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Wake County Schools

Item: Wake County Schools
Rating: 8
Author: Public School Review

5625 Dillard Drive
Cary, NC 27518-9227

( shown in map)

Top 30%

Tel: (919) 431-7400

www.wcpss.net

Top Rankings

Wake County Schools ranks among the top 20% of public school district in North Carolina for:

Overview

This School District

This State (NC)

# Schools

202 Schools

2,734 Schools

# Students

163,075 Students

1,549,621 Students

# Teachers

10,583 Teachers

96,132 Teachers

Student-Teacher Ratio

15:1

Student By Grade

View Data

Comparison of Students By Grade Trends
Grade	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
Pre-K	2,224	76
Kind	10,984	316
1	11,418	325
2	11,687	331
3	12,156	341
4	11,708	325
5	12,018	333
6	11,737	333
7	11,929	336
8	12,330	338
9	14,851	385
10	13,897	359
11	13,357	337
12	12,779	315

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District Rank

Wake County Schools, which is ranked within the top 30% of all 314 school districts in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data) for the 2021-2022 school year.

The school district's graduation rate of 90% has increased from 89% over five school years.

This School District

State Average (NC)

#67 out of 325 school districts
(Top 30%)

View Data

Overall School District Rank Trends
Year	Wake County Schools
2023	#67
2022	#67
2021	#79
2019	#76
2018	#77
2017	#66
2016	#61
2015	#71
2014	#60
2013	#44
2012	#75

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(21-22)

60%

51%

View Data

Math Proficiency Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2022	60%	51%
2021	52%	42%
2019	50%	42%
2018	50%	48%
2017	57%	47%
2016	58%	47%
2015	55%	44%
2014	54%	43%
2013	54%	42%
2012	87%	82%
2011	85%	82%

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62%

50%

View Data

Reading and Language Arts Proficiency Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2022	62%	50%
2021	60%	47%
2019	56%	46%
2018	50%	47%
2017	57%	46%
2016	58%	47%
2015	57%	46%
2014	57%	46%
2013	55%	45%
2012	79%	73%
2011	76%	70%

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69%

63%

View Data

Science Proficiency Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2022	69%	63%
2021	70%	61%

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(21-22)

90%

86%

View Data

Graduation Rate Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2022	90%	86%
2021	91%	85%
2020	91%	86%
2019	90%	85%
2018	89%	86%
2017	89%	88%
2016	87%	88%
2015	86%	87%
2014	83%	86%
2013	81%	85%
2012	81%	83%

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Students by Ethnicity:

0.74

0.72

View Data

Comparison of Diversity Score Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2024	0.73	0.71
2023	0.72	0.71
2022	0.72	0.70
2021	0.71	0.69
2020	0.70	0.68
2019	0.70	0.68
2018	0.69	0.67
2017	0.69	0.67
2016	0.68	0.66
2015	0.68	0.66
2014	0.68	0.65
2013	0.68	0.65
2012	0.68	0.64
2011	0.67	0.64
2010	0.63	0.61
2009	0.63	0.61
2008	0.62	0.61
2007	0.61	0.60
2006	0.60	0.58
2005	0.58	0.58
2004	0.57	0.57
2003	0.56	0.56
2002	0.54	0.55
2001	0.53	0.53
2000	0.51	0.53
1999	0.50	0.52
1998	0.48	0.52
1997	0.47	0.50
1996	0.47	0.50
1995	0.46	0.49
1994	0.46	0.48
1993	0.46	0.48
1992	0.45	0.48
1991	0.45	0.48
1990	0.45	0.48
1989	0.44	0.48
1988	0.44	0.47

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% American Indian

n/a

% Asian

13%

View Data

Asian Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2024	12%	4%
2023	12%	4%
2022	12%	4%
2021	10%	4%
2020	9%	3%
2019	9%	3%
2018	8%	3%
2017	8%	3%
2016	8%	3%
2015	7%	3%
2014	7%	3%
2013	7%	3%
2012	7%	3%
2011	7%	2%
2010	6%	3%
2009	6%	2%
2008	7%	3%
2007	7%	3%
2006	5%	2%
2005	5%	2%
2004	5%	2%
2003	5%	2%
2002	4%	2%
2001	4%	2%
2000	4%	2%
1999	4%	2%
1998	3%	2%
1997	3%	1%
1996	4%	1%
1995	3%	1%
1994	3%	1%
1993	3%	1%
1992	3%	1%
1991	3%	1%
1990	2%	1%
1989	2%	1%
1988	3%	1%

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% Hispanic

21%

22%

View Data

Hispanic Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1992-2024)
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2024	20%	21%
2023	19%	20%
2022	19%	20%
2021	19%	19%
2020	18%	18%
2019	18%	18%
2018	18%	17%
2017	18%	17%
2016	17%	16%
2015	17%	16%
2014	16%	15%
2013	16%	14%
2012	15%	13%
2011	15%	13%
2010	12%	11%
2009	12%	11%
2008	13%	11%
2007	11%	10%
2006	9%	8%
2005	8%	8%
2004	7%	7%
2003	6%	6%
2002	6%	5%
2001	5%	4%
2000	4%	4%
1999	3%	3%
1998	3%	3%
1997	2%	2%
1996	2%	2%
1995	2%	2%
1994	1%	1%
1993	1%	1%
1992	1%	1%

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% Black

21%

24%

View Data

Black Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2024	22%	25%
2023	22%	25%
2022	22%	25%
2021	23%	25%
2020	23%	25%
2019	23%	25%
2018	24%	26%
2017	24%	26%
2016	24%	26%
2015	25%	26%
2014	24%	26%
2013	24%	26%
2012	25%	26%
2011	25%	26%
2010	31%	31%
2009	31%	31%
2008	27%	29%
2007	28%	29%
2006	31%	32%
2005	30%	31%
2004	30%	31%
2003	29%	31%
2002	29%	31%
2001	28%	31%
2000	28%	31%
1999	27%	31%
1998	27%	30%
1997	27%	31%
1996	26%	31%
1995	27%	30%
1994	27%	30%
1993	27%	30%
1992	27%	30%
1991	27%	30%
1990	27%	30%
1989	27%	30%
1988	27%	30%

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% White

41%

42%

View Data

White Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (1988-2024)
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2024	42%	43%
2023	43%	44%
2022	43%	45%
2021	44%	46%
2020	46%	48%
2019	46%	48%
2018	47%	49%
2017	47%	49%
2016	48%	50%
2015	48%	50%
2014	49%	51%
2013	49%	52%
2012	49%	53%
2011	49%	53%
2010	51%	54%
2009	51%	54%
2008	53%	55%
2007	54%	56%
2006	55%	56%
2005	57%	57%
2004	58%	58%
2003	60%	59%
2002	61%	60%
2001	63%	61%
2000	64%	61%
1999	66%	62%
1998	67%	63%
1997	68%	64%
1996	68%	64%
1995	68%	65%
1994	69%	66%
1993	69%	66%
1992	69%	66%
1991	69%	66%
1990	70%	66%
1989	70%	66%
1988	70%	67%

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% Hawaiian

n/a

% Two or more races

View Data

Two or More Races Student Percentage Comparison Over Years (2012-2024)
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2024	4%	6%
2023	4%	6%
2022	4%	5%
2021	4%	5%
2020	4%	5%
2019	4%	5%
2018	3%	4%
2017	3%	4%
2016	3%	4%
2015	3%	4%
2014	4%	4%
2013	4%	4%
2012	4%	4%

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All Ethnic Groups

District Revenue and Spending

The revenue/student of $10,485 in this school district is less than the state median of $11,168. The school district revenue/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

The school district's spending/student of $11,675 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

This School District

This State (NC)

Total Revenue

$1,710 MM

$17,307 MM

View Data

Total Revenues Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$1,710 MM	$8 MM
2022	$1,681 MM	$8 MM
2021	$1,710 MM	$8 MM
2020	$1,681 MM	$8 MM
2019	$1,605 MM	$8 MM
2018	$1,488 MM	$8 MM
2017	$1,441 MM	$8 MM
2016	$1,380 MM	$8 MM
2015	$2,062 MM	$18 MM
2014	$1,453 MM	$10 MM
2012	$1,203 MM	$17 MM
2011	$1,183 MM	$19 MM
2010	$2,062 MM	$18 MM
2009	$1,945 MM	$19 MM
2008	$1,265 MM	$18 MM
2007	$1,447 MM	$18 MM
2006	$1,053 MM	$15 MM
2005	$1,117 MM	$15 MM
2004	$971 MM	$17 MM
2003	$852 MM	$17 MM
2002	$791 MM	$16 MM
2001	$782 MM	$17 MM
2000	$709 MM	$20 MM
1999	$640 MM	$23 MM
1998	$539 MM	$26 MM
1997	$522 MM	$34 MM
1996	$484 MM	$34 MM
1995	$479 MM	$32 MM

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Spending

$1,904 MM

$17,964 MM

View Data

Total Expenditure Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$1,904 MM	$8 MM
2022	$1,936 MM	$8 MM
2021	$1,904 MM	$8 MM
2020	$1,936 MM	$8 MM
2019	$1,922 MM	$7 MM
2018	$1,805 MM	$8 MM
2017	$1,789 MM	$9 MM
2016	$1,687 MM	$8 MM
2015	$1,372 MM	$18 MM
2014	$1,411 MM	$11 MM
2012	$1,353 MM	$16 MM
2011	$1,337 MM	$17 MM
2010	$1,372 MM	$18 MM
2009	$1,597 MM	$18 MM
2008	$1,448 MM	$17 MM
2007	$1,262 MM	$18 MM
2006	$1,173 MM	$15 MM
2005	$1,019 MM	$15 MM
2004	$961 MM	$16 MM
2003	$933 MM	$17 MM
2002	$867 MM	$15 MM
2001	$800 MM	$17 MM
2000	$780 MM	$20 MM
1999	$753 MM	$24 MM
1998	$647 MM	$26 MM
1997	$568 MM	$36 MM
1996	$494 MM	$33 MM
1995	$455 MM	$32 MM

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Revenue / Student

$10,485

$11,168

View Data

Average Revenue Per Student Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$10,706	$10,093
2022	$10,287	$9,918
2021	$10,700	$10,282
2020	$10,287	$9,918
2019	$9,919	$9,125
2018	$9,223	$9,419
2017	$9,047	$10,522
2016	$8,759	$9,128
2015	$13,231	$10,864
2014	$9,462	$9,046
2012	$8,119	$10,562
2011	$8,208	$12,703
2010	$14,668	$10,864
2009	$14,051	$11,105
2008	$9,412	$11,767
2007	$11,243	$9,479
2006	$8,703	$9,335
2005	$9,748	$8,913
2004	$8,873	$8,734
2003	$8,125	$8,577
2002	$7,778	$8,130
2001	$7,898	$7,294
2000	$7,439	$7,636
1999	$6,934	$7,252
1998	$6,007	$5,688
1997	$6,083	$5,690
1995	$6,233	$5,545
1992	$5,676	$4,737

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Spending / Student

$11,675

$11,592

View Data

Average Expenditure Per Student Trends
Year	Wake County Schools	North Carolina
2023	$11,921	$9,807
2022	$11,846	$9,654
2021	$11,914	$9,990
2020	$11,846	$9,654
2019	$11,879	$8,949
2018	$11,189	$9,637
2017	$11,235	$11,583
2016	$10,704	$9,753
2015	$8,803	$10,591
2014	$9,192	$9,388
2012	$9,135	$10,336
2011	$9,273	$11,927
2010	$9,759	$10,591
2009	$11,533	$10,880
2008	$10,770	$11,136
2007	$9,803	$9,418
2006	$9,696	$8,813
2005	$8,894	$8,647
2004	$8,778	$8,413
2003	$8,896	$8,886
2002	$8,518	$7,903
2001	$8,081	$7,301
2000	$8,188	$7,650
1999	$8,162	$7,340
1998	$7,210	$5,663
1997	$6,626	$6,040
1995	$5,920	$5,570
1992	$6,413	$4,725

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Frequently Asked Questions

How many schools belong to Wake County Schools?

Wake County Schools manages 201 public schools serving 163,075 students.

What is the rank of Wake County Schools?

Wake County Schools is ranked #74 out of 314 school districts in North Carolina (top 30%) based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data for the 2021-2022 school year. This district ranks in the top 20% of North Carolina school districts for: Highest graduation rate (Top 20%), Most diverse schools (Top 1%) and Largest student body (number of students) (Top 1%)

What is the racial composition of students in Wake County Schools?

41% of Wake County Schools students are White, 21% of students are Hispanic, 21% of students are Black, 13% of students are Asian, and 4% of students are Two or more races.

What is the student/teacher ratio of Wake County Schools?

Wake County Schools has a student/teacher ratio of 15:1, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 16:1.

What is Wake County Schools's spending/student ratio?

The school district's spending/student of $11,675 is higher than the state median of $11,592. The school district spending/student has stayed relatively flat over four school years.

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Quick Facts (2026)

District size: 202 schools
Grades: PK-13
Enrollment: 163,075 students
Student-Teacher Ratio: 15:1
Minority Enrollment: 59%
: 90% (Top 20% in NC)
: Top 30%
: 60% (Top 30%)
: 62% (Top 30%)
: 69% (Top 50%)
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education