The top-rated middle schools in Raleigh for 2026 are Magellan Charter (8.1/10), Martin Middle (7.7/10), and West Millbrook Middle (7.5/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of 18 middle schools with real test data included in this ranking. Schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Moore Square Middle leads Raleigh's ranked middle schools with a composite score of 8.7/10, sitting well above the group average of 6.2/10. That gap matters when you're comparing options across the metro. Eighteen middle schools earned rankings here, spanning a range of neighborhoods, program structures, and student outcomes. Only five of those 18 schools — about 28% — score 7.0 or higher, so the field thins quickly once you move past the top tier. West Millbrook Middle (7.8), Carnage Middle (7.6), Leesville Road Middle (7.1), and Oberlin Middle (7.0) round out that upper band. The table below lets you sort by the metrics that matter most to your family — whether that's academic performance, growth scores, or something else. Use the scores as a starting point, then dig into the individual school profiles to get the full picture.
Ranked by composite score; the tick is the score on the 1–10 axis.
Scores are based on 2024-25 data from the NCES Common Core of Data and North Carolina education department. Rankings are relative to all public middle schools in North Carolina. Learn about our methodology.
Magellan Charter
410 students · 14.1:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 3rd–8th
Top 9% in North Carolina · charter
Wake County Schools
968 students · 15.9:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 17% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
1,105 students · 16.7:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 21% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
809 students · 18.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 26% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
878 students · 14.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 29% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
590 students · 11.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 31% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
832 students · 16.6:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 36% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
1,121 students · 16.2:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 39% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
937 students · 14.0:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 48% in North Carolina
Wake County Schools
678 students · 13.3:1 student-teacher ratio · grades 6th–8th
Top 62% in North Carolina
According to MySchoolScout's 2026 rankings, Magellan Charter is the top-rated middle school in Raleigh with a composite score of 8.1/10. The score blends student growth, poverty-adjusted academic performance, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools — with equity shown as context, not scored.
Raleigh has 20 middle schools, including 1 charter schools. Of these, 19 have enough data for a full composite rating on MySchoolScout.
Among 19 Raleigh middle schools with a composite score, the average is 6.1/10. Scores range from 1.0 (bottom of the state) to 10.0 (top 1% in North Carolina).
Schools with enough data receive a 1-10 composite score that blends Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, with growth counting most in elementary and middle grades. Equity data is shown for context but not scored. All scores are computed within North Carolina, so schools are compared to peers in the same state. Data comes from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments.
A score of 7 or above means a school is in roughly the top 30% of its state. A 5 is average. Anything above 8 is exceptional. Our ratings are relative to other schools in North Carolina, not a national comparison, because each state has different testing standards.
Raleigh has 1 charter middle schools in its directory. Charter schools that meet this ranking's data requirements are included alongside traditional public schools using the same composite scoring methodology.
Consider your child's learning style. Some children thrive in smaller settings (look for student-teacher ratios under 14:1), while others do well in larger, more social environments. The schools on this list range widely in size and approach.
Look beyond the composite score. A school ranked #15 might be the best fit if it excels in growth (improving student outcomes year over year) even if its raw academic score is lower. Click into individual school profiles to see the breakdown.
Visit your top choices. Walk the hallways during a school day. Watch how teachers interact with students. Ask about before- and after-school care, transportation, and parent involvement. These details matter more than any dataset.
Guide
Raleigh-Durham's school landscape spans 5 counties with wildly different approaches to school choice. Here's what parents relocating to the Triangle need to know about school assignment, magnet options, and top districts.