Best Schools for Low-income Students in North Carolina (2026)

These are the North Carolina public schools where low-income students scored highest on the state reading and math tests, ranked by the average of the two proficiency rates. Only schools with at least 20 tested low-income students are included. The list reflects how students in this group perform at each school; it is not a ranking of schools by their demographic makeup.

Other lists: Asian · Black · Hispanic · Multiracial · American Indian / Alaska Native · White

Elementary schools

#	School	Reading	Math	Tested	Overall Repit grade
1	Moravian Falls Elementary School Moravian Falls	65%	85%	38	A
2	Hot Springs Elementary Hot Springs	70%	70%	30	A+
3	Polo Ridge Elementary Charlotte	70%	70%	23	A+
4	Kensington Elementary Waxhaw	70%	70%	21	A+
5	Union Elementary Shallotte	62%	72%	94	A+
6	Southwest Elementary High Point	62%	72%	74	B+
7	Hawks Nest STEAM Academy Gastonia	55%	75%	37	A
8	Southern Elementary Greensboro	65%	65%	58	B
9	EP Pearce Elementary Greensboro	75%	55%	60	A
10	Riverbend Elementary Clyde	65%	65%	42	A+
11	Central Elementary Statesville	57%	72%	68	A+
12	Lake Norman Elementary Mooresville	65%	65%	48	B+
13	Olde Providence Elementary Charlotte	75%	55%	34	A+
14	Dr Hubert Eaton Sr Elem Wilmington	55%	75%	36	A+
15	Cox Mill Elementary Concord	50%	70%	20	A+
16	Grandy Primary Camden	50%	70%	20	A+
17	Oak Ridge Elementary Oak Ridge	65%	55%	32	A+
18	Hendersonville Elementary Hendersonville	55%	65%	43	A+
19	Comfort Elementary Comfort	50%	70%	27	A
20	Rock Springs Elementary Denver	70%	50%	22	B+
21	Cartoogechaye Elementary Franklin	65%	55%	55	A+
22	West End Elementary West End	55%	65%	49	B+
23	Ogden Elementary Wilmington	65%	55%	41	A
24	Hillsborough Elementary Hillsborough	70%	50%	26	A+
25	Shoals Elementary Pinnacle	55%	65%	46	B

Middle schools

#	School	Reading	Math	Tested	Overall Repit grade
1	Brown Summit Middle Browns Summit	95%	95%	39	A+
2	The Brawley School Mooresville	75%	85%	34	A+
3	Oakwood Middle IB School Statesville	77%	67%	129	A+
4	Piedmont Middle School Charlotte	67%	57%	280	A+
5	New Dimensions Morganton	70%	50%	26	C+
6	Evergreen Community Charter Asheville	70%	50%	22	A
7	Peak Charter Academy Apex	65%	55%	51	A+
8	Randolph Middle Charlotte	65%	45%	337	C+
9	Cramerton Middle Cramerton	52%	57%	191	A
10	Bennett School Bennett	55%	55%	45	B
11	Davis Drive Middle Cary	55%	55%	48	A+
12	STEM Early High Henderson	57%	52%	117	B
13	Greensboro Academy Greensboro	55%	55%	39	A+
14	Jay M. Robinson Middle Charlotte	47%	57%	80	A+
15	Seventy-First Classical Middle Fayetteville	62%	42%	256	A+
16	Ashe County Middle Warrensville	52%	52%	241	A+
17	Summerfield Charter Academy Summerfield	57%	47%	74	A+
18	Community House Middle Charlotte	52%	52%	144	A+
19	The Mountain Community Sch Hendersonville	70%	30%	20	B+
20	Bath Elementary Bath	47%	52%	82	B+
21	Mountain View Elementary Hickory	47%	52%	159	A
22	Johnston Charter Academy Clayton	47%	52%	140	C
23	North Buncombe Middle Weaverville	47%	52%	192	A+
24	Harris Road Middle Concord	52%	47%	135	A+
25	Union Prep Academy at Indian Trail Indian Trail	57%	42%	210	B+

High schools

#	School	Reading	Math	Tested	Overall Repit grade
1	J D Clement Early College HS Durham	—	95%	0	A+
2	Montgomery County Early College Troy	95%	90%	32	A+
3	Challenger Early College High Hickory	90%	—	29	A+
4	Burke Middle College Morganton	—	90%	0	A+
5	Yadkin Early College Yadkinville	90%	—	22	A+
6	Cleveland ECHS Shelby	90%	—	29	A+
7	Highland Sch of Technology Gastonia	90%	90%	29	A+
8	Lee Early College Sanford	—	90%	16	A+
9	NRM Early College High School Rocky Mount	90%	—	27	A+
10	Randolph Early College High School Asheboro	90%	90%	28	A+
11	Rockingham Co Early College High Wentworth	90%	—	26	A+
12	Union County Early College Monroe	90%	—	21	A+
13	Wake Early College of Health and Science Raleigh	90%	90%	21	A+
14	Wayne Early / Middle College High Goldsboro	—	90%	15	A+
15	PCS Early College High School Winterville	90%	—	23	A+
16	Cumberland Polytechnic Fayetteville	—	85%	0	A+
17	Surry Early College Dobson	85%	—	35	A+
18	Vernon Malone College and Career Academy Raleigh	95%	70%	35	A+
19	North Wake College and Career Academy Wake Forest	90%	70%	30	A+
20	Cuthbertson High Waxhaw	70%	90%	20	A+
21	Providence High School Charlotte	70%	90%	23	A+
22	Atkins Academic & Tech High Winston-salem	72%	85%	70	A+
23	Massey Hill Classical High Fayetteville	70%	—	28	A+
24	Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy Raleigh	77%	62%	81	A+
25	Gray Stone Day Misenheimer	70%	70%	24	A+

Source: U.S. Department of Education EDFacts (state assessment results by student group) via the Urban Institute Education Data Portal. Small schools report results as ranges; we use the midpoint. Methodology

Best Schools for Low-income Students in North Carolina (2026)

Elementary schools

Middle schools

High schools

Get the ZIP-level rental data BiggerPockets doesn’t show

What best describes you?

When are you looking to take action?

What interests you most?

You're in.