Mahadev Maitri Foundation
US Initiatives
High· 193 schools in district

Wake STEM Early College High School

2205 Walnut Street, Cary, NC 27518Wake County Schools →
Federal DataRegular SchoolGrades 09–13Non-Charter
263
Students
Total enrolled
93%
Grad Rate
Nat'l avg 87%
↑ 7% vs nat'l
$14,074
Per-Pupil Spend
Nat'l avg $14,347
~avg
17.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
Nat'l avg 15.4:1
↑ 12% vs nat'l
48/100
Opportunity Score
Neighborhood outcomes
~avg
⇄ Compare with another school
Small public school
Serves 263 students in grades 09–13 in Cary, North Carolina.
Near-average funding
District spends $14,074 per pupil — close to the national average of $14,347.
Near-median opportunity
Children from this neighborhood historically reach the 48th income percentile as adults, per Harvard/Census Opportunity Atlas data.
About This School

Wake STEM Early College High School is a mid-sized high in Cary, North Carolina, serving grades 09–13 with 263 students. The district invests $14,074 per student — close to the national average of $14,347, with a 17.3:1 student-teacher ratio near the national norm. About 30% of students qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, indicating a mixed-income student body. The school's 93% graduation rate — above the national average of 87% — reflects strong completion outcomes for its students.

Student Body & Demographics at Wake STEM Early College High School

263
Total Students
17.3 : 1
Student:Teacher
30%
Free Lunch
15
Teacher FTE
Grade Range
PK
K
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Highlighted grades (09–13) are served by this school
Gender Distribution134 male · 129 female
51%
49%
Male 51%Female 49%
Free / Reduced Lunch Eligibility30%
National avg 52% · 78 students
Student Composition
17%
36%
25%
17%
Asian17%
White36%
Hispanic / Latino25%
Black17%
Multiracial4%
NCES Common Core of Data · Race/ethnicity self-reported · NCES ID: 370472003192

Academic Outcomes at Wake STEM Early College High School

Graduation Rate (Adjusted Cohort)
GE90
High
National avg 87%
Graduation Rate Comparison
This school
93%
State avg
84%
National avg
87%
Neighborhood Opportunity Score
48
/ 100
Near-median opportunity

Children from modest-income families in this neighborhood reach the 48th income percentile as adults. This school is in the 71th percentile nationally.

0 — Low50 — MedianHigh — 100
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census) · Census tract · ZIP 27518

School Resources & Funding

Per-Pupil Expenditure$14,074Near avg
National avg $14,347
Per-Pupil Spending Comparison
This school
$14,074
State avg
$13,042
National avg
$14,347
How School Funding Is Typically Spent
44%
19%
12%
15%
Instruction$6,193
Student Support$2,674
Administration$1,689
Operations$2,111
Other$1,407
Estimated using national average spending distribution (NCES) · School-level breakdowns not publicly reported
Of the $14,074 spent per student, an estimated $6,235 (~44%) goes directly to classroom instruction.
Where Funding Comes From
54%
29%
State government
54.5%
Local (property tax)
28.9%
Federal programs
16.6%
NCES F-33 Finance Survey · District-level data applied to this school
Strengths & Considerations
Strengths
  • 93% graduation rate — well above the 87% national average
  • Traditional public school — open enrollment, no application process required
Strengths and considerations are derived from federal data thresholds — not editorial judgements. See data sources below.
K–12 Pathway in District
Middle
Mills Park MiddleAlston Ridge MiddleApex Friendship MiddleEast Garner Middle
+1 more
↓
High School
Apex Friendship HighLeesville Road HighEnloe HighApex High
+20 more
School Profile
TypeRegular School
LevelHigh
Grades09 – 13
Location—
CountyWake County
CharterNo
VirtualNo
DistrictWake County Schools →
Phone: (919)694-8130
NCES ID: 370472003192
Who Is This School For?

Best suited for families in Cary seeking a public high school, especially those prioritizing strong graduation outcomes and academic completion. We always recommend an in-person visit and a conversation with current families before making any enrollment decision.

More in Wake County Schools
High
Apex Friendship High
2,772 students · 09–12
10% FRL
High
Leesville Road High
2,613 students · 09–12
● 55 opp22% FRL
High
Enloe High
2,502 students · 09–12
● 39 opp27% FRL
High
Apex High
2,500 students · 09–12
20% FRL
High
Panther Creek High
2,435 students · 09–12
● 38 opp15% FRL
High
Millbrook High
2,421 students · 09–12
● 51 opp36% FRL
High
Rolesville High
2,373 students · 09–12
47% FRL
High
Cary High
2,145 students · 09–12
● 50 opp39% FRL
District School Rankings
Location
2205 Walnut Street, Cary, NC 27518
Data Sources & Transparency
Enrollment & Profile
NCES Common Core of Data. Grades, enrollment, demographics, school characteristics. Updated annually.
Funding & Spending
NCES F-33 Finance Survey. District-level spending data. School-level breakdowns are not publicly reported.
Graduation Rate
EDFacts Adjusted Cohort Graduation Rate (ACGR). High schools only. Small cohorts may be range-coded for privacy.
Opportunity Score
Opportunity Atlas (Chetty, Friedman et al., Harvard/Census Bureau). Census tract outcomes for children born in the 1980s.
Fact-Based Rankings
Best-school rankings are computed from federal metrics only — enrollment, per-pupil spending, student-teacher ratio, opportunity score, and graduation rate. No editorial opinion or paid placements.
Equity Data (Coming Soon)
AP access, counselor ratios, and chronic absenteeism from the CRDC will be added in a future update.

Questions to Ask on Your School Visit

Research shows the most important factors are invisible in the data. Here is what to ask when you visit.

High
1
What percentage of students take AP or dual enrollment courses?
Indicates academic rigor and college prep
2
What college counseling and application support is provided?
Ratio of students per counselor matters
3
What career and vocational pathways are offered?
CTE programs, internships, industry partnerships
4
How does the school support students at risk of not graduating?
Credit recovery, attendance intervention
5
What's the school's culture around attendance and behavior?
Discipline approach, restorative practices
6
What happens after graduation — where do students go?
Ask about college, career, military outcomes
7
What does the school do with student performance data?
How data is used to personalize instruction
8
How would you describe teacher retention here?
High turnover can disrupt continuity of learning
9
What's the culture around student diversity and inclusion?
How differences are celebrated and managed

Frequently Asked Questions

About this school and the data on this page

About This Data

All figures on this page come directly from US federal open datasets — NCES Common Core of Data, EDFacts, and the Opportunity Atlas — and we work hard to keep them accurate and up to date. That said, federal data is published on an annual cycle, so some figures may not yet reflect the very latest school-year changes or local updates. We recommend using this page as a helpful starting point and cross-checking with the school or district directly, or visiting the NCES Common Core of Data and ed.gov for the most authoritative figures before making any important decisions.