NC Schools

Explore nearby school districts and educational resources to help you make informed decisions.
Buyer ServicesContact Dana

Wake County is home to the 14th largest school system in the country and the largest school district in North Carolina. Navigating the school system in Wake County can be overwhelming, as we are a constantly growing school district with over 198 schools currently.

INCLUDED IN MY SERVICES

I understand that school selection can play one of the most important roles in your move to the Raleigh area, many times being the deciding factor on what area you move to and ultimately which neighborhood you choose. For this reason, I have teamed up with local school experts for all of my clients to help navigate through the school options, calendars, and programs to select the right school for your particular students.
Ask me about how you can receive a private consultation!

 

WAKE COUNTY PUBLIC SCHOOL SYSTEM

  • Every household has a base school (year-round or traditional calendar), and every base has the opposite calendar option, but you must apply to change calendars.
  • The application period is October – January for year-round schools and February – March for traditional schools.
  • Families who relocate will have 10 days, once enrolled, to request a transfer.
  • Most year-round calendar schools have multiple tracks with different breaks. You will be asked to give your preference for a track, and schools will do their best to accommodate.
  • Some schools offer specific programs, such as the International Baccalaureate or the Advanced Placement courses.

 

WCPSS CHARTER SCHOOLS

  • Charter schools are tuition-free public schools that receive public funding but operate independently of WCPSS. They are each run by an individual board, but all schools must apply to the State Charter Advisory Board to gain a charter of operation.
  • Many Public Charter Schools in Wake County are K-8 or K-12
  • Admission to a Public Charter School is by random lottery selection
  • Many schools open their lottery application in January and hold their lottery in March. You will have the opportunity to decline or accept your seat if selected
  • TIP – You must have an address by January to enter a lottery; an address anywhere in the state will be accepted

 

WCPSS MAGNET SCHOOLS

  • Magnet schools are application schools that are part of the Wake County Public School System, and selections are made through prioritized criteria.
  • Magnet schools offer specialized academic programs at all grade levels, such as the STEM program (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics), Humanities, Language Immersion, various Art programs, among many others!
  • The application period for magnet schools is October – January
    Magnet schools also have a base population, so your base could be a magnet school!
  • TIP – You must have an address by January to apply for a magnet school for the following academic year

 

PRIVATE & PAROCIAL SCHOOLS

  • Private schools are harder to evaluate and won’t be found on the NC School Report Cards. Instead, you can find their “academic profiles,” which will include data and an overview of the school.
  • Tuition at many area private schools begins at $6,000 a year and goes up from there. Many schools range $9,000 – $17,000.
  • Niche provides a good list of private schools in the Raleigh/Durham area

 

ENROLLMENT CAPS

  • Some schools in Wake County have been capped to prevent overcrowding.
  • If you have concerns with your base school being capped, it is important to call and discuss your options with the school’s data manager.
  • TIP – Just because a school is “capped” doesn’t mean every grade is capped! The data manager will be able to let you know which grades are capped and which are not.

 

TRADITIONAL VS. YEAR-ROUND SCHOOLS

  • It is important to know that in Wake County Public Schools System, not all schools operate on the same calendar.
  • Some schools are on a traditional calendar, which means they start in late August and end in early June. But many elementary and some middle schools operate on a year-round calendar. There are some schools that operate on modified calendar years.
  • Year-round calendars mean that students have scheduled breaks throughout the school year. Most operate with 4 tracks, one track is always tracked out while the other three are in session. They typically follow the pattern of 9 weeks in schools and then 3 weeks off. They also have some additional breaks for winter break and at the end of the school year.

 

SCHOOL LINKS & RESOURCES

Here are some of the most helpful resources for those wanting to learn more about our local school systems.

Dana@DanaLemonRealEstate.com