparatory Remote Academy is located in the 27540 ZIP Code area of Wake County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of F from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Pine Springs Preparatory Remote Academy has received a 1-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#399 high school in North Carolina
(15th percentile in state)
CHARTER SCHOOL

Pine Springs Preparatory Remote Academy

# 49 High School in Raleigh Area
Holly Springs, NC (Wake County)
Grades served: K-11
Average ACT Scores: 15
#399 high school in North Carolina
(15th percentile in state)
CHARTER SCHOOL

Rocky Mount Prep

# 50 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: K-12  ⋅  797 Students
Average ACT Scores: 14

Rocky Mount Prep is located in the 27804 ZIP Code area of Nash County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of D from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Rocky Mount Prep has received a 1-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#433 high school in North Carolina
(8th percentile in state)
CHARTER SCHOOL

Rocky Mount Prep

# 50 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: K-12  ⋅  797 Students
Average ACT Scores: 14
#433 high school in North Carolina
(8th percentile in state)
CHARTER SCHOOL

Rocky Mount High School

# 51 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,006 Students
Average ACT Scores: 13

Rocky Mount High School is located in the 27803 ZIP Code area of Nash County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of C from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Rocky Mount High School has received a 1-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#457 high school in North Carolina
(3rd percentile in state)

Rocky Mount High School

# 51 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  1,006 Students
Average ACT Scores: 13
#457 high school in North Carolina
(3rd percentile in state)

Choice Plus Academy

# 52 High School in Raleigh Area
Smithfield, NC (Johnston County)
Grades served: K-12  ⋅  168 Students
Average ACT Scores: 13

Choice Plus Academy is located in the 27577 ZIP Code area of Johnston County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of ALT from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Choice Plus Academy has received a 1-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#467 high school in North Carolina
(1st percentile in state)

Choice Plus Academy

# 52 High School in Raleigh Area
Smithfield, NC (Johnston County)
Grades served: K-12  ⋅  168 Students
Average ACT Scores: 13
#467 high school in North Carolina
(1st percentile in state)

Tar River Academy

# 53 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  85 Students
Average ACT Scores: 13

Tar River Academy is located in the 27804 ZIP Code area of Nash County, North Carolina. The school received a letter grade of ALT from the North Carolina Department of Instruction. Based on CarolinaSchoolHub's analysis, Tar River Academy has received a 1-star rating on a scale of 1 to 10.. Read more >>

#470 high school in North Carolina
(1st percentile in state)

Tar River Academy

# 53 High School in Raleigh Area
Rocky Mount, NC (Nash County)
Grades served: 9-12  ⋅  85 Students
Average ACT Scores: 13
#470 high school in North Carolina
(1st percentile in state)
41 - 53 of 53 High Schools

Rankings for the best high schools in the Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh and the best middle schools in Raleigh and its suburbs.

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

Deciding on a High School

Deciding which Raleigh 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 Raleigh 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 Raleigh area.