Top 10 Best Raleigh Public Middle Schools (2025)

For the 2025 school year, there are 33 public middle schools serving 20,143 students in Raleigh, NC.
The top ranked public middle schools in Raleigh, NC are Quest Academy, Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy and Magellan Charter. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Raleigh, NC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 50% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 55% (versus the 50% statewide average). Middle schools in Raleigh have an average ranking of 8/10, which is in the top 30% of North Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public middle school average of 56% (majority Black).

Best Public Middle 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.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #55.
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: #66.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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
Rank: #1212.
Wakefield Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2300 Wakefield Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 562-3500
Grades: 6-8
| 898 students
Rank: #1313.
The Exploris School
Charter School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
401 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 715-3690
Grades: K-8
| 447 students
Rank: #1414.
Oberlin Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
2816 Oberlin Rd
Raleigh, NC 27608
(919) 881-4860
Grades: 6-8
| 1,076 students
Rank: #1515.
West Millbrook Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 52% | Reading: 55%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
8115 Strickland Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 870-4050
Grades: 6-8
| 1,046 students
Rank: #1616.
Durant Road Middle School
(Math: 41% | Reading: 46%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
10401 Durant Rd
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 870-4098
Grades: 6-8
| 764 students
Rank: #1717.
Dillard Drive Middle School
(Math: 39% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
5200 Dillard Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4228
Grades: 6-8
| 970 students
Rank: #1818.
Raleigh Oak Charter
Charter School
(Math: 30-34% | Reading: 45-49%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
9400 Forum Drive
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 424-7626
Grades: K-8
| 303 students
Rank: #1919.
Centennial Campus Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 36% | Reading: 45%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
1900 Main Campus Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4217
Grades: 6-8
| 509 students
Rank: #2020.
Carroll Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 35% | Reading: 43%)
Rank:
4/
10
Bottom 50%
4520 Six Forks Rd
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-1370
Grades: 6-8
| 871 students
Rank: #2121.
River Bend Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 37%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
5601 Wallace Martin Way
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 694-8690
Grades: 6-8
| 1,124 students
Rank: #2222.
Neuse River Middle School
(Math: 28% | Reading: 35%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
2700 Old Milburnie Rd
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 266-8500
Grades: 6-8
| 908 students
Rank: #2323.
Preeminent Charter
Charter School
(Math: 31% | Reading: 33%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3815 Rock Quarry Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 235-0511
Grades: K-8
| 702 students
Rank: #2424.
Governor Morehead School F/t Blind
Special Education School
(Math: 21-39% | Reading: 21-39%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
303 Ashe Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27699
(919) 733-6192
Grades: K-12
| 44 students
Rank: #2525.
East Millbrook Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 32%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3801 Spring Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27616
(919) 850-8755
Grades: 6-8
| 769 students
Rank: #2626.
Torchlight Academy
Charter School
(Math: 26% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
2/
10
Bottom 50%
3211 Bramer Drive
Raleigh, NC 27604
(919) 850-9960
Grades: K-8
| 630 students
Rank: #2727.
Rise Southeast Raleigh Charter
Charter School
(Math: 24% | Reading: 29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
3420 Idlewood Village Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 446-4777
Grades: K-8
| 479 students
Rank: #2828.
River Oaks Middle School
Alternative School
(Math: 20-29% | Reading: 20-29%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
4700 New Bern Ave
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 231-5600
Grades: 6-8
| 26 students
Rank: #2929.
Longview
Special Education School
(Math: ≤20% | Reading: ≤20%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
318 N King Charles Rd
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7691
Grades: 6-12
| 35 students
Rank: #3030.
Mount Vernon
Alternative School
(Math: 10-14% | Reading: 15-19%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
5418 Chapel Hill Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 233-4313
Grades: K-8
| 68 students
Rank: #3131.
Connections Academy
Alternative School
(Math: ≤5% | Reading: 6-9%)
Rank:
1/
10
Bottom 50%
1280 Buck Jones Rd
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 694-8910
Grades: 6-8
| 21 students
Rank: n/an/a
American Leadership Academy - Johnston
Charter School
3770 Us-70 Bus
Raleigh, NC 27614
(984) 302-3630
Grades: K-10
| 1,740 students
Rank: n/an/a
Ncvps
1017 Main Campus Dr, Partners
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 513-8550
Grades: 7-13
| n/a students
[+] 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 middle schools in Raleigh, NC?
The top ranked public middle schools in Raleigh, NC include Quest Academy, Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy and Magellan Charter.
How many public middle schools are located in Raleigh?
33 public middle schools are located in Raleigh.
What is the racial composition of students in Raleigh?
Raleigh public middle schools minority enrollment is 62% of the student body (majority Black), which is more than the North Carolina public middle schools average of 56% (majority Black).
Which public middle schools in Raleigh are often viewed compared to one another?

Recent Articles

Banishing the Phone-based Childhood
Banishing the Phone-based Childhood
The article advocates for a dramatic cultural shift - delaying kids' smartphone ownership until high school and social media access until 16, promoting more free play, and fostering a healthier, screen-free childhood through collective action.
What is an Online High School
What is an Online High School
Find information about Online High Schools - what they are and how they work.
Personalized Learning: Revolutionizing Education for the 21st Century
Personalized Learning: Revolutionizing Education for the 21st Century
Explore the revolutionary approach of Personalized Learning in K-12 education. This article discusses the benefits, challenges, and potential of tailoring education to individual student needs, incorporating technology and adaptive learning methods to prepare students for the 21st century.