For the 2024-25 school year, there are 75 alternative public schools serving 5,657 students in North Carolina.
The top ranked alternative public schools in North Carolina are Phoenix Academy High School, Sage Academy and Stanly Academy Learning Center. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
North Carolina alternative public schools have an average math proficiency score of 16% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 22% (versus the 50% statewide average).
Minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Alternative Public Schools in North Carolina (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Phoenix Academy High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
750 S Merritt Mill Rd
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2300
Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 918-2300
Grades: 8-12
| 25 students
Rank: #1 - 21. - 2.
Sage Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
501 Martin L King Jr Blvd
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 663-5899
Siler City, NC 27344
(919) 663-5899
Grades: 9-12
| 6 students
Rank: #33.
Stanly Academy Learning Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
311 Park Ridge Road
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 961-4500
Albemarle, NC 28001
(704) 961-4500
Grades: 9-12
| 16 students
Rank: #44.
Davidson River School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
970 Ecusta Rd
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-9567
Brevard, NC 28712
(828) 884-9567
Grades: 9-12
| 73 students
Rank: #55.
Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: 40-59%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
4521 Weddington Road
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6800
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6800
Grades: 6-12
| 95 students
Rank: #66.
Career Readiness Academy At Mosley Plc
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 30-39% | Reading: 60-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
3702 Princess Place Drive
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 251-6161
Wilmington, NC 28405
(910) 251-6161
Grades: 6-12
| 110 students
Rank: #7 - 127. - 12.
Asbury Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
221 Salem Church Road
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 736-4766
Lincolnton, NC 28092
(704) 736-4766
Grades: 6-12
| 34 students
Rank: #7 - 127. - 12.
Bridges School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
140 Vashti Dr
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 808-3040
Morehead City, NC 28557
(252) 808-3040
Grades: 6-12
| 8 students
Rank: #7 - 127. - 12.
Central Davie Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
160 Martin Luther King Jr. Roa
Mocksville, NC 27028
(336) 751-5712
Mocksville, NC 27028
(336) 751-5712
Grades: 3-12
| 12 students
Rank: #7 - 127. - 12.
North Whiteville Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
310 S Martin Luther King Jr Av
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4161
Whiteville, NC 28472
(910) 914-4161
Grades: 6-12
| 25 students
Rank: #7 - 127. - 12.
Partnership Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
1006 East Storey Lane
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4030
Hillsborough, NC 27278
(919) 245-4030
Grades: 9-12
| 37 students
Rank: #7 - 127. - 12.
Shaw Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: <50%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
18700 Old Wire Road
Laurinburg, NC 28352
(910) 276-0611
Laurinburg, NC 28352
(910) 276-0611
Grades: 6-12
| 37 students
Rank: #1313.
Dare Learning Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 35-39% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
3020 S. Wrightsville Avenue
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 480-8888
Nags Head, NC 27959
(252) 480-8888
Grades: 9-12
| 20 students
Rank: #1414.
The Coast
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39% )
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
1109 Old Ocean Highway
Bolivia, NC 28422
(910) 312-2780
Bolivia, NC 28422
(910) 312-2780
Grades: 6-12
| 83 students
Rank: #1515.
Central Haywood High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: <50% )
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
62 Joy Lane
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 627-9944
Waynesville, NC 28786
(828) 627-9944
Grades: 9-12
| 77 students
Rank: #1616.
Community High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: ≥50%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
235 Old Us 70
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 686-7734
Swannanoa, NC 28778
(828) 686-7734
Grades: 9-12
| 119 students
Rank: #1717.
Phillips High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
4/
Bottom 50%10
1923 Milburnie Rd
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7710
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7710
Grades: 9-12
| 119 students
Rank: #1818.
Tar River Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 49%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
906 Hammond Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 451-2875
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 451-2875
Grades: 9-12
| 89 students
Rank: #1919.
Ramsey Street High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
117 Quincy St
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 437-5829
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 437-5829
Grades: 9-12
| 13 students
Rank: #2020.
Durham's Performance Learning Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
401 North Driver Street
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Durham, NC 27703
(919) 560-9190
Grades: 9-12
| 155 students
Rank: #2121.
Alger B. Wilkins High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: 11-19%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
1429 Skibo Road
Fayetteville, NC 28303
(910) 864-5438
Fayetteville, NC 28303
(910) 864-5438
Grades: 9-12
| 128 students
Rank: #2222.
Jackson Community School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: <50% | Reading: ≤10%)
Rank:
Rank:
3/
Bottom 50%10
3770 Skyland Drive
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-4328
Grades: 6-12
| 75 students
Rank: #2323.
Henderson County Career Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 30-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
300 East Campus Drive
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 697-4629
Flat Rock, NC 28731
(828) 697-4629
Grades: 6-12
| 151 students
Rank: #2424.
Pender Innovative Learning Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-24% | Reading: 35-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
1886 Nc Hwy 133
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 815-7092
Rocky Point, NC 28457
(910) 815-7092
Grades: K-12
| 99 students
Rank: #2525.
Stoner-thomas School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
2/
Bottom 50%10
215 County School Road
Lexington, NC 27292
(336) 248-5421
Lexington, NC 27292
(336) 248-5421
Grades: K-12
| 96 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
Horizons Elementary School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
332 Greenhaven Dr. Nw
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Lenoir, NC 28645
(828) 726-3855
Grades: K-5
| 22 students
Rank: #26 - 2726. - 27.
The Score Center
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
401 Moss Street
Reidsville, NC 27320
(336) 634-3209
Reidsville, NC 27320
(336) 634-3209
Grades: K-12
| 26 students
Rank: #2828.
Yadkin Success Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
733 East Main Street
Yadkinville, NC 27055
(336) 551-1166
Yadkinville, NC 27055
(336) 551-1166
Grades: K-12
| 46 students
Rank: #2929.
River Oaks Middle School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
4700 New Bern Ave
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 231-5600
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 231-5600
Grades: 6-8
| 26 students
Rank: #3030.
Stewart Creek High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: ≤10% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2701-f Freedom Dr
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 755-5112
Charlotte, NC 28208
(704) 755-5112
Grades: 9-12
| 238 students
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
H L Trigg Community
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1004 Parkview Drive
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(252) 335-1765
Elizabeth City, NC 27909
(252) 335-1765
Grades: 6-12
| 15 students
Rank: #31 - 3231. - 32.
Pruette Scale Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20% )
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
900 English Road
High Point, NC 27262
(336) 878-5380
High Point, NC 27262
(336) 878-5380
Grades: 6-12
| 11 students
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Central Wake High School
Alternative School
Magnet School
Charter School
Magnet School
Charter School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
1425 Rock Quarry Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 521-5067
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 521-5067
Grades: 9-12
| 220 students
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
The Oaks Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
2230 Airport Road
Marble, NC 28905
(828) 837-6775
Marble, NC 28905
(828) 837-6775
Grades: 6-12
| 50 students
Rank: #33 - 3533. - 35.
Union Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
158 Union School Rd
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 369-1277
Franklin, NC 28734
(828) 369-1277
Grades: 7-12
| 103 students
Show 40 more Alternative public schools in North Carolina (out of 75 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked alternative public schools in North Carolina?
The top ranked alternative public schools in North Carolina include Phoenix Academy High School, Sage Academy and Stanly Academy Learning Center.
How many alternative public schools are located in North Carolina?
75 alternative public schools are located in North Carolina.
What is the racial composition of students in North Carolina?
North Carolina alternative public schools minority enrollment is 68% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
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