US News 2020 High School Rankings: Top Charlotte Area Schools

CHARLOTTE, NC — Sixteen Charlotte area high schools are among the best in North Carolina, according to U.S. News & World Report, which just released its annual rankings.

“The Best High Schools rankings provide the most comprehensive, data-based information on nearly every public high school in the country,” Anita Narayan, managing editor of Education at U.S. News, said in a news release. “Families can use this information to see how their local schools compare on graduation rates and state assessments, as well as academic performance by students who are traditionally underserved — those who are black, Hispanic or from low-income households.”

Here are the Charlotte area schools that were ranked in North Carolina according to U.S. News.

• Cato Middle College High, Charlotte — Ranked No. 6 in state
• Highland School of Technology, Gastonia — Ranked No. 11 in state
• Ardrey Kell High, Charlotte — Ranked No. 14 in state
• Marvin Ridge High, Waxhaw — Ranked No. 16 in state
• Weddington High, Matthews — Ranked No. 17 in state
• Providence High, Charlotte — Ranked No. 19 in state
• Cuthbertson High, Waxhaw — Ranked No. 25 in state
• Northwest School of the Arts, Charlotte — Ranked No. 27 in state
• Myers Park High, Charlotte — Ranked No. 42 in state
• South Mecklenburg High, Charlotte — Ranked No. 58 in state
• Cox Mill High School, Concord — Ranked No. 62 in state
• Hawthorne High, Charlotte — Ranked No. 71 in state
• Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology, Charlotte — No. 76 in state
• Olympic High-Math Eng Tech Science, Charlotte — No. 78 in state
• Butler High, Matthews — Ranked No. 86 in state
• Piedmont Community Charter School, Gastonia — Ranked No. 95 in state

The Early College at Guilford in Greensboro, ranked No. 1 in the state, was the only North Carolina high school to make U.S. News' national list of top 100 schools. It was ranked No. 31 in national rankings.

U.S. News used a number of weighted criteria to come up with the rankings, the most important being college readiness. You can see the full methodology here.

2020 Best High Schools National Rankings:
1. Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (VA)
2. Academic Magnet High School (SC)
3. Merrol Hyde Magnet School (TN)
4. School for Advanced Studies (FL)
5. Townsend Harris High School (NY)
6. The School for the Talented and Gifted (TX)
7. BASIS Chandler (AZ)
8. Haas Hall Academy Bentonville (AR)
9. Payton College Preparatory High School (IL)
10. Irma Lerma Rangel Young Women’s Leadership School (TX)