Average
#1639 of 2,648 schools in NC
Southern Wake Academy
High School · Southern Wake Academy · Holly Springs, NC
A charter high school in Holly Springs, NC where students score 25 points below what's typical for similar communities.
5108 Old Powell Rd, Holly Springs, NC 27540
- Math 46% vs NC 54% (2025)
- Reading 57% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 87.0% 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Southern Wake Academy score 52% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 77%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 12 points since 2020, reaching 51% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 46% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 57% (multi-year average, 2009-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 36 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
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 rateThe neighborhood
Where Southern Wake Academy sits, and what the surrounding area looks like.
Nearby same-level schools are colored by their score. Pins are locations, not attendance boundaries. Open the Raleigh map →
Getting around & local context
- Walk 13Car-Dependent
- Bike 25Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low115/100K
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FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · county context, not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. A newer release may be available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$125,681
Median home value
$474,700
Median rent
$1,718/mo
College educated
64.7%
Homeownership
84.5%
Poverty rate
4.2%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27540; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fuquay-varina HighEnrollment path unverified | 7.2 | 9–12 | 1.6 mi | 1,744 | Compare → |
| Holly Springs HighEnrollment path unverified | 7.8 | 9–12 | 2.0 mi | 2,111 | Compare → |
| New School Montessori CenterPrivate · tuition | 8.4private | PK–9 | 3.4 mi | 119 | Compare → |
| Middle Creek HighEnrollment path unverified | 7.4 | 9–12 | 5.0 mi | 1,627 | Compare → |
Distance is proximity only; it is not attendance eligibility.
Enrollment path unverified: Potential public school; its attendance or application path has not been classified.
Private · tuition: Potential private option; tuition and admission requirements have not been verified.
Public and private scores come from different models and are shown side by side, not blended into one ranking.
Southern Wake Academy
- Schools in district
- 1
- Rank in district
- #1 of 1
- District spending per student
- $13,038NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- The source release did not match this district identifier.
Southern Wake Academy is listed in Southern Wake Academy; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Southern Wake Academy
Southern Wake Academy is a public high school in Holly Springs, NC, part of Southern Wake Academy, serving approximately 553 students in grades 6th-12th with a 12.6:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10 and ranks #1,639 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Southern Wake Academy
What grades does Southern Wake Academy serve?
Southern Wake Academy serves students in grades 6th through 12th.
How many students attend Southern Wake Academy?
Southern Wake Academy has an enrollment of approximately 553 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Southern Wake Academy?
The student-teacher ratio at Southern Wake Academy is 12.6:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Southern Wake Academy rank in NC?
Southern Wake Academy ranks #1,639 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Southern Wake Academy's MySchoolScout rating?
Southern Wake Academy has a current MySchoolScout rating of 5.7 out of 10. This score combines the level-appropriate components shown in the rating breakdown; equity data is shown separately for context.
What are the test scores at Southern Wake Academy?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Southern Wake Academy has 46% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 57% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is Southern Wake Academy a charter school?
Yes, Southern Wake Academy is a charter school. Charter schools are publicly funded but independently operated, often with more flexibility in curriculum and teaching methods.
Is Southern Wake Academy a Title I school?
No, Southern Wake Academy is not currently a Title I school.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 6th – 12th
- Enrollment
- 553
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 12.6:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 44
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Large Suburb
- County
- Wake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 20.4%
- Phone
- (919) 567-9955
- 4-Year Graduation
- 87.0%
- Area population (ZIP 27540)
- 45,993
- Area average commute
- 29.3 min
- Area median age
- 36.4
Official sources & links
About this school's data
Every number on this page comes from a published source with a stated period. Where a source is partial, aging, or describes a surrounding area rather than the school, that limitation is named below.
- School directory (enrollment, grades, staff, contact)
- NCES Common Core of Data (CCD) · SY 2023–24 · Medium confidence
- Source period: SY 2023–24. A newer release may be available.
- MySchoolScout rating and rank
- MySchoolScout ranking model · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Derived as a weighted blend of the component scores shown in Academics from state assessment, EdFacts growth, and NCES resource records.
- Math proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Reading/ELA proficiency
- State department of education · 2025 NC · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived from source records rather than read directly from one field.
- Student progress (growth)
- NCES EdFacts · Mixed source periods · Low confidence
- Vintage not available. Do not use this measure alone.
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Derived as the fitted year-over-year slope of proficiency from multi-year assessment records.
- Neighborhood (income, housing, education)
- U.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates · ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates · Low confidence
- Older source: ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates. Use as historical context.
- Reported for the ZCTA for ZIP 27540; this does not measure the attendance area.
- Programs (AP/IB, athletics, gifted)
- CRDC via Urban Institute · SY 2021–22 · Medium confidence
- Available for part of the eligible units; results may not represent the full area.
- Source period: SY 2021–22. A newer release may be available.
Evidence periods: Rating mixed/unknown input periods; assessments multi-year average, 2009-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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