Public high schools in North Carolina achieve an average reading/language arts proficiency of 58% (2026).
The public high schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency are listed below (where sufficient data available).
The public high school with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in North Carolina is Cumberland International Early College, Granville Early College High School, and Brunswick County Early College, among others each with ≥95%.
RLA Proficiency Range: 90%
95%
Avg. RLA Proficiency: 93%
Top Reading/Language Arts Proficiency Public High Schools in North Carolina (2026)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
RLA Proficiency
Grades
Location
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Brunswick County Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-13
50 College Road Ne
Supply, NC 28462
(910) 756-5030
Supply, NC 28462
(910) 756-5030
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Challenger Early College High School
(Math: ≥50% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-12
2550 Hwy 70 Se
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-2980
Hickory, NC 28602
(828) 485-2980
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Cumberland International Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-12
1200 Murchison Rd, J Knuckles
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 226-6485
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 226-6485
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Cumberland Polytechnic
(Reading: ≥95%)
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-13
220 Hull Rd
Fayetteville, NC 28306
(910) 486-7300
Fayetteville, NC 28306
(910) 486-7300
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Granville Early College High School
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-13
1552 South Campus Dr
Creedmoor, NC 27522
(919) 528-5583
Creedmoor, NC 27522
(919) 528-5583
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Highland Sch Of Technology
Magnet School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-12
1600 N Morris Street
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Gastonia, NC 28052
(704) 810-8816
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Johnston Co Early College Academy
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-13
245 College Rd
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Smithfield, NC 27577
(919) 464-2314
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Nesbitt Discovery Academy
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-12
175 Bingham Rd Ste 10
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Asheville, NC 28806
(828) 271-4521
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Raleigh Charter High School
Charter School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-12
1307 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 715-1155
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 715-1155
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Union County Early College
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-13
4209a Old Charlotte Hwy
Monroe, NC 28110
(704) 290-1565
Monroe, NC 28110
(704) 290-1565
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Wake Early College Of Health And Science
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-13
2901 Holston Lane
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 212-5800
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 212-5800
Rank: #1 - 121. - 12.
Wake Stem Early College High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥95%
Grades: 9-13
2205 Walnut Street
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8130
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8130
Rank: #1313.
Weddington High School
(Math: 94% | Reading: 93%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 93%
Grades: 9-12
4901 Monroe-weddington Road
Matthews, NC 28104
(704) 296-6319
Matthews, NC 28104
(704) 296-6319
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Caldwell Early College
(Reading: 90-94%)
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
2859 Hickory Blvd Sw
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Hudson, NC 28638
(828) 759-4636
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Central Academy Of Technology And Arts
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-12
600 Brewer Dr
Monroe, NC 28112
(704) 296-3088
Monroe, NC 28112
(704) 296-3088
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Cross Creek Early College
(Reading: 90-94%)
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-12
1200 Murchison Road
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 500-7551
Fayetteville, NC 28301
(910) 500-7551
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Early College
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
340 Victoria Road
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Asheville, NC 28801
(828) 232-4123
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Early College Of Forsyth Co
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-12
2100 Silas Creek Prky
Winston Salem, NC 27103
(336) 757-3290
Winston Salem, NC 27103
(336) 757-3290
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
J D Clement Early College High School
(Reading: 90-94%)
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-12
1801 Fayetteville Street, Nccu
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 560-2696
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Madison Early College High School
(Reading: 90-94%)
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
5734 Us 25/70 Hwy
Marshall, NC 28753
(828) 649-0319
Marshall, NC 28753
(828) 649-0319
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
North Wake College And Career Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
931 Durham Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 694-8650
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 694-8650
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Pcs Early College High School
(Math: 80-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
Pitt Community College, 2064 W
Greenville, NC 27835
(252) 493-7821
Greenville, NC 27835
(252) 493-7821
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Randolph Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
629 Industrial Park Avenue
Asheboro, NC 27205
(336) 625-1137
Asheboro, NC 27205
(336) 625-1137
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Rockingham Co Early College High School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
215 Wrenn Memorial Road
Wentworth, NC 27375
(336) 342-4261
Wentworth, NC 27375
(336) 342-4261
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Sandhoke Early College High School
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
1110 East Central Avenue
Raeford, NC 28376
(910) 878-5806
Raeford, NC 28376
(910) 878-5806
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Surry Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
630 South Main Street
Dobson, NC 27017
(336) 386-3621
Dobson, NC 27017
(336) 386-3621
Rank: #14 - 2714. - 27.
Vernon Malone College And Career Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
RLA Proficiency: 90-94%
Grades: 9-13
2200 S Wilmington St
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 856-8119
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 856-8119
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Marvin Ridge High School
(Math: 93% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 91%
Grades: 9-12
2825 Crane Road
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 290-1520
Waxhaw, NC 28173
(704) 290-1520
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Providence High School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 91%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: 91%
Grades: 9-12
1800 Pineville-matthews Rd
Charlotte, NC 28270
(980) 343-5390
Charlotte, NC 28270
(980) 343-5390
Rank: #30 - 5930. - 59.
Abss Early College At Acc
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥90%
Grades: 9-13
1247 Jimmie Kerr Road
Graham, NC 27253
(336) 506-4001
Graham, NC 27253
(336) 506-4001
Rank: #30 - 5930. - 59.
Alexander Early College
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥90%
Grades: 9-12
345 Industrial Blvd
Taylorsville, NC 28681
(828) 632-8221
Taylorsville, NC 28681
(828) 632-8221
Rank: #30 - 5930. - 59.
Beaufort Co Early College High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥90%
Grades: 9-13
5337 Hwy 264 East, Building 10
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 940-6227
Washington, NC 27889
(252) 940-6227
Rank: #30 - 5930. - 59.
Cabarrus Early College Of Technology
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥90%
Grades: 9-13
670 Concord Parkway North
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6750
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6750
Rank: #30 - 5930. - 59.
Cabarrus-kannapolis Early Coll
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥90%
Grades: 9-13
1531 Trinity Church Rd
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6780
Concord, NC 28027
(704) 260-6780
Rank: #30 - 5930. - 59.
Collaborative College For Technology
(Math: ≥90% | Reading: ≥90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 1%10
RLA Proficiency: ≥90%
Grades: 9-13
500 West Broad Street
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 978-5450
Statesville, NC 28677
(704) 978-5450
Show 100 more public schools in NC (out of 707 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is the North Carolina average public high schools reading/language arts proficiency?
The North Carolina average public high schools reading/language arts proficiency is 58%% for 2026.
What are the public high schools with the highest reading/language arts proficiency in North Carolina?
The best top-ranked public high schools in North Carolina include Brunswick County Early College, Challenger Early College High School and Cumberland International Early College.
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