The best public high school in the country is in NC, Niche says. Here’s where
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- Niche ranked NC School of Science and Mathematics No. 1 U.S. public high school.
- School earned A+ marks for academics, diversity, teachers and college prep.
- Ranking reflects survey data and metrics across 93,000 public schools.
Niche just released its list of the best schools in America, and a Triangle school is at the top.
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics, with campuses in Durham and Morganton, is the No. 1 public high school in the country, according to Niche.
The platform’s rankings include more than 93,000 public schools, 30,000 private schools and 11,000 school districts.
“Choosing the right school is one of the most important decisions a family can make,” Luke Skurman, founder and CEO of Niche, said in a press release. “Our K-12 rankings bring together rigorous data and real experiences from students, parents and educators. This gives families the clarity to choose schools where their children can succeed academically, thrive socially, and build a strong foundation for their future.”
Here’s what Niche had to say about the school.
Is North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics a good school?
The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics has about 975 students across 11th and 12th grades, and a 7-to-1 student-teacher ratio.
Niche gives it an A+ overall grade and:
- A+ in academics, diversity, teachers, college prep, and clubs and activities
- A in administration
Durham school highly ranked in national, state lists
Niche ranks the North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics No. 1 in best college prep public high schools in America, No. 96 in best high schools for STEM in America and No. 368 in most diverse public high schools in America.
In addition to the national rankings, the school also ranked No. 1 in best public high schools in North Carolina, best college prep public high schools in North Carolina and best high schools for STEM in North Carolina.
This isn’t the first year the school has held the top spot in Niche’s rankings. The N.C. School of Science and Mathematics came in No. 1 in 2023. It was No. 2 in 2022 and 2024.
Best public high schools in America in 2026
Here are the top five public high schools in the U.S., according to the Niche ranking:
- North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics: Durham and Morganton, North Carolina
- The Davidson Academy: Reno, Nevada
- Massachusetts Academy for Math & Science: Worcester, Massachusetts
- South Carolina Governor’s School for Science & Mathematics: Hartsville, South Carolina
- Stuyvesant High School: New York, New York
About NC School of Science and Mathematics
The N.C. School of Science and Mathematics, a part of the University of North Carolina system, is a residential boarding school educating of the state’s most academically gifted high school students, The News & Observer previously reported.
It opened as the nation’s first public, residential STEM high school in 1980 in the former Watts Hospital in Durham.
A second campus in Morganton opened in 2022.
Niche best schools methodology
To create its rankings, Niche considers a variety of data including survey responses from students and parents across several factors.
- Academics
- Culture and diversity
- Parent/student surveys on overall experience
- Teachers
- Clubs and activities
- Resources and facilities
- Sports
This story was originally published October 1, 2025 at 6:00 AM with the headline "The best public high school in the country is in NC, Niche says. Here’s where."
