Photo: Abhiram Juvvadi · CC BY-SA 4.0Raleigh’s public schools outscore 75% of North Carolina districts
Reading proficiency in Raleigh’s districts is 62%, above the North Carolina average (50%). The grade covers the public school district serving Raleigh, from kindergarten through graduation, on state tests and graduation. Each state writes its own tests, so this is the one TownRatings grade compared within North Carolina, not nationally.
From North Carolina state tests taken in spring 2022, when 97% of students in the tested grades sat them, and the class of 2023’s four-year graduation rate, as reported to the U.S. Department of Education.
Raleigh’s schools, in brief
Better than its incomes would predict
Among the 248 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Raleigh’s, its schools beat 92%, higher than their 75% against all the state’s districts. The grade ↓
Above the state on both counts
Reading proficiency is 62% and math 60% in spring 2022, against 50% and 51% statewide; 90% of the class of 2023 graduated in four years, against 86%. Test scores ↓
Spending and class size
The district spends $12,279 per student, against $13,045 across North Carolina (FY2024). Spending doesn’t count toward the grade. Districts ↓
48 elementary schools, then 18 middle and 12 high schools
Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓
Choice beyond the district
The Exploris School, Magellan Charter, Raleigh Charter High School, Quest Academy, PreEminent Charter, Longleaf School of the Arts, RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School, Central Wake High School, Raleigh Oak Charter, Cardinal Gibbons (private), North Raleigh Christian Academy (private), Ravenscroft School (private), Grace Christian School (private), The Franciscan School (private), Trinity Academy (private), St. Timothys School (private), Thales Academy of Raleigh (private), Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School (private), St. Raphael Catholic School (private), Montessori School of Raleigh (private), The Raleigh School (private), Neuse Christian Academy (private), Al-Iman School (private), St. Mary's School (private), Friendship Christian School (private), Raleigh Christian Academy (private), Cathedral School (private), St. Thomas More Academy (private), The Fletcher Academy (private), Follow the Child Montessori School (private), Children's Discovery Center (private), Adventist Christian Academy of Raleigh (private), Fusion Raleigh (private), Maracas Montessori (private), Word of God Christian Academy (private), An-Noor School (private), Iron Academy (private), St. Philip Lutheran Preschool (private), The Trilogy School (private), Dynamic Opportunities (private), Learn With the Best School, Inc. (private), Christian Life Academy (private), Raleigh Day School (private), St. Mary's Christian Academy (private), Sure Promise Christian Academy (private), Wake Monarch Academy (private), Rising Stars Private School (private) and Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center (private) are in town. Every school ↓
Written from the figures on this page. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023; each school’s own letter uses 2020–21 results.
What’s behind Raleigh’s grade
A−: better than 75% of North Carolina school districts, #21 of 290 North Carolina towns. Test scores and graduation are both above the North Carolina average; test scores are the stronger of the two.
Where will my kid go?
Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Raleigh, with each school’s own grade.
Raleigh’s public schools are run by Wake County Schools, which also serves Angier, Apex, Cary and Fuquay-Varina and others. To confirm the school for a specific address, ask the district.
The district
Spending and class size are shown but don’t count toward the grade. Each district’s own page has every school.
Well above the state in reading
Raleigh vs. its neighbors
Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Raleigh’s borders.
| Town | Schools | Main districts |
|---|---|---|
| Raleigh | A− | Wake County Schools |
| Cary | A− | Wake County Schools |
| Garner | A− | Wake County Schools |
| Wake Forest | A− | Wake County Schools |
| Durham | C+ | Durham |
| Knightdale | A− | Wake County Schools |
4 of the 5 neighbors share Wake County Schools with Raleigh, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.
Every school in Raleigh
126 schools. Each public school’s letter compares its own 2020–21 reading and math results with North Carolina’s other public schools (the newest school-level results we have).
Left off: 5 public programs with fewer than 25 students (Longleaf School of Arts Remote Academy, Ncvps, Longview, River Oaks Middle and Nalanda Charter School).
Questions about Raleigh’s schools
Are Raleigh’s schools good?
By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Raleigh children attend outscore 75% of North Carolina’s school districts on tests and graduation, an A− Schools grade, #21 of 290 North Carolina towns. Among towns with similar incomes they beat 92%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.
What school district is Raleigh in?
Wake County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 163,176 students in 198 schools (2024–25).
Where do Raleigh kids go to high school?
One of 12 high schools, depending on your address: Enloe High, Millbrook High, Leesville Road High, Athens Drive High, Needham Broughton High, Wakefield High, Sanderson High, Southeast Raleigh High, Vernon Malone College and Career Academy, Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy, Wake Early College of Health and Science and Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy.
What is Raleigh’s graduation rate?
90% of the class of 2023 in Wake County Schools graduated in four years, against 86% across North Carolina.
How much does Raleigh spend per student?
$12,279 in Wake County Schools (FY2024), against $13,045 across North Carolina. Spending doesn’t count toward the grade.
Are there private schools in Raleigh?
Yes: Cardinal Gibbons (Catholic, grades 9–12, 1,590 students), North Raleigh Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 1,587 students), Ravenscroft School (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 1,253 students), Grace Christian School (religious, grades K–12, 874 students), The Franciscan School (Catholic, grades K–8, 668 students), Trinity Academy (religious, grades K–12, 612 students), St. Timothys School (religious, grades PK–8, 578 students), Thales Academy of Raleigh (nonsectarian, grades K–8, 488 students), Our Lady of Lourdes Elementary School (Catholic, grades K–8, 464 students), St. Raphael Catholic School (Catholic, grades K–8, 458 students), Montessori School of Raleigh (nonsectarian, grades PK–12, 437 students), The Raleigh School (nonsectarian, grades PK–5, 404 students), Neuse Christian Academy (religious, grades K–12, 356 students), Al-Iman School (religious, grades PK–8, 341 students), St. Mary's School (religious · all-girls, grades 9–12, 306 students), Friendship Christian School (religious, grades PK–12, 280 students), Raleigh Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–12, 276 students), Cathedral School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 243 students), St. Thomas More Academy (Catholic, grades 6–11, 243 students), The Fletcher Academy (special education, grades 2–12, 206 students), Follow the Child Montessori School (nonsectarian, grades PK–6, 201 students), Children's Discovery Center (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 190 students), Adventist Christian Academy of Raleigh (religious, grades PK–10, 140 students), Fusion Raleigh (nonsectarian, grades 6–12, 101 students), Maracas Montessori (nonsectarian, grades PK–K, 100 students), Word of God Christian Academy (religious, grades 6–12, 93 students), An-Noor School (religious, grades 3–8, 90 students), Iron Academy (religious · all-boys, grades 6–12, 80 students), St. Philip Lutheran Preschool (religious, grades PK–K, 74 students), The Trilogy School (special education, grades 2–12, 45 students), Dynamic Opportunities (special education, grades , 40 students), Learn With the Best School, Inc. (special education, grades 1–12, 36 students), Christian Life Academy (religious, grades 1–11, 32 students), Raleigh Day School (nonsectarian, grades PK–4, 32 students), St. Mary's Christian Academy (religious, grades PK–6, 28 students), Sure Promise Christian Academy (religious, grades K–5, 19 students), Wake Monarch Academy (nonsectarian, grades 9–12, 12 students), Rising Stars Private School (nonsectarian, grades K, 8 students) and Frankie Lemmon School & Development Center (special education, grades 1, 7 students). Raleigh also has 9 charter schools, free and open by application.
Parents talk
What Raleigh families are saying about school.
Looking for colleges? Colleges near Raleigh → They have their own page.
School data: state test results (2021–22, with participation) and four-year graduation rates (class of 2023) reported to the U.S. Department of Education (EDFacts via ED Data Express); each school’s own letter uses its 2020–21 results (EDFacts via the Urban Institute); schools and enrollment from NCES (2024–25; private schools 2023–24); spending from the Census Bureau’s school finance survey (FY2024). The School Grade is our own summary, graded within North Carolina. Stars are from neighbors.