Best Schools in Apex, North Carolina
26 schools · 18 Elementary · 5 Middle · 3 High
Choosing a school in Apex?
Use this page to compare every school in Apex by level, neighborhood, and district — and find the right fit, not just the top of the list.
Shortlist starter
Start with these real page-level signals, then use the full table and map below.
Scotts Ridge Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Oakview Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
Olive Chapel Elementary
Elementary · Wake County Schools. Ranked from real test data; compare it on the map and table below.
The short answer
The top-rated schools in Apex for 2026 are Scotts Ridge Elementary (9.3/10), Oakview Elementary (9.2/10), and Olive Chapel Elementary (9.1/10), based on MySchoolScout's analysis of real test data across 21 rated schools. Ratings blend student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment (plus college readiness for high schools), with equity shown as context, not scored; schools with estimated (proxy) scores are excluded from this ranking.
Schools
26
21 public · 5 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$524,067
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Schools
26
21 public · 5 private
Avg Score
7.7
out of 10
Median Home
$524,067
home value · ACS
Districts
3
serving the city
Rates 8.8/10 despite 26% of students being economically disadvantaged. That's about 1.4 points higher than its student-poverty level predicts. Roughly as clean a case of strong results without an affluent-ZIP price tag as you'll find among Apex schools.
Top-Rated Schools in Apex
Ranked by MySchoolScout composite using only schools with real test data (21 of 26). "Value" = points above what student poverty predicts. Estimated (proxy) scores are excluded.
| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scotts Ridge Elementary | 9.3 / 10 |
| 2 | Oakview Elementary | 9.2 / 10 |
| 3 | Olive Chapel Elementary | 9.1 / 10 |
| 4 | White Oak Elementary | 9.0 / 10 |
| 5 | Baucom Elementary | 8.8 / 10 |
| 6 | Apex Friendship Middle | 8.6 / 10 |
| 7 | Apex Friendship High | 8.1 / 10 |
| 8 | Peak Charter Academy | 7.9 / 10 |
| 9 | Salem Middle | 7.7 / 10 |
| 10 | Laurel Park Elementary | 7.7 / 10 |
See every school — including those with estimated data — in the full directory below. How we rate schools.
Family Snapshot
At a glance- Avg school rating
- 7.7/10
- Median household income
- $133,203
- Median home value
- $524,067
- Bachelor's degree or higher
- 65%
- Avg commute
- 25 min
- Owner-occupied homes
- 78%
83% of schools rated 7+
Census ACS, ZIPs in this city
Owner-occupied units
Adults 25+
Workers age 16+
Of occupied housing units
How Apex compares
North Carolina rank
#11 of 253
cities by avg. school score
Vs. state average
+1.4
above North Carolina avg (6.2)
Median household income
$133k
197% of North Carolina median
Schools in this city
23
About Schools in Apex, North Carolina
Apex, North Carolina's public school system spans 21 ranked schools with an average score of 7.4 out of 10 — a strong baseline for a city of its size. Thirteen of those 21 schools, or 62%, score 7 or higher, meaning parents have real options across the city rather than a handful of outliers pulling the average up.
The elementary tier stands out. Apex Friendship Elementary leads all ranked schools with a 9.4 out of 10, the highest score in the city. Salem Elementary and Oakview Elementary each score 8.8, while Scotts Ridge Elementary (8.6) and Laurel Park Elementary (8.5) round out a top five that's tightly clustered near the top of the scale. Five elementary schools in the 8.5–9.4 range signals consistent academic performance across multiple attendance zones, not just one high-achieving campus.
That 62% rate — schools scoring 7 or better — matters practically. In many peer cities, strong performance concentrates in one or two schools while the rest lag. Apex's spread means families in different parts of the city have access to schools above that threshold, reducing the pressure to secure a spot at a single top-rated campus.
For parents comparing Apex to other North Carolina cities, the 7.4 average and the 9.4 ceiling at Apex Friendship Elementary are the two numbers to anchor on. The average tells you how the typical school performs day-to-day; the ceiling tells you how high the system can reach. Both figures are competitive. Families focused on elementary-age children have the most options here, with five schools rated 8.5 or above to evaluate. Use those individual school pages on MySchoolScout to compare test score trends, enrollment size, and grade-level performance before drawing conclusions from attendance zone maps alone.
Elementary Schools
18 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 766 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.3 |
| 2 | 975 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.2 |
| 3 | 986 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 4 | 876 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.1 |
| 5 | 785 students · Pre-K–5th | 9.0 |
| 6 | 560 students · Pre-K–5th | 8.8 |
| 7 | 775 students · Kindergarten–8th | 7.9 |
| 8 | 695 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.7 |
| 9 | 629 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.5 |
| 10 | 572 students · Pre-K–5th | 7.4 |
Show all 18 elementary schools in Apex
Private and public school ratings use different data sources and scoring models, so scores are not directly comparable across school types.
Middle Schools
5 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1,392 students · 6th–8th | 8.6 |
| 2 | 1,042 students · 6th–8th | 7.7 |
| 3 | 938 students · 6th–8th | 6.8 |
| 4 | 957 students · 6th–8th | 6.2 |
| 5 | 766 students · 6th–8th | 5.2 |
High Schools
3 schools| # | School | Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2,761 students · 9th–12th | 8.1 |
| 2 | 2,434 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
| 3 | 1,627 students · 9th–12th | 7.4 |
Schools in Apex
Apex, North Carolina · 26 schools
Community Demographics
Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates across 3 ZIP codes
Median Income
$133,203
Median Home Value
$524,067
Median Rent
$1,791/mo
Population
91,710
College Educated
65%
Homeownership
78%
Avg Commute
25 min
Poverty Rate
4.4%
Community Profile
Apex has a median household income of $133,203. It is a well-educated community where 65% of adults hold a bachelor's degree or higher. The median home value in the area is $524,067, with a median rent of $1,791/month. The local poverty rate of 4.4% is relatively low. The average commute for residents is 25 minutes. Source: U.S. Census ACS 2022 5-Year Estimates.
Schools by Level
- State
- North Carolina
- Elementary
- 18
- Middle
- 5
- High
- 3
Nearby Cities
Other Major Cities in North Carolina
Top metros statewide by school count.
How we rate schools
A clear 1–10 score built from public data — growth, academics, and learning environment. No hidden criteria, no pay-to-play.
See how we rateFrequently Asked Questions
Common questions about schools in Apex, North Carolina
How many schools are in Apex, North Carolina?
Apex has 26 schools, including 21 public and 5 private schools spanning elementary, middle, and high school levels.
What is the average school rating in Apex, North Carolina?
The average MySchoolScout composite score for schools in Apex is 7.7 out of 10, built from student growth, poverty-adjusted academic achievement, and school environment — plus college readiness for high schools.
What is the top-ranked school in Apex, North Carolina?
The top-ranked school in Apex on MySchoolScout is Scotts Ridge Elementary with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best elementary school in Apex, North Carolina?
The top-ranked elementary school in Apex on MySchoolScout is Scotts Ridge Elementary with a composite score of 9.3/10.
What is the best middle school in Apex, North Carolina?
The top-ranked middle school in Apex on MySchoolScout is Apex Friendship Middle with a composite score of 8.6/10.
What is the best high school in Apex, North Carolina?
The top-ranked high school in Apex on MySchoolScout is Apex Friendship High with a composite score of 8.1/10.
How many school districts serve Apex, North Carolina?
Apex is served by 3 school districts: Peak Charter Academy, The Math and Science Academy of Apex, Wake County Schools.
What is the education level in Apex, North Carolina?
According to Census data, 65% of adults in Apex have earned a bachelor's degree or higher.
What is the median income in Apex, North Carolina?
The median household income in Apex is approximately $133,203 according to Census ACS 2022 estimates.
Are there private schools in Apex, North Carolina?
Yes, Apex has 5 private schools alongside 21 public schools. The top-rated private school is St Mary Magdalene Catholic School with a score of 7.1/10.
What is the student-teacher ratio in Apex, North Carolina?
The average student-teacher ratio across schools in Apex is 14.8:1. This ratio varies by school, so families should check individual school profiles for specific classroom sizes.
How does MySchoolScout rate schools in Apex, North Carolina?
MySchoolScout rates schools using publicly available data from the NCES Common Core of Data and state education departments. Each school receives a 1-10 composite score built from Student Growth, Poverty-Adjusted Academic Achievement, and School Environment — plus College Readiness for high schools. Weights vary by school level, and equity data is shown for context but not scored.
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Data from NCES Common Core of Data, North Carolina Dept. of Education, and U.S. Census ACS for the 2023–24 school year. Rankings computed by MySchoolScout. See all data sources.