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Best Public Middle Schools in Wake County (2026)
Public School Review - Established 2003

Best Wake County Public Middle Schools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 74 public middle schools serving 58,323 students in Wake County, NC. The top-ranked public middle schools in Wake County, NC are Quest Academy, Mills Park Middle School and Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Wake County, NC public middle schools have an average math proficiency score of 59% (versus the North Carolina public middle school average of 48%), and reading proficiency score of 62% (versus the 50% statewide average). Middle schools in Wake County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of North Carolina public middle schools.
Minority enrollment is 56% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Middle Schools in Wake County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
Quest Academy
Charter School
(Math: ≥95% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
10908 Strickland Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 841-0441
Gr: K-8 | 139 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #22.
Mills Park Middle School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
441 Mills Park Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1500
Gr: 6-8 | 1,632 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #33.
Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy
(Math: 85-89% | Reading: 85-89%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
567 East Hargett St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5644
Gr: 6-13 | 256 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 71%
Rank: #44.
Magellan Charter
Charter School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
9324 Baileywick Road
Raleigh, NC 27615
(919) 844-0277
Gr: 3-8 | 411 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 19%
Rank: #55.
Davis Drive Middle School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2101 Davis Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-3033
Gr: 6-8 | 992 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 62%
Rank: #66.
Triangle Math And Science Academy
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
312 Gregson Dr.
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 388-0077
Gr: K-12 | 1,904 student Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 77%
Rank: #77.
Peak Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1601 Orchard Villas Ave
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 377-1552
Gr: K-8 | 651 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #88.
Franklin Academy
Charter School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 79%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1127 Chalk Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 570-8262
Gr: K-12 | 1,660 student Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 24%
Rank: #99.
Endeavor Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
4879 One World Way
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 848-0333
Gr: K-8 | 799 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #1010.
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy
(Math: 75-79% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
301 Ashe Avenue, Governor More
Raleigh, NC 27606
(919) 508-9088
Gr: 6-13 | 335 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #1111.
Apex Friendship Middle School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
7701 Humie Olive Rd
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-8960
Gr: 6-8 | 1,412 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 40%
Rank: #1212.
Heritage Middle School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3400 Rogers Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-6204
Gr: 6-8 | 947 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1313.
Alston Ridge Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
7833 Fussell Avenue
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8044
Gr: 6-8 | 1,494 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1414.
Pine Hollow Middle School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
5365 Bartram Place
Raleigh, NC 27617
(919) 694-8880
Gr: 6-8 | 776 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 46%
Rank: #1515.
Envision Science Academy
Charter School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
590 Traditions Grande Blvd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 435-4002
Gr: K-8 | 759 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1616.
Salem Middle School
(Math: 75% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6150 Old Jenks Road
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 363-1870
Gr: 6-8 | 1,057 student Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #1717.
Sterling Montessori Academy
Charter School
(Math: 68% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
202 Treybrooke Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 462-8889
Gr: PK-8 | 702 students Student-teacher ratio: 21:1 Minority enrollment: 63%
Rank: #1818.
Moore Square Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
301 South Person Street
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 664-5737
Gr: 6-8 | 594 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #1919.
West Cary Middle School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1000 Evans Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3528
Gr: 6-8 | 824 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #2020.
Wake Forest Charter Academy
Charter School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1851 Friendship Chapel Rd
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 263-8673
Gr: K-8 | 650 students Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 65%
Rank: #2121.
Pine Springs Preparatory Academy
Charter School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
220 Rosewood Centre Dr
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 439-9448
Gr: K-8 | 1,258 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #2222.
Ligon Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
706 E Lenoir St
Raleigh, NC 27601
(919) 856-7929
Gr: 6-8 | 959 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #2323.
Apex Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
400 East Moore Street
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-2181
Gr: 6-8 | 867 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #2424.
Lufkin Road Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1002 Lufkin Road
Apex, NC 27539
(919) 387-4465
Gr: 6-8 | 1,035 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 52%
Rank: #2525.
Leesville Road Middle School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8406 Pride Way
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 870-4141
Gr: 6-8 | 795 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 49%
Rank: #2626.
Carnage Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1425 Carnage Dr
Raleigh, NC 27610
(919) 856-7600
Gr: 6-8 | 924 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 92%
Rank: #2727.
Cleveland Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2323 Cornwallis Road
Garner, NC 27529
(919) 553-7500
Gr: 6-8 | 936 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2828.
Holly Ridge Middle School
(Math: 66% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
950 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1335
Gr: 6-8 | 955 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 38%
Rank: #2929.
Martin Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 63% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1701 Ridge Rd
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 881-4970
Gr: 6-8 | 1,011 student Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #3030.
Hilburn Drive Academy
(Math: 60% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
7100 Hilburn Drive
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 571-6800
Gr: PK-8 | 596 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 55%
Rank: #3131.
Wakefield Middle School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
2300 Wakefield Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 562-3500
Gr: 6-8 | 803 students Student-teacher ratio: 18:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #3232.
Holly Grove Middle School
(Math: 61% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
1401 Avent Ferry Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 567-4177
Gr: 6-8 | 979 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #3333.
Archer Lodge Middle School
(Math: 64% | Reading: 59%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
762 Wendell Rd
Wendell, NC 27591
(919) 553-0714
Gr: 6-8 | 1,204 student Student-teacher ratio: 19:1 Minority enrollment: 47%
Rank: #3434.
The Exploris School
Charter School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
401 Hillsborough St.
Raleigh, NC 27603
(919) 715-3690
Gr: K-8 | 448 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 37%
Rank: #35 - 3635. - 36.
East Wake Academy
Charter School
(Math: 59% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
8/
10
Top 30%
821 Charter School Way
Zebulon, NC 27597
(919) 404-0444
Gr: K-12 | 1,265 student Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 31%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public middle schools in Wake County, NC?
The top-ranked public middle schools in Wake County, NC include Quest Academy, Mills Park Middle School and Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy. Wake County has one of the highest concentrations of top-ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public middle schools are located in Wake County?
72 public middle schools are located in Wake County.
What is the racial composition of students in Wake County?
Wake County public middle schools minority enrollment is 56% of the student body (majority Black and Hispanic), which is less than the North Carolina public middle schools average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public middle schools in Wake County are often viewed compared to one another?

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