Summary:
Southern Wake Academy, in Holly Springs, NC, is the only school in this data set and serves grades 6 through 12 with 534 students and a 14.7-to-1 student-teacher ratio. It is also its own district, Southern Wake Academy. The school's statewide ranking fell from the 26th percentile in 2023-24 to the 9th percentile in 2025-26, and its star rating dropped from 1 star to 0 stars. Graduation rate is 79.6% versus 88.8% statewide, and chronic absenteeism runs at 27.6% compared with the state's 24.2%.
The most concerning trend is a broad academic decline between 2024-25 and 2025-26. Eighth grade math proficiency fell from 52.2% to 22.6%; Math I EOC proficiency dropped from 34.0% to 10.9%; and 7th grade math fell from 47.8% to 32.2%. In the latest year, every tested subject is below the state average except 7th grade reading, which is essentially at the state level (55.9% vs. 56.3%). Math is the area of greatest concern, most notably the Math III EOC, where only 29.2% of students are proficient versus 68.9% statewide — a substantial gap of nearly 40 points.
For parents, the picture is of a low-performing school that is declining quickly. The 2025-26 8th grade cohort was hit especially hard, moving from above state averages to far below in math, reading, and science in one year. Enrollment is only 534 students, so a single challenging cohort can affect results significantly, but low test scores, elevated absenteeism, and a graduation rate below the state average point to wider challenges. Reading in the middle grades is the school's relative strength and could serve as a foundation, but math instruction and support clearly need urgent attention. Families considering Southern Wake Academy should explore its academic supports and ask how the school plans to address its downward trend.
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