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Wake forest nc downtownPhoto: Rysnap1024 · CC BY-SA 4.0
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Schools in Wake Forest · Wake County Schools

Wake Forest’s public schools outscore 75% of North Carolina districts

In Wake Forest, 62% of tested students read at a proficient level, above the North Carolina average (50%). The grade covers the public school district serving Wake Forest, 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.

#21of 290 North Carolina townsK–12Where will my kid go?

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.

Reading proficiency
62%
▲ 12 pts vs NC 50%
2021–22
Math proficiency
60%
▲ 9 pts vs NC 51%
2021–22
Graduate on time
90%
▲ 4 pts vs NC 86%
class of 2023
Spent per student
$12.3K
▼ 6% vs NC $13.0K
FY2024
Students per teacher
15.4
NC 16.0 · smaller classes
Schools in town
15
7,628 students on the public path
In brief

Wake Forest’s schools, in brief

Better than its incomes would predict

Among the 95 North Carolina towns with household incomes within a quarter of Wake Forest’s, its schools beat 81%, 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 ↓

Three elementary schools, then two middle and three high schools

Which school depends on the address at every step. See the path ↓

Choice beyond the district

Franklin Academy, Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School, Endeavor Charter School, Envision Science Academy, Wake Forest Charter Academy, Thales Academy (private) and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School (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.

The School Grade

What’s behind Wake Forest’s grade

A− Test scoresB+ Graduation

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.

North Carolina school districts we grade (325)Better than 75%
Lower resultsHigher results
North Carolina towns with similar household incomes (95)Better than 81%
B+A−A fairly firm grade. Ordinary sampling error in 81,812 test results and a graduating class of 13,187 could put Wake Forest anywhere from B+ to A−. The tests are from spring 2022, when 97% of Wake Forest’s students in the tested grades sat them (78,784 in math, 84,839 in reading).

How TownRatings grades schools →

Where will my kid go?

Pick a grade. These are the public schools that serve Wake Forest, with each school’s own grade.

The path, start to finish
PK–53 elementary schoolsDepends on your addressB− to A−
6–82 middle schoolsDepends on your addressC+ to A
9–123 high schoolsDepends on your addressA to A+

Wake Forest’s public schools are run by Wake County Schools, which also serves Angier, Apex, Cary and Fuquay-Varina and others. Parts of Wake Forest (3% of its land) are served by Franklin County Schools instead. 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.

Wake County SchoolsGrades PK–12 · 198 schools · 163,176 students, up 2% since 2020–21 · 15.4 per teacher (NC 16.0)
$12,279NC $13,045 · FY2024
A−
Test scores · 2021–22

Well above the state in reading

Reading62%
State average 49.9% · 84839 students tested
Math60%
State average 50.8% · 78784 students tested

Wake Forest vs. its neighbors

Schools grades for the North Carolina towns that share Wake Forest’s borders.

Schools next door
TownSchoolsMain districts
Wake ForestA−Wake County Schools
RolesvilleA−Wake County Schools
RaleighA−Wake County Schools

All 2 neighbors share Wake County Schools with Wake Forest, so their letters differ mainly through other districts.

Every school in Wake Forest

15 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).

District schools in Wake Forestby address
Heritage Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
A−
634 students16:1Rate it →
Richland Creek Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
558 students16:1Rate it →
Wake Forest Elementary
Elementary · Grades PK–5
B−
444 students12:1Rate it →
Heritage Middle
Middle · Grades 6–8
A
947 students16:1Rate it →
Wake Forest Middle School
Middle · Grades 6–8
C+
878 students16:1Rate it →
Wake Forest High School
High · Grades 9–12
A
2,043 students19:1Rate it →
Heritage High
High · Grades 9–12
A
1,778 students18:1Rate it →
North Wake College and Career Academy
High · Grades 9–12
A+
346 students18:1Rate it →
Charter schoolsfree, open by application
Franklin Academy
Grades K–12
A
Charter
1,660 students13:1Rate it →
Endeavor Charter School
Elementary · Grades K–8
A+
Charter
799 students15:1Rate it →
Envision Science Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
A
Charter
759 students13:1Rate it →
Casa Esperanza Montessori Charter School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
B+
Charter
752 students19:1Rate it →
Wake Forest Charter Academy
Elementary · Grades K–8
A−
Charter
650 students19:1Rate it →
Private schoolstuition; no state tests, so no grade
Thales Academy
Elementary · Grades K–5
Private · Nonsectarian
656 students23:1Rate it →
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School
Elementary · Grades PK–8
Private · Catholic
270 students21:1Rate it →

Questions about Wake Forest’s schools

Are Wake Forest’s schools good?

By North Carolina’s own tests, yes: the public schools Wake Forest 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 81%. Tests are from 2021–22, graduation from the class of 2023.

What school district is Wake Forest in?

Wake County Schools, which runs grades PK–12 and enrolls 163,176 students in 198 schools (2024–25). Small parts of Wake Forest are served by Franklin County Schools.

Where do Wake Forest kids go to high school?

One of 3 high schools, depending on your address: Wake Forest High School, Heritage High and North Wake College and Career Academy.

What is Wake Forest’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 Wake Forest 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 Wake Forest?

Yes: Thales Academy (nonsectarian, grades K–5, 656 students) and St. Catherine of Siena Catholic School (Catholic, grades PK–8, 270 students). Wake Forest also has 5 charter schools, free and open by application.

Parents talk

What Wake Forest families are saying about school.

Town Square →
Start the conversation

Looking for colleges? Colleges near Wake Forest → 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.