Public schools in Raleigh, NC
100 open public schools with an address in Raleigh, operated by 13 education agencies. Compare size, staffing, grade spans, and school type, then confirm assignment with the district.
Public schools
100
NCES preliminary directory 2025–26
Reported students
66,764
100 schools reporting · NCES 2024–25
Median student–teacher ratio
13.5:1
North Carolina median 15.4:1
Charter schools
10
36 magnet · 1 virtual
An overview of Raleigh public schools
The federal directory lists 100 public schools in Raleigh, NC: 63 elementary, 18 middle, 18 high, 1 combined or other. The 100 schools that reported 2024–25 membership enrolled 66,764 students, an average of 668 per school. The largest campus is Enloe High (2,643 students), and the largest elementary school is Harris Creek Elementary (827).
Wake County Schools operates the most schools here (88), plus 12 charter, service, or other agencies. 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 13.5:1, lower than 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 10 charter schools, 36 magnet schools, 1 virtual school. Application windows and lotteries usually open months before the school year.
Among 18 high and combined schools with 2021–22 civil-rights data, 13 reported students enrolled in AP courses and 10 of 18 reported computer-science classes. Confirm current course catalogs directly with each school.
About 52% 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 Raleigh
Wake County Schools
Public school district
88 schools in Raleigh · 202 total
Central Wake Charter High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
Doral Academy North Carolina
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
Governor Morehead School for the Blind
State operated agency
1 school in Raleigh
Longleaf School of the Arts
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
Magellan Charter
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
North Carolina Virtual Public School
Other local education agency
1 school in Raleigh
PreEminent Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
Quest Academy
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
Raleigh Charter High School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
Raleigh Oak Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
The Exploris School
Independent charter agency
1 school in Raleigh
Elementary schools in Raleigh
63| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abbotts Creek Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 805 | 14.5:1 | |
| Baileywick Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 352 | 10.7:1 | |
| Banks Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 651 | 13.9:1 | |
| Barton Pond Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 515 | 14.4:1 | |
| Barwell Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 648 | 12.9:1 | |
| Beaverdam Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 678 | 13.4:1 | |
| Brassfield Elementary Wake County Schools | KG–05 | 613 | 13.7:1 | |
| Brentwood Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 385 | 10.7:1 | |
| Brier Creek Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 642 | 13.5:1 | |
| Brooks Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 471 | 12.9:1 | |
| Bugg Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 345 | 12.3:1 | |
| Combs Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 695 | 13.6:1 | |
| Conn Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 595 | 15.1:1 | |
| Dillard Drive Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 648 | 12:1 | |
| Doral Academy of North Carolina Doral Academy North Carolina · Charter | KG–07 | 592 | 13.9:1 | |
| Douglas Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 562 | 13.8:1 | |
| Durant Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 577 | 12.2:1 | |
| Forest Pines Drive Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 493 | 14.1:1 | |
| Fox Road Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | KG–05 | 430 | 13.5:1 | |
| Fuller Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 545 | 12.1:1 | |
| Green Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 534 | 11.6:1 | |
| Harris Creek Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 827 | 12.6:1 | |
| Hilburn Drive Academy Wake County Schools | PK–08 | 596 | 13.2:1 | |
| Hunter Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 658 | 12.6:1 | |
| Jeffreys Grove Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 543 | 14.4:1 | |
| Joyner Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 569 | 13.3:1 | |
| Lacy Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 695 | 14.5:1 | |
| Lead Mine Elementary Wake County Schools | KG–05 | 359 | 12.5:1 | |
| Leesville Road Elementary Wake County Schools | KG–05 | 528 | 14.6:1 | |
| Lynn Road Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 486 | 13.3:1 | |
| Millbrook Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 534 | 13:1 | |
| Mount Vernon Wake County Schools · Alternative School | KG–08 | 70 | 2.7:1 | |
| North Forest Pines Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 536 | 14.5:1 | |
| North Ridge Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 730 | 14.3:1 | |
| Oak Grove Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 553 | 13.2:1 | |
| Olds Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 244 | 12:1 | |
| Partnership Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | KG–05 | 276 | 10.2:1 | |
| Pleasant Union Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 530 | 14.8:1 | |
| Poe Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 324 | 10.3:1 | |
| Powell Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 335 | 9.8:1 | |
| PreEminent Charter PreEminent Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 667 | 18.3:1 | |
| Quest Academy Quest Academy · Charter | KG–08 | 139 | 12.6:1 | |
| Raleigh Oak Charter Raleigh Oak Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 373 | 14:1 | |
| RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School RISE Southeast Raleigh Charter School · Charter | KG–08 | 484 | 12.7:1 | |
| River Bend Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 709 | 14.1:1 | |
| Rogers Lane Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 763 | 14:1 | |
| Root Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 469 | 13.1:1 | |
| Smith Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 596 | 13:1 | |
| Southeast Raleigh Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 378 | 12.9:1 | |
| Stough Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 550 | 13.3:1 | |
| Swift Creek Elementary Wake County Schools | KG–05 | 310 | 12.5:1 | |
| Sycamore Creek Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 778 | 14.8:1 | |
| The Exploris School The Exploris School · Charter | KG–08 | 448 | 11.7:1 | |
| Underwood Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | KG–05 | 405 | 11.4:1 | |
| Vance Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 445 | 13.2:1 | |
| Wakefield Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 520 | 13:1 | |
| Walnut Creek Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 574 | 11.2:1 | |
| Washington Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | KG–05 | 514 | 12.7:1 | |
| Wilburn Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 593 | 13.7:1 | |
| Wildwood Forest Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 551 | 12.3:1 | |
| Wiley Elementary Wake County Schools · Magnet | PK–05 | 429 | 12.2:1 | |
| Yates Mill Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 538 | 13.7:1 | |
| York Elementary Wake County Schools | PK–05 | 563 | 14.1:1 |
Middle schools in Raleigh
18| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carnage Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 924 | 15:1 | |
| Carroll Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 898 | 14.8:1 | |
| Centennial Campus Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 477 | 12.9:1 | |
| Dillard Drive Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 977 | 14.7:1 | |
| Durant Road Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 649 | 15.8:1 | |
| East Millbrook Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 731 | 12.6:1 | |
| Leesville Road Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 795 | 18.2:1 | |
| Ligon Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 959 | 15.2:1 | |
| Magellan Charter Magellan Charter · Charter | 03–08 | 411 | 13.1:1 | |
| Martin Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 1,011 | 16.7:1 | |
| Moore Square Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 594 | 12.7:1 | |
| Neuse River Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 877 | 13.8:1 | |
| Oberlin Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 1,049 | 15.1:1 | |
| Pine Hollow Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 776 | 14.9:1 | |
| River Bend Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 995 | 16:1 | |
| River Oaks Middle Wake County Schools · Alternative School | 06–08 | 7 | 0.4:1 | |
| Wakefield Middle Wake County Schools | 06–08 | 803 | 17.7:1 | |
| West Millbrook Middle Wake County Schools · Magnet | 06–08 | 1,164 | 17.2:1 |
High schools in Raleigh
18| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athens Drive High Wake County Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,156 | 17.2:1 | |
| Central Wake High School Central Wake Charter High School · Charter · Alternative School | 09–12 | 293 | 37.4:1 | |
| Enloe High Wake County Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,643 | 17.7:1 | |
| Leesville Road High Wake County Schools | 09–12 | 2,411 | 19.6:1 | |
| Longleaf School of the Arts Longleaf School of the Arts · Charter | 09–12 | 405 | 12.7:1 | |
| Longview Wake County Schools · Special Education School | 06–12 | 18 | 1:1 | |
| Millbrook High Wake County Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,498 | 18.2:1 | |
| Ncvps North Carolina Virtual Public School · Virtual | 07–13 | 0 | — | |
| Needham Broughton High Wake County Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 2,153 | 18.2:1 | |
| Phillips High Wake County Schools · Alternative School | 09–12 | 123 | 4.5:1 | |
| Raleigh Charter High School Raleigh Charter High School · Charter | 09–12 | 552 | 12.8:1 | |
| Sanderson High Wake County Schools | 09–12 | 1,648 | 18.1:1 | |
| Southeast Raleigh High Wake County Schools · Magnet | 09–12 | 1,438 | 14:1 | |
| Vernon Malone College and Career Academy Wake County Schools | 09–13 | 348 | 15.9:1 | |
| Wake Early College of Health and Science Wake County Schools | 09–13 | 317 | 22.8:1 | |
| Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy Wake County Schools | 06–13 | 262 | 12.7:1 | |
| Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy Wake County Schools | 06–13 | 337 | 15.9:1 | |
| Wakefield High Wake County Schools | 09–12 | 2,065 | 19.5:1 |
Combined, early-childhood, and other schools in Raleigh
1| School | Grades | Students | Ratio | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Governor Morehead School for the Blind Governor Morehead School for the Blind · Special Education School | KG–12 | 35 | 1.9:1 |
Student demographics
Race and ethnicity share of reported enrollment
- White38.8%
- Hispanic22.5%
- Black27.4%
- Asian6.8%
- American Indian / Alaska Native0.2%
- Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander0.1%
- Multiracial4.2%
Enrollment-weighted across 99 Raleigh schools with NCES CCD 2024–25 race/ethnicity counts (66,764 students). Privacy suppression can leave small gaps.
Questions about public schools in Raleigh
How many public schools are in Raleigh, NC?
The current NCES directory lists 100 open public schools with a location address in Raleigh: 63 elementary, 18 middle, 18 high, 1 combined or other. Together they reported 66,764 students in 2024–25. The count includes charter, alternative, and special-purpose public schools; it excludes private schools.
Which school districts serve Raleigh?
Schools with an address in Raleigh belong to 13 education agencies, led by Wake County Schools (88 schools), Central Wake Charter High School (1 school), Doral Academy North Carolina (1 school). A mailing city is not an attendance boundary; confirm the district for a specific address.
What is the largest public high school in Raleigh?
Enloe High reported the largest high-school enrollment in Raleigh, with 2,643 students in 2024–25 (grades 09–12). Size is a description of the campus, not a quality measure.
Are there charter schools in Raleigh?
Yes. 10 of the 100 public schools in Raleigh are identified as charter schools in the NCES directory, including Central Wake High School, Doral Academy of North Carolina, Longleaf School of the Arts. Charter schools are public and tuition-free, but admission usually uses an application or lottery.
What is the typical student–teacher ratio in Raleigh schools?
The median reported student–teacher ratio across Raleigh public schools is 13.5:1, lower than 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 Raleigh 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