Very Good
#680 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 26% in state
Wake Stem Early College High School
High School · Wake County Schools · Cary, NC
A Wake County Schools high school where students score 32 points above what's typical for similar communities.
2205 Walnut Street, Cary, NC 27518
- Math 96% vs NC 56% (2025)
- Reading 99% vs NC 54% (2025)
- 90%+ 4-year graduation
Academics
Full Profile · 4/4 metricsView breakdown
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Students at Wake Stem Early College High School score 97% proficient, which is above what's typical for similar communities (expected: 65%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
→ SteadyProficiency is up 13 points across the 14-year record (2012–2025) and has held near 97% recently.
Show all 11 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 81% (multi-year average, 2012-2025) · reading/ELA 93% (multi-year average, 2012-2025)
* COVID-affected year — test participation was uneven nationwide. This data is weighted at 50% in the Growth score calculation.
Based on 22 test records from NC state assessments and EdFacts (NCES).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
38.7%
Students qualifying for federal meal assistance
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 Wake Stem Early College High School 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 54Somewhat Walkable
- Transit 28Some Transit
- Bike 39Somewhat Bikeable
- City Safety: Elevated1,393/100K
Powered by
FBI Uniform Crime Reporting · 2024 · city context (Cary), not school-level safety or attendance eligibility. Source details
Source period: 2024. Freshness not available.
Area profileU.S. Census ACS 5-year estimates (ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates)
Median income
$121,242
Median home value
$594,900
Median rent
$1,537/mo
College educated
72.1%
Homeownership
65.5%
Poverty rate
4.8%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27518; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
0 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
No verified same-level alternatives
The available nearby set has no same-level school with a verified grade span.
Wake County Schools
- Schools in district
- 197
- Rank in district
- #84 of 194
- District spending per student
- $11,691NCES F-33 · FY 2023 · This annual source is three years behind the current year.
- District child poverty rate
- 9.5%Census SAIPE · 2024
Wake Stem Early College High School is listed in Wake County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About Wake Stem Early College High School
Wake Stem Early College High School is a public high school in Cary, NC, part of Wake County Schools, serving approximately 282 students in grades 9th-UG with a 20.1:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 out of 10 and ranks #680 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 93% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Wake Stem Early College High School
What grades does Wake Stem Early College High School serve?
Wake Stem Early College High School serves students in grades 9th through UG.
How many students attend Wake Stem Early College High School?
Wake Stem Early College High School has an enrollment of approximately 282 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wake Stem Early College High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wake Stem Early College High School is 20.1:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does Wake Stem Early College High School rank in NC?
Wake Stem Early College High School ranks #680 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is Wake Stem Early College High School's MySchoolScout rating?
Wake Stem Early College High School has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.6 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 Wake Stem Early College High School?
Based on loaded state assessment records, Wake Stem Early College High School has 81% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025) and 93% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2012-2025).
Is Wake Stem Early College High School a charter school?
No, Wake Stem Early College High School is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is Wake Stem Early College High School a Title I school?
No, Wake Stem Early College High School is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for Wake Stem Early College High School?
38.7% of students at Wake Stem Early College High School qualify for free or reduced-price lunch. This is a commonly used indicator of economic need and provides important context when interpreting test scores.
School factsNCES Common Core of Data (CCD) (SY 2023–24)
- Grades
- 9th – UG
- Enrollment
- 282
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 20.1:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 14
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Phone
- (919) 694-8130
- 4-Year Graduation
- 90%+
- Area population (ZIP 27518)
- 18,995
- Area average commute
- 23.9 min
- Area median age
- 47.2
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 27518; 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, 2012-2025; directory SY 2023–24
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