Public schools in Garner, NC
14 open public schools with an address in Garner, operated by 2 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
14
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
11,877
14 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
14.9:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
0
2 magnet · 0 virtual
An overview of Garner public schools
The federal directory lists 14 public schools in Garner, NC: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high. The 14 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 11,877 students, an average of 848 per school. The largest campus is South Garner High (1,835 students), and the largest elementary school is Polenta Elementary (1,010).
Wake County Schools operates the most schools here (11), and 2 regular districts have at least one Garner campus. City names come from school mailing addresses, which often differ from district or municipal boundaries.
Across schools that reported staffing, the median student–teacher ratio is 14.9:1, similar to the statewide school median of 15.4:1. A ratio counts classroom-teacher FTE against total enrollment, so specialized programs and part-time staffing can move it; ask schools for actual class sizes by grade.
School choice options include 2 magnet schools. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 2 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 2 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 2 of 2 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 82% of students in reporting schools were eligible for free or reduced-price meals in 2024–25. This describes the community served; it is not a quality signal, and community-eligibility schools can report differently.
School districts and agencies serving Garner
Elementary schools in Garner
9| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Aversboro Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 381 | 14.2:1 | |
| Bryan Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 685 | 13.9:1 | |
| Creech Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 549 | 13:1 | |
| East Garner Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 535 | 13.5:1 | |
| Polenta Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 1,010 | 16:1 | |
| Rand Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 394 | 13.3:1 | |
| Timber Drive Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 391 | 12.5:1 | |
| Vandora Springs Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 582 | 13.2:1 | |
| West View Elementary Johnston County Public Schools | PK–05 | 969 | 16.2:1 |
Middle schools in Garner
3| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleveland Middle Johnston County Public Schools | 06–08 | 936 | 18.4:1 | |
| East Garner Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 1,109 | 15.6:1 | |
| North Garner Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 831 | 15.5:1 |
High schools in Garner
2| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Garner High Wake County Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,670 | 15.6:1 | |
| South Garner High Wake County Schools | 09–12 | 1,835 | 17.4:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White27.6%
- Hispanic29.8%
- Black34.4%
- Asian3.7%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.2%
- Multiracial4.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 14 Garner schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (11,877 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Garner
How many public schools are in Garner, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 14 open public schools with a location address in Garner: 9 elementary, 3 middle, 2 high. Together they reported 11,877 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Garner?
Schools with an address in Garner belong to 2 education agencies, led by Wake County Schools (11 schools), Johnston County Public Schools (3 schools). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Garner?
South Garner High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Garner, with 1,835 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Garner?
No school with an address in Garner is identified as a charter school in the current NCES directory. Families may still have charter or virtual options elsewhere in North Carolina.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Garner schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Garner public schools is 14.9:1, similar to the North Carolina school median of 15.4:1. The ratio divides enrollment by classroom-teacher FTE; it is not an average class size.
Does living in Garner guarantee a seat at a specific school?
No. Assignment depends on the district's attendance boundaries, programs, and enrollment rules, which can split a city or cross city lines. Use the district profile and its official boundary or school-locator tool to confirm the assigned school for an exact address.
Nearby North Carolina cities
Sources: NCES Common Core of Data 2025–26 preliminary directory (schools, grades, addresses, charter status) and 2024–25 nonfiscal files (enrollment, teachers, race/ethnicity, meal eligibility); Civil Rights Data Collection 2021–22 (AP and computer science). Cities are grouped by school mailing address. Methodology · All North Carolina cities