Top 10 Best Raleigh Public Schools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 108 public schools serving 67,836 students in Raleigh, NC (there are 62 private schools, serving 15,045 private students). 82% of all K-12 students in Raleigh, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
The top ranked public schools in Raleigh, NC are Quest Academy, Raleigh Charter High School and Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Raleigh, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 53% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 57% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Raleigh have an average ranking of 7/10, which is in the top 50% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Raleigh, NC (2025)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Quest Academy
Charter School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
10908 Strickland Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 841-0441
Grades: K-8
| 142 students
Rank: #22.
Raleigh Charter High School
Charter School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1307 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 715-1155
Grades: 9-12
| 564 students
Rank: #33.
Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
567 East Hargett St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5644
Grades: 6-13
| 267 students
Rank: #44.
Magellan Charter
Charter School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
9324 Baileywick Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 844-0277
Grades: 3-8
| 406 students
Rank: #55.
Wake Early College Of Health And Science
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2901 Holston Lane
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 212-5800
Grades: 9-13
| 310 students
Rank: #66.
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
301 Ashe Avenue, Governor More
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 508-9088
Grades: 6-13
| 349 students
Rank: #77.
Vernon Malone College And Career Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2200 S Wilmington St
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 856-8119
Grades: 9-13
| 353 students
Rank: #88.
Longleaf School Of The Arts
Charter School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
322 Chapanoke Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 896-8164
Grades: 9-12
| 406 students
Rank: #99.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Grades: PK-5
| 487 students
Rank: #1010.
Pleasant Union Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1900 Pleasant Union Church Roa
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 870-4230
Grades: PK-5
| 542 students
Rank: #1111.
Sycamore Creek Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
10921 Leesville Rd
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 841-4333
Grades: PK-5
| 786 students
Rank: #1212.
Pine Hollow Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5365 Bartram Place
Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 694-8880
Grades: 6-8
| 850 students
Rank: #1313.
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
Grades: K-5
| 381 students
Rank: #1414.
Abbotts Creek Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
9900 Durant Road
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 694-0555
Grades: PK-5
| 801 students
Rank: #1515.
Root Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3202 Northampton Street
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-4940
Grades: PK-5
| 472 students
Rank: #1616.
Leesville Road High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8410 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 870-4250
Grades: 9-12
| 2,613 students
Rank: #1717.
Leesville Road Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8402 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 870-4200
Grades: K-5
| 603 students
Rank: #1818.
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
Grades: 6-8
| 585 students
Rank: #1919.
Lacy Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2001 Lake Boone Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 881-4920
Grades: PK-5
| 686 students
Rank: #2020.
Olds Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
204 Dixie Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 856-7699
Grades: PK-5
| 277 students
Rank: #2121.
Washington Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1000 Fayetteville St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7960
Grades: K-5
| 493 students
Rank: #2222.
Athens Drive High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1420 Athens Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4050
Grades: 9-12
| 2,062 students
Rank: #2323.
North Forest Pines Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
11501 Forest Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 570-2220
Grades: PK-5
| 554 students
Rank: #2424.
Enloe High School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
128 Clarendon Crescent
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7918
Grades: 9-12
| 2,502 students
Rank: #2525.
Hunter Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1018 E Davie St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7676
Grades: PK-5
| 607 students
Rank: #2626.
Ligon Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
706 E Lenoir St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7929
Grades: 6-8
| 893 students
Rank: #2727.
Needham Broughton High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
723 Saint Marys St
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 856-7810
Grades: 9-12
| 2,128 students
Rank: #2828.
Wakefield High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2200 Wakefield Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 562-3600
Grades: 9-12
| 2,072 students
Rank: #2929.
Leesville Road Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8406 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 870-4141
Grades: 6-8
| 791 students
Rank: #3030.
Carnage Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1425 Carnage Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7600
Grades: 6-8
| 844 students
Rank: #3131.
Combs Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2001 Lorimer Rd
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4300
Grades: PK-5
| 622 students
Rank: #3232.
Millbrook High School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2201 Spring Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 850-8787
Grades: 9-12
| 2,421 students
Rank: #3333.
Martin Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1701 Ridge Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 881-4970
Grades: 6-8
| 958 students
Rank: #3434.
Sanderson High School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5500 Dixon Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-4800
Grades: 9-12
| 1,677 students
Rank: #3535.
Hilburn Drive Academy
(Math: 60% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
7100 Hilburn Drive
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 571-6800
Grades: PK-8
| 628 students
Show 73 more public schools in Raleigh, NC (out of 108 total schools)
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[+] Show Closed Public Schools in Raleigh, North Carolina

Raleigh, North Carolina Public Schools (Closed)

School
Location
Grades
Students
Po Box 2415
Raleigh, NC 27602
(919) 856-5929
Grades: 9-12
| 72 students
1130 Marlborough Rd
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7737
Grades: K-5
| 433 students
201 Dixie Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 415-1797
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
616 Oberlin Rd
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 575-9058
Grades: PK-12
| n/a students
Dynamic Community Charter (Closed 2016)
Special Education School
Charter School
5510 Munford Road
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 787-7388
Grades: 6-10
| 67 students
Gov Morehead School (Closed 2013)
Special Education School
301 Ashe Ave
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 733-6382
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
1116 N Blount Street
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 834-0941
Grades: K-5
| 128 students
301 N. Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 807-3491
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
No Local Address
Raleigh, NC 27626
(919) 716-3379
Grades: Inquire with school
| n/a students
700 Beacon Lake Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 212-3104
Grades: 6-12
| n/a students
2235 Garner Rd
Raleigh, NC 27610
(347) 968-0828
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
1315 Oakwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27627
(919) 835-2000
Grades: K-8
| 134 students
2104 Umstead Dr
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 733-5545
Grades: K-12
| n/a students
301 N. Wilmington Street
Raleigh, NC 27699
(919) 807-3491
Grades: n/a
| n/a students

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top ranked public schools in Raleigh, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Raleigh, NC include Quest Academy, Raleigh Charter High School and Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy.
How many public schools are located in Raleigh?
108 public schools are located in Raleigh.
What percentage of students in Raleigh go to public school?
82% of all K-12 students in Raleigh are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Raleigh?
Raleigh public schools minority enrollment is 60% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Raleigh are often viewed compared to one another?

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