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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Wake County Public Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 243 public schools serving 191,497 students in Wake County, NC (there are 109 private schools, serving 20,971 private students). 90% of all K-12 students in Wake County, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%). Wake County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
The top-ranked public schools in Wake County, NC are Quest Academy, White Oak Elementary School and Raleigh Charter High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Wake County, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 60% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Wake County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 57% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public school average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Schools in Wake County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Quest Academy
Charter School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
10908 Strickland Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 841-0441
Gr: K-8 | 139 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #22.
White Oak Elementary School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1512 White Oak Church Rd
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 694-0202
Gr: PK-5 | 843 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #33.
Raleigh Charter High School
Charter School
(Math: 90-94% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1307 Glenwood Avenue
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 715-1155
Gr: 9-12 | 552 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 61%
Rank: #44.
Green Hope High School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 380-3700
Gr: 9-12 | 2,304 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #55.
Green Hope Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2700 Louis Stephens Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Gr: PK-5 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #66.
Mills Park Middle School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
441 Mills Park Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1500
Gr: 6-8 | 1,632 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #77.
Green Level High School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
7600 Roberts Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8222
Gr: 9-12 | 2,283 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 64%
Rank: #88.
Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
567 East Hargett St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5644
Gr: 6-13 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #99.
Magellan Charter
Charter School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
9324 Baileywick Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 844-0277
Gr: 3-8 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Highcroft Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5415 Highcroft Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Gr: PK-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #10 - 1110. - 11.
Mills Park Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
509 Mills Park Dr
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Gr: PK-5 | 594 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #1212.
Olive Chapel Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1751 Olive Chapel Road
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-4440
Gr: PK-5 | 1,066 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Davis Drive Elementary School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2151 Davis Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-2130
Gr: K-5 | 794 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 59%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Davis Drive Middle School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2101 Davis Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-3033
Gr: 6-8 | 992 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Wake Early College Of Health And Science
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2901 Holston Lane
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 212-5800
Gr: 9-13 | 303 students Student-teacher ratio: 22:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #15 - 1615. - 16.
Wake Stem Early College High School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2205 Walnut Street
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8130
Gr: 9-13 | 267 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 67%
Rank: #1717.
Triangle Math And Science Academy
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
312 Gregson Dr.
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 388-0077
Gr: K-12 | 1,904 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Cedar Fork Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1050 Town Hall Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 388-5240
Gr: PK-5 | 778 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #18 - 1918. - 19.
Hortons Creek Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
7615 O'kelly Chapel Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Gr: PK-5 | 739 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #2020.
Peak Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1601 Orchard Villas Ave
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 377-1552
Gr: K-8 | 651 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2121.
Panther Creek High School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
6770 Mccrimmon Parkway
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 463-8656
Gr: 9-12 | 2,609 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #2222.
Holly Springs Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
401 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 557-2660
Gr: PK-5 | 751 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #2323.
Franklin Academy
Charter School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1127 Chalk Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 570-8262
Gr: K-12 | 1,660 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #2424.
Endeavor Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
4879 One World Way
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 848-0333
Gr: K-8 | 799 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2525.
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
301 Ashe Avenue, Governor More
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 508-9088
Gr: 6-13 | 335 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2626.
Holly Springs High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5329 Cass Holt Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1444
Gr: 9-12 | 2,018 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2727.
Scotts Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6601 Apex Barbecue Rd
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-0300
Gr: PK-5 | 869 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
North Wake College And Career Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
931 Durham Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 694-8650
Gr: 9-13 | 313 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #28 - 2928. - 29.
Vernon Malone College And Career Academy
(Math: 70-79% | Reading: 90-94%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
2200 S Wilmington St
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 856-8119
Gr: 9-13 | 329 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #3030.
Holly Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
900 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1300
Gr: PK-5 | 735 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #3131.
Longleaf School Of The Arts
Charter School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 75-79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
322 Chapanoke Road
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 896-8164
Gr: 9-12 | 405 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Apex Friendship Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
7701 Humie Olive Rd
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-8960
Gr: 6-8 | 1,412 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #32 - 3332. - 33.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #3434.
Alston Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
11555 Green Level Church Rd.
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Gr: PK-5 | 917 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
Jones Dairy Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1100 Jones Dairy Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-6181
Gr: PK-5 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Show 100 more public schools in Wake County, NC (out of 243 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public schools in Wake County, NC?
The top-ranked public schools in Wake County, NC include Quest Academy, White Oak Elementary School and Raleigh Charter High School. Wake County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public schools are located in Wake County?
244 public schools are located in Wake County.
What percentage of students in Wake County go to public school?
90% of all K-12 students in Wake County are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 93%).
What is the racial composition of students in Wake County?
Wake County public schools minority enrollment is 57% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public schools average of 58% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Wake County are often viewed compared to one another?

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