Very Good
#769 of 2,648 schools in NC
Top 29% in state
West Lake Elementary
Elementary School · Wake County Schools · Apex, NC
A Wake County Schools elementary school serving grades Pre-K – 5th.
4500 West Lake Rd, Apex, NC 27539
- Math 73% vs NC 59% (2025)
- Reading 60% vs NC 53% (2025)
- 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio
Academics
Full Profile · 3/3 metricsView breakdown
View breakdown
View breakdown
Students at West Lake Elementary score 66% proficient, which is below what's typical for similar communities (expected: 69%).
2025 NC proficiency
Most recent published year. School vs. NC average.
Trend
↑ RecoveringProficiency declined earlier in the 17-year record (2009–2025), then recovered 5 points since 2020, reaching 67% in 2025.
Show all 15 years
Multi-year averages used by the rating model: math 69% (multi-year average, 2009-2025) · reading/ELA 64% (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).
Equity & diversity
Shown separately, not included in the overall scoreFree/reduced lunch
27.4%
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 West Lake Elementary 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 11Car-Dependent
- Transit 0Minimal Transit
- Bike 15Somewhat Bikeable
- County Safety: Low115/100K
Powered by
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
$140,121
Median home value
$494,400
Median rent
$1,781/mo
College educated
61.9%
Homeownership
82.8%
Poverty rate
3.3%
ACS 2019–2023 5-year estimates for the ZCTA associated with school ZIP 27539; this is area context, not an attendance boundary.
Programs & students
Programs & Offerings
Compare nearby
Nearby same-level schools
4 from a 5-mile search; district fallback available
| School | Score | Grades | Distance | Enrollment | Compare |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Creek ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 7.3 | PK–5 | 0.6 mi | 638 | Compare → |
| New School Montessori CenterPrivate · tuition | 8.4private | PK–9 | 1.6 mi | 119 | Compare → |
| Holly Ridge ElementaryEnrollment path unverified | 8.9 | PK–5 | 3.1 mi | 751 | Compare → |
| Hilltop Christian SchoolPrivate · tuition | 5.7private | K–12 | 3.2 mi | 369 | 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.
Wake County Schools
- Schools in district
- 197
- Rank in district
- #91 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
West Lake Elementary is listed in Wake County Schools; a district label does not verify attendance for an address.
About West Lake Elementary
West Lake Elementary is a public elementary school in Apex, NC, part of Wake County Schools, serving approximately 572 students in grades Pre-K-5th with a 15.5:1 student-teacher ratio. It holds a MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 out of 10 and ranks #769 of 2,648 schools in NC. State assessment records show 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about West Lake Elementary
What grades does West Lake Elementary serve?
West Lake Elementary serves students in grades Pre-K through 5th.
How many students attend West Lake Elementary?
West Lake Elementary has an enrollment of approximately 572 students.
What is the student-teacher ratio at West Lake Elementary?
The student-teacher ratio at West Lake Elementary is 15.5:1. A lower ratio generally means more individual attention per student. The national average is approximately 16:1 for public schools.
How does West Lake Elementary rank in NC?
West Lake Elementary ranks #769 of 2,648 schools in NC.
What is West Lake Elementary's MySchoolScout rating?
West Lake Elementary has a current MySchoolScout rating of 7.4 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 West Lake Elementary?
Based on loaded state assessment records, West Lake Elementary has 69% math proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025) and 64% reading/ELA proficiency (multi-year average, 2009-2025).
Is West Lake Elementary a charter school?
No, West Lake Elementary is not a charter school. It is a traditional public school operated by the local school district.
Is West Lake Elementary a Title I school?
No, West Lake Elementary is not currently a Title I school.
What does the Free & Reduced Lunch percentage mean for West Lake Elementary?
27.4% of students at West Lake Elementary 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
- Pre-K – 5th
- Enrollment
- 572
- Student-Teacher Ratio
- 15.5:1
- Teachers (FTE)
- 37
- Type
- regular
- Setting
- Midsize City
- County
- Wake County
- Chronic Absenteeism (SY 2022-23)
- 22.0%
- Phone
- (919) 662-2300
- Area population (ZIP 27539)
- 25,944
- Area average commute
- 27 min
- Area median age
- 37.4
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 27539; 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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