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Best Magnet Public Schools in North Carolina (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best North Carolina Magnet Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 226 magnet public schools serving 160,135 students in North Carolina.
Learn more about how magnet schools work. The top-ranked magnet public schools in North Carolina are Brown Summit Middle School, Highland School Of Technology and Cox Mill Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina magnet public schools have an average math proficiency score of 48% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 49% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Magnet Public Schools in North Carolina (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Brown Summit Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥99% | Reading: ≥99%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
4720 Nc Highway 150 East
Browns Summit, NC 27214
(336) 656-0432
Gr: 6-8 | 242 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #22.
Highland School Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gr: 9-12 | 538 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #33.
Cox Mill Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1450 Cox Mill Road
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6170
Gr: K-5 | 1,086 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #44.
Atkins Academic & Tech High School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3605 Old Greensboro Road
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-6754
Gr: 9-12 | 1,187 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #55.
Highland Mill Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
3201 Clemson Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Gr: PK-6 | 341 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #66.
Rea Farms Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
11532 Golf Links Drive
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-0723
Gr: K-8 | 1,098 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 58%
Rank: #77.
Grand Oak Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
15410 Stumptown Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-2063
Gr: PK-5 | 549 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 33%
Rank: #88.
Myers Park High School
Magnet School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2400 Colony Rd
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5800
Gr: 9-12 | 3,225 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #99.
Hawks Nest Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gr: K-5 | 356 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1010.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Gr: PK-5 | 765 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #1111.
Philip J Weaver Educational Center
Magnet School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
300 South Spring Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 370-8282
Gr: 9-12 | 260 students Student-teacher ratio: 7:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1212.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1313.
Brooks Global Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
400 Ashland Drive
Greensboro, NC 27406
(336) 370-8228
Gr: K-5 | 314 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
General Greene Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1501 Benjamin Parkway
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 545-2015
Gr: K-5 | 423 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 54%
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Underwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1614 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 856-7663
Gr: K-5 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 11:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1616.
Williams Secondary Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2400 Carmine St
Charlotte, NC 28206
(980) 343-0040
Gr: 7-12 | 401 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #1717.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Gr: 6-8 | 309 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1818.
Irwin Academic Center
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
329 N. Irwin Ave
Charlotte, NC 28202
(980) 343-5480
Gr: K-5 | 371 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 79%
Rank: #1919.
Randolph Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4400 Water Oak Rd
Charlotte, NC 28211
(980) 343-6700
Gr: 6-8 | 1,215 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #2020.
Piedmont Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1241 E 10th St
Charlotte, NC 28204
(980) 343-5435
Gr: 6-8 | 1,108 student Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 82%
Rank: #2121.
East Mecklenburg High School
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6800 Monroe Rd
Charlotte, NC 28212
(980) 343-6430
Gr: 9-12 | 2,422 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 80%
Rank: #2222.
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: #2323.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Gr: 6-12 | 1,764 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 66%
Rank: #2424.
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1413 Hampton Valley Rd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Gr: PK-5 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2525.
Northwest School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1415 Beatties Ford Rd
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-5500
Gr: 6-12 | 993 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
Chantilly Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
701 Briar Creek Rd
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-0692
Gr: PK-6 | 316 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Gr: PK-5 | 358 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
Lincoln Heights Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1900 New Castle St
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-9442
Gr: PK-6 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #2929.
Central Cabarrus High School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
505 Hwy 49 S
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6570
Gr: 9-12 | 1,369 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #3030.
Washington Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1000 Fayetteville St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7960
Gr: K-5 | 514 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #3131.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Gr: PK-5 | 490 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #3232.
The Downtown School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
601 N Cherry Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4125
Gr: PK-8 | 453 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #3333.
Athens Drive High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1420 Athens Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4050
Gr: 9-12 | 2,156 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #3434.
Foothills Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1040
Gr: 6-8 | 200 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 18%
Rank: #3535.
Enloe High School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
128 Clarendon Crescent
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7918
Gr: 9-12 | 2,643 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 65%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked magnet public schools in North Carolina?
The top-ranked magnet public schools in North Carolina include Brown Summit Middle School, Highland School Of Technology and Cox Mill Elementary School.
How many magnet public schools are located in North Carolina?
226 magnet public schools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina magnet public schools minority enrollment is 74% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

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