List of schools in the Wake County Public School System
This is a list of schools operated by the Wake County Public School System in Wake County, North Carolina. As of the 2025–26 school year, WCPSS is responsible for more than 161,115 students across 203 schools, making them the largest school system in the state as of 2025, and the 14th-largest in the United States as of the newest statistics from 2021. Across these schools, WCPSS maintains a staff of 20,060 including 10,840 teachers: of whom 41.56% have advanced degrees and 1,384 are National Board-certified teachers. Additionally, 56,227 of the students within WCPSS are part of a Free or Reduced-price Lunch program, 20,829 are part of a Limited English Proficiency program, and 20,511 are part of a Special education program. Finally, the budget for WCPSS exceeds $2.23 billon, totaling to about $13,460 per student.
The Wake County Public School System was founded on July 1, 1976, after the merger of the two segregated school systems operating in the county named Wake County Schools and Raleigh City Schools. The effort to desegregate the county was aided by the opening of the county's first magnet school the following year in Raleigh, in an initial attempt to encourage white students to learn in the majority-black Raleigh area. WCPSS has since become notable for its integration efforts, being used as a metaphor for hope by Professor Gerald Grant of Syracuse University in his 2009 book Hope and Despair in the American City: Why There Are No Bad Schools in Raleigh. Today, WCPSS is adapting to a rapidly-growing population in the county, opening one new high school and three new elementary schools for the 2025–26 school year. WCPSS also faces challenges in the form of major cuts in federal funding, being one of the worst impacted school systems in the country after decisions from President Trump, and their approach to the use of artificial intelligence in education, for which the system supports at least partially.
The school directory below is current as of the newest statistics from the 2024–25 school year, and is collected through a number of sources including primary and secondary lists. The tables are divided between sections for high school, middle school, elementary school, and other public schools still under WCPSS. Within each table is the name of school, the city they're located in, their school type, grade levels, calendar, total students, percent of students on Free or Reduced-price Lunch, percent of students with Limited English Proficiency, and their Title I status. Among other reasons, these metrics were chosen as they are the ones outlined by WCPSS in their yearly report and likewise are the most important to the county.
High schools
Below is the current list of public high schools administered by WCPSS as of the 2024–2025 school year. The table values for "City" are sourced from U.S. News & World Report, "School type" from the WCPSS Magnet and Early Colleges Directory, and the remaining information from the WCPSS 2024–2025 Districts Facts Report. Any additional references used are listed on the right end of the table.| School | City | School type | Grade levels | Calendar | Total students | Year Opened | [School meal programs in the United States|] | [Limited English Proficient|] | Title I | |
| Apex Friendship High School | Apex | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,741 | 2015 | 11.2% | 2.0% | No | - |
| Apex High School | Apex | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,449 | 1920 | 21.7% | 7.8% | No | - |
| Athens Drive High School | Raleigh | Magnet: Center for Medical Sciences and Global Health Initiatives | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,116 | 1978 | 43.2% | 15.5% | No | - |
| Broughton High School | Raleigh | Magnet: Global Studies and Language Immersion/International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,140 | 1929 | 27.3% | 8.0% | No | - |
| Cary High School | Cary | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,040 | 1896, 1960 | 37.9% | 15.2% | No | - |
| Crossroads FLEX High School | Cary | Magnet-related: Flexible Learning EXperience for personal pursuits | 9–12 | Traditional | 139 | 2016 | 5.8% | 0.0% | No | - |
| East Wake High School | Wendell | Magnet: iTech and Design | 9–12 | Traditional | 1,772 | 1977 | 62.10% | 13% | Yes | - |
| Enloe High School | Raleigh | Magnet: Gifted and Talented/International Baccalaureate DP Programme | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,604 | 1962 | 27.30% | 6.8% | No | - |
| Felton Grove High School | Apex | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 800 | 2025 | N/A | N/A | N/A | |
| Fuquay-Varina High School | Fuquay-Varina | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 1,839 | 1925, 2021 | 25.1% | 5.3% | No | - |
| Garner High School | Garner | Magnet: International Baccalaureate - Middle Years and Diploma Programme | 9–12 | Traditional | 1,663 | 1968 | 52.60% | 16.9% | No | - |
| Green Hope High School | Cary | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,306 | 1999 | 11.8% | 6.6% | No | - |
| Green Level High School | Cary | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,282 | 2019 | 6.3% | 3.2% | No | - |
| Heritage High School | Wake Forest | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 1,773 | 2010 | 27.2% | 11.8% | No | - |
| Holly Springs High School | Holly Springs | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,016 | 2006 | 13.6% | 2.5% | No | - |
| Knightdale High School | Knightdale | Traditional | 9–12 | Early College | 1,693 | 2004 | 64.6% | 19.1% | Yes | - |
| Leesville Road High School | Raleigh | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,401 | 1993 | 23.9% | 7.3% | No | - |
| Middle Creek High School | Apex | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 1,583 | 2002 | 28.70% | 9.9% | No | - |
| Millbrook High School | Raleigh | Magnet: International Baccalaureate - Middle Years & Diploma Programme | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,481 | 1922 | 32.8% | 12.2% | No | - |
| North Wake College and Career Academy | Wake Forest | Early College | 9–13 | Early College | 346 | 2016 | 35.8% | 2.9% | No | - |
| Panther Creek High School | Cary | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,598 | 2006 | 14.8% | 6.6% | No | - |
| Phillips High School | Raleigh | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 119 | 1975 | 66.4% | 9.2% | Yes | - |
| Rolesville High School | Rolesville | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,319 | 2013 | 49.7% | 14.7% | No | - |
| Sanderson High School | Raleigh | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 1,640 | 1968 | 42.3% | 15.9% | No | - |
| SCORE Academy | Cary | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 617 | 2017 | 54.2% | 10.0% | Yes | - |
| Garner High School | Garner | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 1,827 | 2018 | 60.1% | 17.2% | Yes | - |
| Southeast Raleigh High School | Raleigh | Magnet: University Connections: School of Design, Art and Engineering | 9–12 | Modified | 1,442 | 1997 | 62.1% | 19.6% | Yes | - |
| Vernon Malone College and Career Academy | Raleigh | Early College | 9–13 | Early College | 348 | 2014 | 44.7% | 3.2% | No | - |
| Wake Early College of Health and Sciences | Raleigh | Early College | 9–13 | Early College | 318 | 2006 | 34.0% | 1.3% | No | - |
| Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies | Morrisville | Early College | 9–13 | Early College | 260 | 2022 | 15.8% | 1.5% | No | |
| Wake Forest High School | Wake Forest | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,022 | 1941 | 29.6% | 8.2% | No | - |
| Wake STEM Early College High School | Cary | Early College | 9–13 | Early College | 292 | 2011 | 35.3% | 1.0% | No | - |
| Wakefield High School | Raleigh | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,046 | 1999 | 35.0% | 8.5% | No | - |
| Willow Spring High School | Fuquay-Varina | Traditional | 9–12 | Traditional | 2,215 | 2021 | 28.5% | 7.4% | No |
Middle schools
Below is the current list of public middle schools administered by WCPSS as of the 2024–2025 school year. The table values for "City" are sourced from U.S. News & World Report, "School type" from the WCPSS Magnet and Early Colleges Directory, and the remaining information from the WCPSS 2024–2025 Districts Facts Report. Any additional references used are listed on the right end of the table.| School | City | School type | Grade levels | Calendar | Total students | [School meal programs in the United States|] | [Limited English Proficient|] | Title I | |
| Alston Ridge Middle School | Cary | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 1,520 | 20.0% | 10.7% | No | - |
| Apex Friendship Middle School | Apex | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 1,409 | 7.9% | 3.1% | No | - |
| Apex Middle School | Apex | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 869 | 23.9% | 9.0% | No | - |
| Carnage Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Gifted and Talented/AIG Basics | 6–8 | Traditional | 918 | 31.1% | 6.3% | No | - |
| Carroll Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Leadership in Technology | 6–8 | Traditional | 886 | 60.8% | 21.0% | Yes | - |
| Centennial Campus Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Center for Innovation | 6–8 | Modified | 476 | 62.7% | 22.5% | Yes | - |
| Connections Academy | Cary | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 12 | 46.2% | 15.4% | Yes | - |
| Davis Drive Middle School | Cary | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 995 | 12.9% | 13.5% | No | - |
| Dillard Drive Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Center for World Languages & Spanish Immersion | 6–8 | Traditional | 968 | 49.9% | 19.9% | Yes | - |
| Durant Road Middle School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 652 | 64.4% | 22.6% | Yes | - |
| Cary Middle School | Cary | Magnet: Center for World Languages and Global Studies | 6–8 | Traditional | 592 | 35.1% | 10.2% | No | - |
| East Garner Middle School | Garner | Magnet: International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme/Creative Arts | 6–8 | Traditional | 1,109 | 62.6% | 18.1% | Yes | - |
| East Millbrook Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Academy of Arts and Design | 6–8 | Traditional | 733 | 63.6% | 25.3% | Yes | - |
| Fuquay-Varina Middle School | Fuquay-Varina | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 1,004 | 28.1% | 5.4% | No | - |
| Herbert Akins Road Middle School | Fuquay-Varina | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 1,260 | 31.6% | 10.9% | No | - |
| Heritage Middle School | Wake Forest | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 950 | 16.1% | 3.6% | No | - |
| Holly Grove Middle School | Holly Springs | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 991 | 17.1% | 4.0% | No | - |
| Holly Ridge Middle School | Holly Springs | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 958 | 25.4% | 7.1% | No | - |
| Leesville Road Middle School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 792 | 30.9% | 9.5% | No | - |
| Ligon Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Gifted and Talented/AIG Basics | 6–8 | Traditional | 956 | 33.8% | 5.0% | No | - |
| Lufkin Road Middle School | Apex | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 1,041 | 31.1% | 16.4% | No | - |
| Martin Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Gifted and Talented | 6–8 | Traditional | 1,010 | 28.5% | 9.2% | No | - |
| Mills Park Middle School | Cary | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 1,629 | 7.6% | 3.2% | No | - |
| Moore Square Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Gifted and Talented/AIG Basics | 6–8 | Modified | 592 | 27.7% | 3.4% | No | - |
| Neuse River Middle School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–8 | Modified | 891 | 61.9% | 25.5% | Yes | - |
| North Garner Middle School | Garner | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 855 | 51.2% | 16.7% | Yes | - |
| Oberlin Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: Global Studies and Language Immersion | 6–8 | Traditional | 1,051 | 28.2% | 8.8% | No | - |
| Pine Hollow Middle School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 785 | 31.2% | 8.2% | No | - |
| Reedy Creek Middle School | Cary | Magnet: Center for the Digital Sciences | 6–8 | Traditional | 797 | 35.0% | 11.0% | No | - |
| River Bend Middle School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 997 | 62.2% | 24.6% | Yes | - |
| River Oaks Middle School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 12 | 83.3% | 16.7% | Yes | - |
| Rolesville Middle School | Rolesville | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 897 | 40.4% | 8.9% | No | - |
| Salem Middle School | Apex | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 1,067 | 18.1% | 11.2% | No | - |
| Wake Forest Middle School | Wake Forest | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 882 | 54.8% | 11.7% | Yes | - |
| Wakefield Middle School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 804 | 30.4% | 7.3% | No | - |
| Wendell Middle School | Wendell | Magnet: Academy of Design and Creative Arts | 6–8 | Traditional | 759 | 59.0% | 17.4% | Yes | - |
| West Cary Middle School | Cary | Traditional | 6–8 | Traditional | 821 | 29.0% | 17.3% | No | - |
| West Lake Middle School | Apex | Traditional | 6–8 | Year-Round | 690 | 39.5% | 12.1% | No | - |
| West Millbrook Middle School | Raleigh | Magnet: International Baccalaureate Middle Years Programme | 6–8 | Traditional | 1,165 | 31.4% | 13.5% | No | - |
| Zebulon Middle School | Zebulon | Magnet: Center for Advanced Studies & STEM | 6–8 | Traditional | 772 | 59.5% | 11.1% | Yes | - |
Elementary schools
Below will be the current list of public elementary schools administered by WCPSS as of the 2024–2025 school year. The table values for "City" are sourced from U.S. News & World Report, "School type" from the WCPSS Magnet and Early Colleges Directory, and the remaining information from the WCPSS 2024–2025 Districts Facts Report. Any additional references used are listed on the right end of the table.| Name | Grades | Calendar | Location | School code | |
| Abbotts Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920303 | - |
| Adams Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Cary | 920304 | - |
| Alston Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Cary | 920307 | - |
| Apex Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Apex | 920308 | - |
| Apex Friendship Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Apex | 920314 | |
| Aversboro Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Garner | 920320 | - |
| Baileywick Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920326 | - |
| Ballentine Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Fuquay-Varina | 920327 | - |
| Banks Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920325 | - |
| Barton Pond Elementary School | K-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920330 | |
| Barwell Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920329 | - |
| Baucom Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Apex | 920328 | - |
| Beaverdam Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920332 | - |
| Bowling Road Elementary | K-5 | Traditional | Fuquay-Varina | E-49 | - |
| Brassfield Elementary School | K-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920334 | - |
| Briarcliff Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920340 | - |
| Brier Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920342 | - |
| Bryan Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Garner | 920349 | - |
| Buckhorn Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Holly Springs | 920351 | - |
| Carpenter Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Cary | 920358 | - |
| Carver Elementary School | PK-5 | Modified | Wendell | 920362 | - |
| Cary Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920364 | - |
| Cedar Fork Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Morrisville | 920369 | - |
| Creech Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Garner | 920384 | - |
| Davis Drive Elementary School | K-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920390 | - |
| Dillard Drive Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920393 | - |
| Durant Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920398 | - |
| East Garner Elementary School | PK-5 | Modified | Garner | 920403 | - |
| Forest Pines Drive Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920417 | - |
| Forestville Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Knightdale | 920413 | - |
| Fuquay-Varina Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Fuquay-Varina | 920420 | - |
| Green Hope Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920439 | - |
| Harris Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920451 | - |
| Herbert Akins Rd Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Fuquay-Varina | 920306 | - |
| Heritage Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Wake Forest | 920454 | - |
| Highcroft Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920443 | - |
| Holly Grove Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Holly Springs | 920457 | - |
| Holly Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Holly Springs | 920449 | - |
| Holly Springs Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Holly Springs | 920447 | - |
| Hortons Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920459 | - |
| Jones Dairy Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Wake Forest | 920453 | - |
| Knightdale Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Knightdale | 920464 | - |
| Lacy Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920468 | - |
| Lake Myra Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Wendell | 920474 | - |
| Laurel Park Elementary School | Apex | Year-Round | Apex | 920467 | - |
| Lead Mine Elementary School | K-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920470 | - |
| Leesville Road Elementary School | K-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920469 | - |
| Lockhart Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Knightdale | 920480 | - |
| Lynn Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920488 | - |
| Middle Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Apex | 920494 | - |
| Mills Park Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920501 | - |
| Morrisville Elementary School | K-5 | Year-Round | Morrisville | 920504 | - |
| North Forest Pines Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920514 | - |
| North Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920516 | - |
| Northwoods Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920520 | - |
| Oak Grove Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920522 | - |
| Oakview Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Apex | 920521 | - |
| Olds Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920524 | - |
| Olive Chapel Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Apex | 920523 | - |
| Parkside Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Morrisville | 920527 | - |
| Penny Road Elementary School | K-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920530 | - |
| Pleasant Grove Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Morrisville | 920533 | - |
| Pleasant Plains Elementary School | PK-5 | Multi Track Year Round | Apex | 520 | - |
| Pleasant Union Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920531 | - |
| Rand Road Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Garner | 920540 | - |
| Reedy Creek Elementary School | K-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920542 | - |
| Rex Road Elementary School | K-5 | Multi Track Year Round | Holly Springs | 417 | - |
| Richland Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Wake Forest | 920543 | - |
| River Bend Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920302 | - |
| Rogers Lane Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920547 | - |
| Rolesville Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Rolesville | 920544 | - |
| Root Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920548 | - |
| Salem Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Apex | 920550 | - |
| Sanford Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Rolesville | 920554 | - |
| Scotts Ridge Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Apex | 920557 | - |
| South Lakes Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Fuquay-Varina | 920559 | - |
| Swift Creek Elementary School | K-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920568 | - |
| Sycamore Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920569 | - |
| Timber Drive Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Garner | 920570 | - |
| Turner Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Cary | 920571 | - |
| Vance Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920576 | - |
| Vandora Springs Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Garner | 920580 | - |
| Wake Forest Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Wake Forest | 920584 | - |
| Wakefield Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920593 | - |
| Wakelon Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Zebulon | 920597 | - |
| Walnut Creek Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920599 | - |
| Weatherstone Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Cary | 920598 | - |
| West Lake Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Apex | 920606 | - |
| White Oak Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Apex | 920614 | - |
| Wilburn Elementary School | PK-5 | Year-Round | Raleigh | 920616 | - |
| Wildwood Forest Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920618 | - |
| Willow Springs Elementary School | K-5 | Year-Round | Willow Springs | 920624 | - |
| Yates Mill Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920626 | - |
| York Elementary School | PK-5 | Traditional | Raleigh | 920628 | - |
Other schools
Below is the current list of other public schools which do not fall in one of the above grade classifications, administered by WCPSS as of the 2024–25 school year. The table values for "City" are sourced from U.S. News & World Report, "School type" from the previous source and the WCPSS Magnet and Early Colleges Directory, and the remaining information from the WCPSS 2024–25 Districts Facts Report. Any additional references used are listed on the right end of the table.| School | City | School type | Grade levels | Calendar | Total students | [School meal programs in the United States|] | [Limited English Proficient|] | Title I | |
| Hilburn Drive Academy | Raleigh | Traditional | PK-8 | Traditional | 569 | 34.40% | 9.7% | No | - |
| Longview School | Raleigh | Traditional | 6–12 | Traditional | 16 | 88.9% | 5.6% | Yes | - |
| Mount Vernon School | Raleigh | Traditional | K-8 | Traditional | 74 | 73.0% | 6.8% | Yes | - |
| Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy | Raleigh | Early College | 6–13 | Early College | 263 | 35.0% | 2.3% | No | - |
| Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy | Raleigh | Early College | 6–13 | Early College | 337 | 34.4% | 2.4% | No | - |