Wake County Schools 101

Written By Carrie Pitchford

Understanding your options in Wake County can seem like an insurmountable task. There are public and private schools; charter schools and magnet schools; schools that are on a year-round calendar and schools that let out for the summer. While all these schools may be different and offer a wide variety of things, the most important thing to remember is that there is a great school out there for your child. You just have to find it.

Let’s start this journey together.

Start with a school’s calendar…

I like to start with a win. Determining if you would like your child to be at a school with a traditional calendar or a year-round calendar is pretty simple. The most important thing to note is that all students, no matter what calendar, will get 176 school days. A school with a traditional calendar year typically starts in August and ends in June. A school with a year-round calendar typically divides students into four “tracks” or groups that start in July or August. The students in each track typically go to school for 9-weeks and then get 3-weeks off. Students attending school using a year-round calendar still get a break for the holidays and get some time off in the summer. There are benefits to both so you just have to make the best decision for your family.

Think about the location…

If it’s important for your family to live close to your school, then you will need to take into account the school’s location. If transportation is not an obstacle for your family, where you live is not as critical. Use Google Maps to see the public schools, magnet, charter, and private schools in your area.

Understand the different types of schools…

BASE PUBLIC SCHOOLS - These are great schools without a specific theme or focus area. Typically, if you live in their jurisdiction, you can attend there.

CHARTER SCHOOLS - These are great schools that are locally and state-funded but are not governed by Wake County.

MAGNET SCHOOLS - These are great schools that have a specific theme or focus area to meet students’ needs and create a more diverse population for the county.

PRIVATE SCHOOLS - These are great schools that require tuition but might suit the needs of your family more than a public school.

Check out specific school offerings…

There are a lot of schools with specific themes or focuses which might best fit the needs of your child. From Roman Catholic private schools to Language Immersion magnet schools, if there is something your family values and you want your child to receive in school, you can get it. Below is a list of some of the private and public school offerings:

  • Religious studies (Roman Catholic, Episcopalian, Islam, etc..,)

  • Montessori

  • STEM

  • Languages (Chinese, French, Spanish, etc…)

  • Technology

  • Environmental studies

  • Gifted and talented

  • International Baccalaureate

  • Creative and fine arts

Carrie Pitchford
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