For the 2025 school year, there are 229 magnet public schools serving 160,155 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 Sch 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 47% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 48% (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 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Magnet Public Schools in North Carolina (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Brown Summit Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥99% | Reading: ≥99%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
4720 Nc Highway 150 East
Browns Summit, NC 27214
(336) 656-0432
Browns Summit, NC 27214
(336) 656-0432
Grades: 6-8
| 238 students
Rank: #22.
Highland Sch Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Grades: 9-12
| 528 students
Rank: #33.
Cox Mill Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
1450 Cox Mill Road
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6170
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6170
Grades: K-5
| 1,109 students
Rank: #44.
Atkins Academic & Tech High School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3605 Old Greensboro Road
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-6754
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-6754
Grades: 9-12
| 1,190 students
Rank: #55.
Highland Mill Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
3201 Clemson Ave
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-5525
Grades: PK-6
| 331 students
Rank: #66.
Rea Farms Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
11532 Golf Links Drive
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-0723
Charlotte, NC 28277
(980) 343-0723
Grades: K-8
| 1,105 students
Rank: #77.
Grand Oak Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
15410 Stumptown Rd
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-2063
Huntersville, NC 28078
(980) 343-2063
Grades: K-5
| 526 students
Rank: #88.
Myers Park High School
Magnet School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
2400 Colony Rd
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5800
Charlotte, NC 28209
(980) 343-5800
Grades: 9-12
| 3,430 students
Rank: #99.
Hawks Nest Steam Academy
Magnet School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
3430 Robinwood Rd
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Gastonia, NC 28054
(704) 866-8467
Grades: K-5
| 351 students
Rank: #1010.
Pearsontown Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
4915 Barbee Road
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Durham, NC 27713
(919) 560-3964
Grades: PK-5
| 740 students
Rank: #1111.
Philip J Weaver Educational Center
Magnet School
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
300 South Spring Street
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 370-8282
Greensboro, NC 27401
(336) 370-8282
Grades: 9-12
| 280 students
Rank: #1212.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Grades: PK-5
| 533 students
Rank: #1313.
Brooks Global Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1215 N Josephine Boyd St.
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 370-8228
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 370-8228
Grades: K-5
| 311 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
General Greene Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1501 Benjamin Parkway
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 545-2015
Greensboro, NC 27408
(336) 545-2015
Grades: K-5
| 400 students
Rank: #14 - 1514. - 15.
Underwood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
1614 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 856-7663
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 856-7663
Grades: K-5
| 390 students
Rank: #1616.
Williams Secondary Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2400 Carmine St
Charlotte, NC 28206
(980) 343-0040
Charlotte, NC 28206
(980) 343-0040
Grades: 7-12
| 362 students
Rank: #1717.
Lakewood Montessori Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2119 Chapel Hill Rd
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2894
Grades: 6-8
| 303 students
Rank: #1818.
Irwin Academic Center
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
329 N. Irwin Ave
Charlotte, NC 28202
(980) 343-5480
Charlotte, NC 28202
(980) 343-5480
Grades: K-5
| 381 students
Rank: #1919.
Randolph Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
4400 Water Oak Rd
Charlotte, NC 28211
(980) 343-6700
Charlotte, NC 28211
(980) 343-6700
Grades: 6-8
| 1,176 students
Rank: #2020.
Piedmont Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1241 E 10th St
Charlotte, NC 28204
(980) 343-5435
Charlotte, NC 28204
(980) 343-5435
Grades: 6-8
| 1,130 students
Rank: #2121.
East Mecklenburg High School
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
6800 Monroe Rd
Charlotte, NC 28212
(980) 343-6430
Charlotte, NC 28212
(980) 343-6430
Grades: 9-12
| 2,372 students
Rank: #2222.
Moore Square Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
301 South Person Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5737
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5737
Grades: 6-8
| 590 students
Rank: #2323.
Durham School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
401 North Duke Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3926
Grades: 6-12
| 1,767 students
Rank: #2424.
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1413 Hampton Valley Rd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Grades: PK-5
| 652 students
Rank: #2525.
Northwest School Of The Arts
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1415 Beatties Ford Rd
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-5500
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-5500
Grades: 6-12
| 1,008 students
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
Chantilly Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
701 Briar Creek Rd
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-0692
Charlotte, NC 28205
(980) 343-0692
Grades: PK-6
| 314 students
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
George Watts Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
700 Watts Street
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Durham, NC 27701
(919) 560-3947
Grades: PK-5
| 309 students
Rank: #26 - 2826. - 28.
Lincoln Heights Montessori
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1900 New Castle St
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-9442
Charlotte, NC 28216
(980) 343-9442
Grades: PK-6
| 204 students
Rank: #2929.
Central Cabarrus High School
Magnet School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
505 Hwy 49 S
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6570
Concord, NC 28025
(704) 260-6570
Grades: 9-12
| 1,323 students
Rank: #3030.
Washington Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Fayetteville St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7960
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7960
Grades: K-5
| 478 students
Rank: #3131.
Easley Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
302 Lebanon Circle
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Durham, NC 27712
(919) 560-3913
Grades: K-5
| 478 students
Rank: #3232.
The Downtown School
Magnet School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
601 N Cherry Street
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4125
Winston Salem, NC 27101
(336) 703-4125
Grades: PK-8
| 431 students
Rank: #3333.
Athens Drive High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1420 Athens Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4050
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4050
Grades: 9-12
| 2,060 students
Rank: #3434.
Foothills Community School
Magnet School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 65-69%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
176 Lukin Street
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1040
Marion, NC 28752
(828) 652-1040
Grades: 6-8
| 196 students
Rank: #3535.
Enloe High School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
128 Clarendon Crescent
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7918
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7918
Grades: 9-12
| 2,538 students
Show 100 more Magnet public schools in North Carolina (out of 229 total schools)
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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 Sch Of Technology and Cox Mill Elementary School.
How many magnet public schools are located in North Carolina?
229 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 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
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