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Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Wake County Public High Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 48 public high schools serving 67,290 students in Wake County, NC. The top-ranked public high schools in Wake County, NC are Raleigh Charter High School, Green Hope High School and Green Level High School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Wake County, NC public high schools have an average math proficiency score of 66% (versus the North Carolina public high school average of 58%), and reading proficiency score of 72% (versus the 58% statewide average). High schools in Wake County have an average ranking of 9/10, which is in the top 20% of North Carolina public high schools.
Wake County, NC public high school have a Graduation Rate of 89%, which is more than the North Carolina average of 86%.
The school with highest graduation rate is Green Level High School, with 98% graduation rate. Read more about public school graduation rate statistics in North Carolina or national school graduation rate statistics.
Minority enrollment is 55% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public High Schools in Wake County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
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: #22.
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: #33.
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: #44.
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: #5 - 65. - 6.
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: #5 - 65. - 6.
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: #77.
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: #88.
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: #99.
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: #1010.
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: #1111.
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: #12 - 1312. - 13.
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: #12 - 1312. - 13.
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: #1414.
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: #1515.
Apex Friendship High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
7801 Humie Olive Rd
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-0500
Gr: 9-12 | 2,748 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 35%
Rank: #1616.
Apex High School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1501 Laura Duncan Road
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-2208
Gr: 9-12 | 2,449 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #1717.
Wake Forest High School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
420 West Stadium Drive
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 554-8611
Gr: 9-12 | 2,043 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1818.
Leesville Road High School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8410 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 870-4250
Gr: 9-12 | 2,411 students Student-teacher ratio: 20:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #1919.
Heritage High School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1150 Forestville Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 570-5600
Gr: 9-12 | 1,778 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #2020.
Athens Drive High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1420 Athens Drive
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 233-4050
Gr: 9-12 | 2,156 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2121.
Enloe High School
Magnet School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 84%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
128 Clarendon Crescent
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7918
Gr: 9-12 | 2,643 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2222.
Needham Broughton High School
Magnet School
(Math: 60-64% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
723 Saint Marys St
Raleigh, NC 27605
(919) 856-7810
Gr: 9-12 | 2,153 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 41%
Rank: #2323.
Corinth Holders High School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6875 Applewhite Rd
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-4306
Gr: 9-12 | 2,187 students Student-teacher ratio: 23:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #2424.
Wakefield High School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2200 Wakefield Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 562-3600
Gr: 9-12 | 2,065 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #2525.
Cary High School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
638 Walnut St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3549
Gr: 9-12 | 2,044 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 57%
Rank: #2626.
Fuquay-varina High School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
201 Bengal Blvd
Fuquay Varina, NC 27526
(919) 557-2511
Gr: 9-12 | 1,858 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2727.
Middle Creek High School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
123 Middle Creek Park Avenue
Apex, NC 27539
(919) 773-3838
Gr: 9-12 | 1,587 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 42%
Rank: #2828.
Millbrook High School
Magnet School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2201 Spring Forest Rd
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 850-8787
Gr: 9-12 | 2,498 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #2929.
Sanderson High School
(Math: 60% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
5500 Dixon Drive
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-4800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,648 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #3030.
East Wake Academy
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
821 Charter School Way
Zebulon, NC 27597
(919) 404-0444
Gr: K-12 | 1,265 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #3131.
Rolesville High School
(Math: 50% | Reading: 58%)
Rank:
7/
10
Top 50%
1099 East Young St
Rolesville, NC 27571
(919) 554-6303
Gr: 9-12 | 2,321 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 74%
Rank: #3232.
Garner High School
Magnet School
(Math: 45-49% | Reading: 60%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
2101 Spring Drive
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 662-2379
Gr: 9-12 | 1,670 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #3333.
South Garner High School
(Math: 51% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
6/
10
Top 50%
8228 Hebron Church Rd
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 694-7711
Gr: 9-12 | 1,835 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 87%
Rank: #3434.
East Wake High School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 50%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
5101 Rolesville Rd
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 365-2625
Gr: 9-12 | 1,777 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 84%
Rank: #3535.
Southeast Raleigh High School
Magnet School
(Math: 40-44% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
5/
10
Bottom 50%
2600 Rock Quarry Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-2800
Gr: 9-12 | 1,438 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 95%
Show 13 more public schools in Wake County, NC (out of 48 total schools)
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Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public high schools in Wake County, NC?
The top-ranked public high schools in Wake County, NC include Raleigh Charter High School, Green Hope High School and Green Level High School. Wake County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public high schools are located in Wake County?
49 public high schools are located in Wake County.
What is the racial composition of students in Wake County?
Wake County public high schools minority enrollment is 55% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public high schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public high schools in Wake County are often viewed compared to one another?

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