Quest Academy

Quest Academy, located in Raleigh, NC, is a single K–8 charter school with 139 students that serves as both its own school and district, and it ranks among the very top schools in the state across three consecutive years.

Quest Academy is the only school in this data set, but it stands out as genuinely exceptional. In 2023–2024 it ranked 4th of 1,505 schools; in 2024–2025 it ranked 17th of 1,490; and in 2025–2026 it ranks 8th of 1,492—never falling below the 99th percentile statewide and earning 5 stars each year. The Quest Academy district itself ranks 3rd out of 246 North Carolina districts. Academically, the school’s combined EOG proficiency average was 95.2% in 2024–2025 and 95.5% in 2025–2026. In the most recent year, 100% of students were proficient in math in grades 3, 6, 7, and 8, and 100% were proficient in reading in grades 3, 7, and 8. Eighth-grade math and reading proficiency rates outpaced state averages by roughly 47 and 44 percentage points respectively. Upper-level math is a particular strength, with perfect proficiency in grades 6–8 at a time when math proficiency typically declines statewide.

While scores are uniformly high, a few patterns stand out. Reading proficiency in 5th and 6th grade was 87.5%—the lowest reading results in 2025–2026—compared with 100% in 3rd, 7th, and 8th grade. Science results were also excellent but less extreme relative to state averages, with the overall science average landing at exactly 90.7% in both reported years. Given the school’s small size (roughly 15–20 students per tested grade), a one- or two-student difference can cause noticeable percentage swings, such as 6th-grade reading dropping from 100% to 87.5% year over year. Free/reduced lunch data was not reported, which limits demographic context, but the overall picture is clear: Quest Academy is one of the most consistently elite small schools in North Carolina, with near-perfect achievement across both elementary and middle-school grade spans.