2023 Best Public Schools in Wake County

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.48 out of 5  200 reviews

Senior: My years at Raleigh Charter have allowed me to grow as an individual and as a intellectual. Although Raleigh Charter’s academic rigor is challenging, it enables the student to have a well-rounded education which can prepare them for any walks of life. In addition, the non academic features of the school are also very rewarding. There is almost always an event that one can attended every week as a break from academic students. There are an array of clubs present that can allow students to grow their interests ranging from STEM to liberal arts. As a small school, There are many different ways students can be involved into the community and make an impact. The only thing I would change about Raleigh Charter is the diversity. If there were more minorities whether teachers are students, there would be more perspectives to take from. Nonetheless, the community is very inclusive and welcoming!... Read 200 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 569

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  486 reviews

Junior: Green Hope High School offers a variety of classes, at the honors, academic, and AP level. There are also many clubs available. At Green Hope, there are also many opportunities for free tutoring during lunch, and students also have opportunities during lunch to meet with their teachers. However, the communication between the school and families is abysmal. The weekly newsletter send to parents is usually very unhelpful. For example, when it was time for the Pre-ACTs, the newsletter only told parents a week in advance! There is also little to no information about what the clubs actually do, and to find information, students must either email the club president directly or attend every single interest meeting! It is very inconvenient, and can discourage students from joining clubs. Overall however, Green Hope High School is a very good school, especially when compared to other schools in the county.... Read 486 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,247

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  731 reviews

Senior: As someone who's going into their senior year, I can comfortably say I've loved my experience at Enloe. I've always loved the community--- the students and staff come together to create a unique environment that welcomes all kinds of students. Even through the pandemic the school worked hard to keep this sense of community and I really appreciated their efforts to make sure students had everything they needed to continue their education, despite the circumstances. The academic opportunities and continuous rigor is one of my favorite things about Enloe. As a graduating Senior, I feel prepared and comfortable with the idea of college thanks to this school!... Read 731 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,337

• Student-teacher ratio 17:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.91 out of 5  549 reviews

Parent: Administration has a habit of not communicating with parents about potentiometer dangerous situations, they have a “keep quiet” atitude among the tear hers and administration and they the same to pass that on to students which is not safe for anyone. A LOT more drugs and illegal activity has been reported by students and yet, we have NEVER heard anything from any type of communication from administration about solving the issue!... Read 549 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 2,470

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.13 out of 5  48 reviews

Senior: I love the amount of support that students were offered in the school. The classes are tough, but they are manageable when you figure out how to time manage. The school, in my eyes, shows you not only how to fail but how to come back even stronger than before. We learned a lot about how to 'fail forward.' I also have loved the experience of being on NC State campus and learning how college works with the support of my high school. This school has gotten me very prepared for college and the time management that is required in life.... Read 48 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 256

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.94 out of 5  151 reviews

Sophomore: I am a sophomore at Wake Early College of Health and Sciences, and I got to say that it has been a great school so far. The teachers here are great as they are very knowledgeable of their subjects and capable of explaining concepts to students. In addition, this school provides us with many opportunities to learn more about different careers. As a part of our early college program, we become full-time college students at Wake Tech. This is great considering that we get to graduate with an associate's degree at no extra cost. This not only helps families financially but also saves two years of time and prepares students for college. Overall, my experience at Wake Early College of Health and Sciences has been great!... Read 151 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 337

• Student-teacher ratio 26:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.42 out of 5  33 reviews

Parent: Fantastic school! Great teachers, great communication with parents, and everything my son needs. The school started only 3 years ago and already has a great culture for students and parents. Dozens of opportunities to be involved.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 1,383

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: My son has been a student since kindergarten... Quest Academy offers the best education in available in a public school setting. He is at least two years ahead of the average student in NC for his grade level academically. I plan for him to finish through the 8th grade... Quest was the BEST decision we ever made!... Read 1 review

• grade A+

• Students 140

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Wake Forest, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.25 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: Teachers and administrators are the best in Wake County. School community is active and engaged. Our three girls have had the best experience at Endeavor.... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 536

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: We have had a fantastic experience at Exploris. We had two kids start when they expanded to elementary in 2014 and my youngest was lucky enough to start there in K. My oldest has since moved on to HS (for which she was extremely well prepared) and still says she misses Exploris. The culture and community at the school are warm and welcoming. They are making a real effort to become more diverse, which can be hard for charters without funds for transportation. The curriculum is project or theme based, so that content is linked to real life, particularly in the middle school. My kids have done great academically, but we've really enjoyed the "whole child" education approach. It is turning my children into compassionate, kind thinkers that will see problems around them and feel empowered to tackle them. If you're looking for a ton of sports, Exploris is not for you, but my kids have enjoyed club offerings and enrichment classes through Explorations.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 453

• Student-teacher ratio 13:1

• Morrisville, NC•

• Public School•

• PK, K-8

• •
  Rating 4.5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: We have had two children (K-8th) that have benefitted from the wonderful atmosphere at Sterling. The teachers are amazing and provide a safe and nurturing environment that allows each student to live up to their potential. One of the best decision we ever made!... Read 2 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 616

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Raleigh, NC•

• Public School•

• 3-8

• •
  Rating 3.43 out of 5  14 reviews

Niche User: I like the small classes, it helps with focused studies. They can somehow cram all that knowledge but make it feel like a game of paper. The diversity has risen over the years, and lots of the kids are nice. It helps prepare students for upcoming years and incorporates all of the "specials" and "electives" into the classes or you can sign up for an after school activity. You get to bring your own food which helps with allergy and health worries from stressed parents. I've seen two very nice janitors and lots of encouraging words all around. Thank you Magellan Charter for being a great school.... Read 14 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 405

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Wake Forest, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  4 reviews

Parent: We’re in our 5th year at ESA! My daughter loves being an Eagle! Her 3rd and 5th grades were amazing with some of the best educators pouring knowledge and passion for learning into each student. Project-based learning is so effective, relevant and transferable to trade or higher education. Highly recommend!... Read 4 reviews

• grade A+

• Students 726

• Student-teacher ratio 14:1

• Cary, NC•

• Public School•

• K-12

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  33 reviews

Senior: Overall, fairly good school. Good academics (offers all non-obscure APs in HS) with strong teachers in all your core classes. More flexibility than most schools, very accommodating of students charting their own course through taking advanced classes. Never felt unsafe. Prepares you well for college. It's a smaller STEM school, so sports are middling. You'd think the clubs would be strong, and they can be, but only when students or parents take initiative/leadership and take over the club. When this happens, strong resources are provided. When it doesn't, clubs fall into disrepair until another leader comes along. The schools weakest point is admin, which seems to be quite bad. Teacher management is bad: I've seen teachers dealing with unreasonable/confusing demands, and more than one leave because of it. Perhaps the biggest manifestation of this is that the school is currently too small for how many students it has. A second school has been promised for years and is needed.... Read 33 reviews

• grade A

• Students 946

• Student-teacher ratio 27:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  447 reviews

Senior: It's a very nice school! I moved here a year ago from my country and didn't know anybody. But the diversity in Apex High made it easier to fit in and make friends. The academics was also fairly easy, the teachers made it easier. All the teachers I have had an encounter with were extremely helpful and friendly. The Conselors are also amazing, they are helpful and nice. Good: -Easy academics -Easy to make friends -Awesome Library Bad: - Lack of Competition -Could be more diverse -Unnecessarily long Carpool Lane... Read 447 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,229

• Student-teacher ratio 20:1

• Holly Springs, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Pine Springs offers one of the most rich curriculum experiences I have seen in any elementary school. My children come home teaching me something new every day. The board truly listens to parent input. The PTO is top notch. We have been thoroughly pleased with the rich education our children are receiving at PSPA.... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 825

• Student-teacher ratio 18:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.14 out of 5  326 reviews

Junior: Heritage High School is a large school with many programs and connections. Our enthusiastic Husky Hooligans make every game supporting our football/soccer/etc teams a highlight of the year. Our teams have won many titles; our Women's Soccer Team even won the state championship in 2019. The facilities at Heritage are generally well-maintained and clean. Academically, the quality of teacher depends on where you look. The majority do their jobs and are pretty good. There are several teachers that are notorious for their lack of respect and harshness towards students. On the other end of the spectrum, many teachers go above and beyond, forming personal bonds and going out of their way to support students. Our theatre program is easily the best in the area, and is one of the things Heritage is known for. Career readiness outreach programs and the wide range of clubs allow students to get connected in many ways. Go Huskies!... Read 326 reviews

• grade A

• Students 1,921

• Student-teacher ratio 19:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• 9-12

• •
  Rating 4.26 out of 5  175 reviews

Junior: Apex Friendship was overall a great place to learn. The teachers all seemed like they really enjoyed their jobs, and most make the effort to reach out to their pupils. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the transition to online schooling was actually a little smoother than expected. The only issues I can raise with the school come from the counselors. I personally have not had bad experiences with these staff members, but many people I know have negative stories, and the attention to students mental health definitely needs much improvement. Overall, I would say my experience with this school was quite positive!... Read 175 reviews

• grade A

• Students 2,742

• Student-teacher ratio 21:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Parent: My child is in the Single Subject Acceleration Math program. This school differs from other Wake County schools that offer this program in that all the math classes, regardless of grade, occur at the same time. That means my second grade son can skip his second grade math and go next door to attend third grade math without sacrificing a non-math class. Other Wake County schools do not make such effort to align all the math classes. For example, at our previous school, my son would have to skip language arts in order to attend the next grade level math (3rd grade), all while still stuck taking 2nd grade level math - that is, he would take both 2nd and 3rd grade level math and miss his language arts.... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 873

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Cary, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  4 reviews

• grade A

• Students 915

• Student-teacher ratio 16:1

• Apex, NC•

• Public School•

• K-8

• •
  Rating 1.67 out of 5  6 reviews

• grade A

• Students 773

• Student-teacher ratio 23:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• grade A

• Students 791

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  2 reviews

Parent: Love our fifth grade teacher - experienced, invested, and effective! Amazing parent involvement and caring administration!... Read 2 reviews

• grade A

• Students 741

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• PK, K-5

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  5 reviews

Middle School Student: I went to Highcroft for all of elementary school, and it was great, During COVID they offered both online and in-person, and the teachers are super supportive. There is minimal bullying, and even if there is, students feel comfortable coming to teachers with their problems. The homework is very manageable and not at all hard to complete. The gifted program is very well run, and all kids will learn with the classwork and curriculum. The teachers are very nice and fun. There is a wide range of diversity, and the school offers extra help to those who feel as if they are falling behind. 100% reccomend.... Read 5 reviews

• grade A

• Students 823

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1

• Wake County Schools, NC•

• K-5

• •
  Rating 5 out of 5  1 review

Alum: Hi, I previously attended this school, and I would like to briefly show such of the wonderful memories I've made. Everyday you were greeted with the warm, genuine smiles of the staff who would always treat you like family. The PTA and school events were planned out giving the school most of its competitive culture. They communicated with each other to ensure their students would be their best. The school was very clear when disciplining at a young age and gave us time to experiment what way was easiest to learn. Through technology, friends, independently, and outside all engaged students learn about topics. I recommend this school if you want our child to value resources and friends in their life for a bright future. Go Mustangs!... Read 1 review

• grade A

• Students 692

• Student-teacher ratio 15:1