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

Best Wake County Public Preschools (2026)

For the 2026 school year, there are 114 public preschools serving 68,725 students in Wake County, NC. The top-ranked public preschools in Wake County, NC are White Oak Elementary School, Green Hope Elementary School and Highcroft Elementary School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Wake County, NC public preschools have an average math proficiency score of 62% (versus the North Carolina public pre school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 59% (versus the 46% statewide average). Pre schools in Wake County have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 10% of North Carolina public pre schools.
Minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the North Carolina public preschool average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Best Public Preschools in Wake County (2026)

School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Quick Facts
Rank: #11.
White Oak Elementary School
(Math: 96% | Reading: 92%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 1%
1512 White Oak Church Rd
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 694-0202
Gr: PK-5 | 843 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 75%
Rank: #22.
Green Hope Elementary School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
2700 Louis Stephens Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Gr: PK-5 | 548 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Highcroft Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
5415 Highcroft Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Gr: PK-5 | 698 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 70%
Rank: #3 - 43. - 4.
Mills Park Elementary School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
509 Mills Park Dr
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Gr: PK-5 | 594 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 68%
Rank: #55.
Olive Chapel Elementary School
(Math: 87% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1751 Olive Chapel Road
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-4440
Gr: PK-5 | 1,066 student Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Cedar Fork Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
1050 Town Hall Drive
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 388-5240
Gr: PK-5 | 778 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 85%
Rank: #6 - 76. - 7.
Hortons Creek Elementary School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
7615 O'kelly Chapel Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Gr: PK-5 | 739 students Student-teacher ratio: 16:1 Minority enrollment: 72%
Rank: #88.
Holly Springs Elementary School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 80%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 5%
401 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 557-2660
Gr: PK-5 | 751 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #99.
Scotts Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6601 Apex Barbecue Rd
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 694-0300
Gr: PK-5 | 869 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #1010.
Holly Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 84% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
900 Holly Springs Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1300
Gr: PK-5 | 735 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 30%
Rank: #1111.
Jeffreys Grove Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
6119 Creedmoor Rd
Raleigh, NC 27612
(919) 881-4910
Gr: PK-5 | 543 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 45%
Rank: #1212.
Alston Ridge Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
11555 Green Level Church Rd.
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Gr: PK-5 | 917 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 81%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Jones Dairy Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1100 Jones Dairy Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-6181
Gr: PK-5 | 627 students Student-teacher ratio: 17:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #13 - 1413. - 14.
Parkside Elementary School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 77%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
332 Parkside Valley Dr
Morrisville, NC 27560
(919) 694-7888
Gr: PK-5 | 730 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 78%
Rank: #1515.
Holly Grove Elementary School
(Math: 81% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1451 Avent Ferry Road
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 577-1700
Gr: PK-5 | 889 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Baucom Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
400 Hunter St
Apex, NC 27502
(919) 387-2168
Gr: PK-5 | 675 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 56%
Rank: #16 - 1716. - 17.
Pleasant Union Elementary School
(Math: 78% | Reading: 75%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
1900 Pleasant Union Church Roa
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 870-4230
Gr: PK-5 | 530 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 28%
Rank: #1818.
Sycamore Creek Elementary School
(Math: 79% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
10921 Leesville Rd
Raleigh, NC 27613
(919) 841-4333
Gr: PK-5 | 778 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 39%
Rank: #1919.
Heritage Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
3500 Rogers Road
Wake Forest, NC 27587
(919) 562-6000
Gr: PK-5 | 634 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #2020.
Abbotts Creek Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 76%)
Rank:
10/
10
Top 10%
9900 Durant Road
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 694-0555
Gr: PK-5 | 805 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 48%
Rank: #2121.
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: #2222.
Briarcliff Elementary School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1220 Pond St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Gr: PK-5 | 486 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 43%
Rank: #2323.
Weatherstone Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1000 Olde Weatherstone Way
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Gr: PK-5 | 730 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 60%
Rank: #2424.
Root Elementary School
(Math: 70-74% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
3202 Northampton Street
Raleigh, NC 27609
(919) 881-4940
Gr: PK-5 | 469 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #2525.
Carpenter Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2100 Morrisville Parkway
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 462-6780
Gr: PK-5 | 604 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 76%
Rank: #2626.
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
1413 Hampton Valley Rd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Gr: PK-5 | 648 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 53%
Rank: #2727.
Oakview Elementary School
(Math: 73% | Reading: 69%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
11500 Holly Springs New Hill R
Apex, NC 27539
(919) 694-8885
Gr: PK-5 | 873 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 31%
Rank: #2828.
Lacy Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 72%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2001 Lake Boone Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 881-4920
Gr: PK-5 | 695 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 27%
Rank: #2929.
Olds Elementary School
(Math: 65-69% | Reading: 70-74%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
204 Dixie Trail
Raleigh, NC 27607
(919) 856-7699
Gr: PK-5 | 244 students Student-teacher ratio: 12:1 Minority enrollment: 34%
Rank: #3030.
Buckhorn Creek Elementary School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
5651 Honeycutt Rd
Holly Springs, NC 27540
(919) 694-8970
Gr: PK-5 | 905 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #3131.
Salem Elementary School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
6116 Old Jenks Road
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 363-2865
Gr: PK-5 | 776 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 51%
Rank: #3232.
Laurel Park Elementary School
(Math: 70% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
2450 Laura Duncan Rd
Apex, NC 27523
(919) 290-2333
Gr: PK-5 | 694 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 36%
Rank: #3333.
Northwoods Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
8850 Chapel Hill Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3491
Gr: PK-5 | 579 students Student-teacher ratio: 13:1 Minority enrollment: 69%
Rank: #3434.
North Forest Pines Elementary School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 67%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
11501 Forest Pines Drive
Raleigh, NC 27614
(919) 570-2220
Gr: PK-5 | 536 students Student-teacher ratio: 14:1 Minority enrollment: 50%
Rank: #3535.
West Lake Elementary School
(Math: 69% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
9/
10
Top 20%
4500 West Lake Rd
Apex, NC 27539
(919) 662-2300
Gr: PK-5 | 581 students Student-teacher ratio: 15:1 Minority enrollment: 36%

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the top-ranked public preschools in Wake County, NC?
How many public preschools are located in Wake County?
113 public preschools are located in Wake County.
What is the racial composition of students in Wake County?
Wake County public preschools minority enrollment is 59% of the student body (majority Hispanic and Black), which is less than the North Carolina public preschools average of 60% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public preschools in Wake County are often viewed compared to one another?

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