Best North Carolina high schools for athletes? According to one study, these are top 25

Basketball icons of the past and present may immediately come to mind when asked about North Carolina’s rich sports history, and for good reason.

The home state of Michael Jordan and Steph Curry, they’re two of the hundreds of sporting legends who called the Tar Heel State home as they were growing into their own. 

A reason for the state’s high success rate in athletics is the rich high school sporting scene in nearly every sport.

Which high schools in North Carolina are considered the best for athletes in 2026?

According to a study conducted by Niche, which accounts for survey feedback from students and parents—accounting for "reviews of athletics, number of state championships, student participation in athletics, and the number of sports offered at the school"—and data from the U.S. Department of Education, these are the top 25.

25. James B. Dudley High School (Greenesboro)

Number of sports: 15

24. Eastern Alamance High School (Mebane)

Number of sports: 21

23. A.C. Reynolds High School (Asheville)

Number of sports: 21

22. Middle Creek High School (Apex)

Number of sports: 20

21. Greensboro Day School (Greensboro)

Number of sports: 13

20. Cuthbertson High School

Number of sports: 22

19. New Hanover High School (Wilmington)

Number of sports: 22

18. John T. Hoggard High School (Wilmington)

Number of sports: 17

17. South Point High School

Number of sports: 20

16. Grimsley High School (Greensboro)

Number of sports: 22

15. Christ School (Arden)

Number of sports: 10

14. Asheville High School (Asheville)

Number of sports: 22

13. Forsyth Country Day School (Lewisville)

Number of sports: 21

12. Wake Forest High School (Wake Forest)

Number of sports: 20

11. Charlotte Latin School (Charlotte)

Number of sports: 23

10. Leesville Road High School (Raleigh)

Number of sports: 21

9. Mount Airy High School

Number of sports: 20

8. Hickory High School

Number of sports: 25

7. Jacksonville High School (Jacksonville)

Number of sports: 23

6. Providence Day School (Charlotte)

Number of sports: 25

5. Bishop McGuinness Catholic High School (Kernersville)

Number of sports: 28

4. Marvin Ridge High School (Waxhaw)

Number of sports: 22

3. Weddington High School (Matthews)

Number of sports: 22

2. Charlotte Catholic High School (Charlotte)

Number of sports: 14

1. Cardinal Gibbons High School (Raleigh)

Number of sports: 27