Best High Schools in the Charlotte Metro Area (2025-2026 Rankings)

Christen Ripoli - REALTOR
Aug 29
3 min read

Updated: Oct 22

Hi friends! I’m Christen Ripoli, your local real estate expert here in Charlotte, NC. I love sharing insights about living, working, and playing in our area - as well as what’s happening in our local housing market.

One of the most common questions I hear from families relocating to Charlotte is: “Where are the best schools?”

That’s not always an easy question to answer, because “best” depends on your family’s specific needs and experiences. But thankfully, U.S. News & World Report has done the heavy lifting by ranking the Top 20 High Schools in the Charlotte Metro Area for the 2025-2026 school year.

Let’s take a look!

How the Rankings Were Determined

U.S. News & World Report analyzed nearly 18,000 public high schools nationwide, using six weighted factors that measure how well schools are preparing students for success after graduation:

🎓 College Readiness (30%) - Looks at the percentage of 12th graders who took and earned a qualifying score on at least one AP or IB exam. Earning a qualifying score carries three times more weight than simply taking the exam.
📝 State Assessment Proficiency (20%) - Based on aggregated scores from required state assessments that students must pass for graduation.
📊 State Assessment Performance (20%) - Measures how state assessment results compare with expectations, considering the proportions of students who are Black, Hispanic, and from low-income households.
💡 Underserved Student Performance (10%) - Focuses on state assessment results specifically among underserved student groups (Black, Hispanic, and low-income students). These scores are compared with state averages for non-underserved students, with the goal of reaching parity or higher.
📚 College Curriculum Breadth (10%) - Evaluates the proportion of 12th graders who took and earned qualifying scores on AP or IB exams across multiple subject areas. More exams - and qualifying scores - carry greater weight.
⏳ Graduation Rate (10%) - Measures the percentage of ninth graders who successfully graduated within four academic years.

These categories give a more complete picture of how schools are preparing students for college and careers.

Top 10 High Schools in the Charlotte Metro

Here are the highest-ranked schools in our area:

🏆 1. Highland School of Technology (Gastonia)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 55.3
Student-Teacher Ratio: 13:1
U.S. News Score: 98.11

⭐ 2. Providence High School (South Charlotte)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 62.3
Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
U.S. News Score: 97.17

⭐ 3. Ardrey Kell High School (Ballantyne)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 66.8
Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
U.S. News Score: 97.14

4. Lake Norman Charter (Huntersville)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 68.7
Student-Teacher Ratio: 18:1
U.S. News Score: 97.07

5. Marvin Ridge High School (Waxhaw – Union County)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 60.5
Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
U.S. News Score: 96.66

6. Pine Lake Preparatory (Mooresville)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 63.5
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
U.S. News Score: 96.25

7. Central Academy of Technology & Arts (Union County)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 57.4
Student-Teacher Ratio: 16:1
U.S. News Score: 95.75

8. Community School of Davidson (Lake Norman area)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 59.7
Student-Teacher Ratio: 17:1
U.S. News Score: 95.36

9. Weddington High School (Union County)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 57.0
Student-Teacher Ratio: 22:1
U.S. News Score: 95.19

10. Charlotte Engineering Early College (UNCC Campus)

Graduation Rate: >95%
College Readiness: 73.4
Student-Teacher Ratio: 21:1
U.S. News Score: 94.82

What This Means for Families

It’s encouraging to see so many schools across Union County, Mecklenburg County, Gaston County, and the Lake Norman area ranking so highly. With graduation rates consistently above 95% and strong marks in college readiness, these schools are preparing students well for their next steps.

For families moving to Charlotte, this list provides a great starting point when considering school zones during a home search.

Thinking About Moving Near One of These Schools?

Finding the right home often means finding the right school district too. Whether you’re looking for a house in Ballantyne near Ardrey Kell, a Waxhaw home zoned for Marvin Ridge, or something near Lake Norman Charter, I can help you line up your search with your family’s priorities.

For information about the top 20 high schools in the Charlotte-area, check out my YouTube video, where I explain which schools are leading the way this year and what you should ask when selecting a school district for your kids!