This North Carolina high school ranks as the best in the nation. Here’s why

Simone Jasper
·2 min read

North Carolina is home to the best high school in the nation, a new report finds.

The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro ranks No. 1 on a list of public schools that boast top-notch test scores and excel in preparing students for college, according to results published Tuesday, Aug. 29.

To create the list, U.S. News & World Report said it studied thousands of high schools across the country. It used data from the federal government and other sources as it focused on six categories: college readiness, “college curriculum breadth,” graduation rates, outcomes for “underserved” students, and performance and proficiency on state tests.

In all, nearly 18,000 U.S. schools were ranked based on metrics from the 2020-21 school year, when COVID-19 forced many students to learn virtually, The Charlotte Observer and the The News & Observer reported.

How did the NC school rank No. 1?

The Early College at Guilford was the only high school in North Carolina to rank among the nation’s top 10. Though it landed at No. 35 last year, “reading proficiency” and Advanced Placement classes helped the school make its mark in 2023, according to results published online and shared with McClatchy News via email.

The Greensboro school is part of Guilford County Schools, a district that serves children in pre-K to 12th grade. The school has a partnership with Guilford College, giving high schoolers the chance to earn up to two years of credit from the four-year liberal arts institution, officials said.

“The curriculum is writing intensive, and students in the ninth and 10th grade take honors and Advanced Placement courses,” U.S. News wrote on its website. “Students in 11th and 12th grade take college courses with undergraduates taught by college professors, including organic chemistry, linear algebra, modern art, health economics and more.”

So, how did other schools in North Carolina fare? In addition to the national rankings, U.S. News shared a separate statewide list. The other schools that followed The Early College at Guilford in the top five:

  • STEM Early College at N.C. A&T in Greensboro at No. 2

  • Onslow Early College High School in Jacksonville at No. 3

  • Wake STEM Early College High School in Cary at No. 4

  • Raleigh Charter High School at No. 5

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