Although NCSSM is a public school, enrollment is extremely selective, and applicants undergo a competitive review process for admission.

NCSSM is a founding member of the National Consortium of Secondary STEM Schools (NCSSS)[2] and a constituent institution of the University of North Carolina system.

In 2003, the NC Legislature approved a bill granting tuition costs for any university in the University of North Carolina System to all graduates of NCSSM, starting with the class of 2004, as an incentive to encourage NCSSM's talented students to stay in North Carolina.

That bill was amended in 2005 to allow students to use additional tuition monies awarded to cover "costs of attendance."

However, the tuition waiver was phased out in the Appropriations Act of 2009 in the North Carolina Senate in order to balance the budget.

[12] NCSSM also offers a variety of external programs focused on educating teachers and students outside of the school across North Carolina.

The school is known to place upwards of ten students a year in the Siemens Competition in Math, Science, and Technology.

In 2010, NCSSM won first place at the 2010 National DOE Science Bowl Competition,[14] and the students on the team met Michelle Obama.

The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics offers 21 varsity sports to its students, including baseball, volleyball, basketball, and wrestling.

In 2011, for the first time in this school's history, all of the NCSSM varsity sports in the fall season won regional championships.

[18] NCSSM First Technology Challenge In 2006, the North Carolina General Assembly (NCGA) began planning to expand the Durham Campus to allow for greater enrollment and new curriculum opportunities.