Schools — Wake Forest, NC

How WCPSS Assignment Works

Every Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) student is assigned a base school determined by their home address. Students attend their base school by default. Beyond the base school, WCPSS offers three alternative tracks that require separate applications:

• Magnet schools — themed curriculum programs (STEM, arts, language immersion, etc.) open to eligible students countywide via a lottery application
• Year-round schools — operate on a modified calendar with more frequent, shorter breaks; require a Choice Application
• Early College High Schools — dual-enrollment programs at community colleges; separate application with earlier deadlines

Find My School (Official Lookup Tools)

The address lookup is the authoritative answer for which school serves any specific Wake County address. Use these tools first.

Magnet & Application Calendar

The application windows below ran for the 2026–27 school year and have now closed. The next cycle (2027–28) opens in mid-October 2026 and follows the same general pattern. Confirm exact dates each fall with WCPSS.

Note: Students applying to magnet programs must have a WCPSS student ID. Students new to WCPSS (including those coming from charter or private schools) must enroll and obtain an ID before applying. ID activation typically takes 24–48 hours.

Public Schools Serving Wake Forest

Wake Forest’s rapid growth has created multiple attendance zones across elementary, middle, and high schools — assignments vary block by block. Always use the address lookup tool above for a definitive answer. The schools below are the primary WCPSS schools serving the Wake Forest area.

Elementary (K–5)

• Wake Forest iSTEM Magnet Elementary — 406 S. Main St., Wake Forest
• Heritage Elementary — Heritage subdivision area near Forestville Rd
• Forestville Road Elementary — Wake Forest / North Raleigh boundary
• Wakefield Elementary — North Raleigh / Wake Forest boundary
• Rolesville Elementary — Rolesville

Middle (6–8)

• Wake Forest Middle School — 1800 S. Main St., Wake Forest
• Heritage Middle School — Heritage HS feeder area
• Wakefield Middle School — Wakefield HS feeder area
• Rolesville Middle School — Rolesville

High (9–12)

• Wake Forest High School — Wake Forest
• Heritage High School — 1150 Forestville Rd., Wake Forest
• Wakefield High School — 2200 Wakefield Pines Dr., Raleigh
• Rolesville High School — Rolesville

Early College High Schools

Wake Forest students can apply to any of the WCPSS Early College High Schools, which combine high school with college coursework at local community colleges. Applications open in mid-October and close mid-December for the following year.

• Wake STEM Early College — stemec.wcpss.net
• Wake Early College of Health and Science — wcpss.net/healthscienceec
• Wake Early College of Information and Biotechnologies — wcpss.net/infobiotechec
• North Wake College & Career Academy

Charter Schools In Wake Forest

Two public charter schools operate in Wake Forest. Charters are tuition-free and admit students through a lottery process.

Franklin Academy (K–12)

• Address: 1127 Chalk Rd., Wake Forest, NC 27587
• Enrollment: ~1,660 students
• Notes: Founded 1998; one of NC’s most sought-after charters with 1,800+ on the waitlist annually. Strong AP and honors offerings, 95% graduation rate.
• Website: franklinacademy.org

Wake Forest Charter Academy (K–8)

• Address: 1851 Friendship Chapel Rd., Wake Forest, NC 27587
• Phone: 919-263-8673
• Enrollment: ~761 students
• Network: National Heritage Academies
• Website: nhaschools.com/wake-forest-charter-academy

Private School Options

The nearest major Christian college-prep private school is in North Raleigh, just outside Wake Forest town limits:

• Wake Christian Academy (K–12) — 5500 Wake Academy Dr., Raleigh (~903 students). wakechristianacademy.com

Additional Christian and independent schools serve the broader Triangle area. Families typically compare options through the Niche private school directory.

School Bus & Transportation

Bus eligibility is determined by your base school assignment and distance from home. Not all students qualify — WCPSS sets distance thresholds.

• WCPSS Transportation: 919-805-3030
• Magnet transportation: WCPSS provides some transportation to magnet schools; check with the specific magnet school
• Transportation page: wcpss.net/student-life/transportation

Office of Student Assignment

The OSA handles all assignment, transfer, and reassignment questions.

• Phone: 919-431-7333
• Email: studentassignment@wcpss.net
• Magnet Programs office: 919-533-7295

Reassignment / Transfer Process

If your child is assigned to a base school but you want a change, submit a Transfer Application during the application window. The 2026–27 window opened March 2–13, 2026. Approval is not guaranteed and depends on space at the requested school.

New students entering the district can request a transfer within 10 days of enrollment (before April 15) for the following school year.

Related Pages

• Cost of Living — private school tuition, childcare costs, all-in monthly budgeting
• Newcomers Checklist — first steps when moving with school-age kids
• Parks & Recreation — after-school programs and youth athletics