Needham B. Broughton High School is a Global Studies, Language Immersion, and International Baccalaureate Magnet School that serves approximately 2,100 students. Broughton has earned from the Magnet Schools of America the School of Excellence in addition to Demonstration-Level Magnet Certification, which are the two top-tier awards granted by the organization. In addition to our standard and honors level graduation requirement courses, Broughton offers students the opportunity to take the following courses on a yearlong schedule, attending eight classes with four classes per day on an alternating A & B day schedule:

• 37 Honors courses;

• 36 International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme courses;

• 18 Advanced Placement (AP) courses;

• Visual & Performing Arts;

• World Languages in Spanish, French, German, and Mandarin Chinese;

• Multiple options in the Sciences and Mathematics;

• Physical Education;

• Career & Technical Education;

• Special Education; and

• Numerous magnet elective course offerings.

In addition to coursework, Broughton offers the following programming opportunities for students:

• Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Marketing Career Academy;

• Air Force JROTC; 

• International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme; and

• Multiple travel options to enhance the study of languages, arts, history, and cultures.

In addition to the standard high school curriculum available at many schools, the Broughton globally-focused magnet program offers a unique combination of experiences that is only available at our school. These opportunities include:

• The integration of global topics, particularly the United Nations Sustainable Development goals, into the curriculum of all courses at all grade levels;

• Spanish and Mandarin immersion courses for students who are participating in the Wake County Schools K-12 pathway; 

• The enriching and empowering International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme as an option for students in grades 11 and 12 to earn advanced university credit and as a globally recognized credential of learning and achievement;

• The Broughton service-learning graduation requirement;

• Extensive world languages options from beginning to native-speaker levels;

• Multiple globally focused clubs, celebrations, guest speakers, internships, and field trip opportunities.

• Visual Art:  Levels I – IV, 2 levels of IB classes. Art is showcased in the school, the greater Raleigh art community and at the IB Senior Art Show. Art classes emphasize a variety of media, including painting, ceramics, photography, digital design, and textiles;

• Theater:  Levels I – IV, two levels of IB classes, and Technical Theater classes. Performances include a fall play, student written and directed performances, and a Spring musical each year. Broughton Theatre is showcased at events across the state, earning Best Ensemble at The North Carolina Theatre Conference High School Play Festival. Students have recently received critics’ choice awards for monologue, duet scene, duet song, solo song and sound design at The NC International Thespian Society;

• Dance:  Levels I – IV, two levels of IB classes, Independent Study Dance Honors, Dance Ensemble and Dance Company. Students grow artistically in dance technique, vocabulary, history and anatomy, choreography development, performance and improvisation skills. The dance program also includes the Broughton Dance Team and CAPS CREW, the hip hop company. The program produces 5 concerts a year, performs locally, statewide, regionally and nationally. Students travel to NYC, LA and Chicago to study with professional companies, and Broughton hosts at least 10 guest artists a year. You can also see them at football and basketball games, pep rallies, local schools, competitions, dance festivals, the Raleigh Christmas Parade, and professional company performances;

• Vocal Music:  Men’s Choir, Women's Ensemble, aCAPella ensemble, CAPital Sound Mixed Choir, and IB Music.  Fall and Spring concerts; aCAPella and CAPital Sound perform in the community as well at various festivals in the USA and abroad;

• Instrumental Music: Orchestra—Level 2-IB classes.  Three concerts each year; Concert Band and Wind Ensemble—Levels 1-IB classes.  Perform four concerts a year.  Wind Ensemble represents Broughton in the pit orchestra and small group performances; Jazz Bands—Jazz Ensemble is honors level, audition group performs throughout the state. Marching Band—All instrumental students are invited to join the Marching Band, which performs at every home football game, Fall competitions, and is the only band to perform in every Raleigh Christmas Parade since its inception.

For more information, please visit the Broughton Arts website.

Career & Technical Education (CTE) provides students with the academic and technical skills and knowledge to succeed in future careers and to become lifelong learners. In many Broughton CTE courses, students can take multiple years and graduate with a career certification. The following are some of the CTE program areas:

• Academy of Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Marketing

• Business, finance, and marketing;

• Foods and food production services;

• Textiles, apparel production, and fashion design;

• Housing, interiors, and interior design;

• Parenting and early childhood education;

• Computer science and technology (including AP Computer Science); 

• Automotive technology; 

• TV programming and broadcasting, which produces a daily in-house news program ("WCAP") and offers an IB Film course.

Our wonderful faculty includes:

• 175 Certified teachers;

• 22 National Board Certified teachers;

• 74% of teachers have 4+ years of experience; and

• 38% of teachers hold advanced degrees.

Recent Faculty & Staff Awards:

• Bethanie Drew, 2022 Foreign Languages Association of NC Teacher of the Year;

• Dr. Elena Ashburn, 2021 NC Principal of the Year;

• Caroline Olson, 2021 Wake County Teacher of the Year;

• Marlin Jones, 2020 North Carolina Council for the Social Studies Teacher of the Year;

• Betsy Graves, 2019 Magnet Schools of America National Regional Teacher of the Year;

• Joann Blumenfeld, 2018-2019 NC Department of Public Instruction Special Education Educator of Excellence Award Recipient;

• April Leon, 2023 National LifeChanger Award;

• Chris Conley, 2017-2019 Governor Roy Cooper’s Teacher Advisory Committee; and

• Officer Michael Foran, 2018 NCHSAA Hometown Hero Award Recipient.

Broughton High School is fortunate to have several support organizations that enhance student academics and experiences. Additionally, these support organizations provide professional development and resources for faculty. During the 2022-23 school year alone, our faculty were awarded approximately $45,000 in grant funding to ensure students have premier educational resources and experiences.

Parent Teacher Student Association

Broughton PTSA works to support Broughton High School in every aspect. The PTSA provides a plethora of volunteer opportunities for parents to support our school in addition to supporting programs that enrich the educational experience of our students and faculty. We provide student scholarships, teacher grants, classroom items, and special events for teachers and staff; coordinate campus clean-up events and food and clothing collection drives; support academic success with organizational tools, learning support and academic honors recognitions; and celebrate Broughton spirit and community service.  Together with our school, we work to maintain excellence and to keep our Broughton Family strong. 

Alumni Foundation

The Broughton Alumni Association was established in 1984. Serving as the voice of all CAPS Alumni, the association funds and awards two scholarships to Broughton seniors each year. The Alumni Scholarship is given to an applicant who exhibits exemplary service to Broughton and the community, shows strong character and excels in the classroom. With similar requirements as the alumni award, the Mial Williamson Scholarship adds the love of sports as a qualifying factor. Membership in the association is free for one year to all graduating seniors. Thereafter, dues are $25 per year. The association publishes two newsletters a year. 

Capital Foundation

The Needham B. Broughton Capital Foundation was founded in 2004 as a non-profit organization to provide funding for projects that enrich the Broughton educational experience. Since its inception, the Foundation has funded over $500,000 in supplies, technology, tools, and continuing educational opportunities used to enhance classroom instruction. The Foundation also has funded over $50,000 in teacher grants in recognition of excellence in instruction. Initiatives supported by the Foundation range from academics to arts to athletics to school beautification to teacher retention and beyond. Foundation grants complement funding available from local, federal and state sources. 

CAPS Club

The Broughton Caps Club provides volunteers and financial support for all Broughton High School interscholastic sports. The CAPS Club is the primary funding source for Broughton athletics, providing the annual budget of $190,000 to field 34 teams in 19 different sports with over 900 athletes from 600 individual student-athlete competitors. The volunteer and fundraising efforts of the CAPS Club directly impact the athletic department’s ability to provide the quality programs Broughton students and community enjoy.