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Apex High

Q: Is Apex High a good school?

Apex High ranks 175 th of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

Public Grades 9-12

175^th

SchoolDigger Rank ?

of 641 North Carolina High Schools

Better than 73% of North Carolina high schools

Summary

Apex High is a public high school serving 2,434 students in grades 9-12 in Apex, North Carolina, which is part of the highly-ranked Wake County Schools district. The school consistently ranks among the top high schools in the state, with strong academic performance, high graduation rates, and exceptional results for certain student subgroups.

Apex High's academic excellence is evident in its consistent top rankings in North Carolina, with students outperforming state and district averages on End-of-Course exams. The school's four-year graduation rates also exceed state and district levels. While Apex High excels overall, there are disparities in the performance of different student subgroups, with lower rankings for Hispanic, African American, and low-income students compared to the school's strong results for English Language Learners and Special Education students.

Compared to nearby schools, Apex High's performance is generally stronger, with Panther Creek High and Apex Friendship High being the closest in academic excellence. Other schools in the area, such as Middle Creek High and Cary High, have lower rankings and performance compared to Apex High.

2,449

Students ?

19.9

Student/teacher ratio ?

$8,281

Per pupil spending ?

22.5%

Free/discounted lunch ?

1501 Laura Duncan Road
Apex, NC 27502

(919) 387-2208

District: Wake County Schools

Feeder schools for Apex High:

Elementary:	Baucom Elementary
	Salem Elementary
Middle:	Lufkin Road Middle
	Salem Middle

Racial breakdown:

White:

58.1%

Hispanic:

15.4%

Asian:

12.7%

See top rated North Carolina high schools

Compare Apex High to nearby high schools!

At a glance

▼ Ranking trend: Declining — 95th percentile in 2015 → 73rd in 2025

Strengths

✓Test scores above the North Carolina average (68% vs 53% meeting standards)

✓94% graduate in 4 years — above the North Carolina average (88%)

✓Above the North Carolina median (73rd percentile)

Worth a look

!Ranking has slipped — down 22 percentile points since 2015

!Some student groups rank well below the school's overall statewide standing

Students meeting standards (2024-2025) ?

This school68%

District avg63%

North Carolina avg53%

175^th of 641

North Carolina public high schools ?

Top 27%▼ down 22 pts since 2015

From top 5% (2015) to top 27% (2025)

See the entire ranking list of North Carolina High Schools →

★★★★★

SchoolDigger rating ?

14^th of 32High Schools in the Wake County Schools

60^th of 242Wake County Schools among North Carolina districts

Statewide rank percentile over time (100 = the top-ranked school in the state; click a legend item to add a student group)

Show full rank history (all student groups)

All Students

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	69.9	175 of 641	72.7%	★★★★☆
2024	72.5	169 of 640	73.6%	★★★★☆
2023	71.1	170 of 626	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	73.4	156 of 621	74.9%	★★★★☆
2021	71.9	144 of 594	75.8%	★★★★☆
2019	75.3	70 of 514	86.4%	★★★★☆
2018	83.9	45 of 469	90.4%	★★★★★
2017	81.9	37 of 476	92.2%	★★★★★
2016	77.4	45 of 507	91.1%	★★★★★
2015	83.5	27 of 531	94.9%	★★★★★
2014	84.5	21 of 451	95.3%	★★★★★
2013	75.0	34 of 505	93.3%	★★★★★
2012	74.1	47 of 502	90.6%	★★★★★
2011	80.8	23 of 506	95.5%	★★★★★
2010	80.8	18 of 499	96.4%	★★★★★
2009	84.6	15 of 490	96.9%	★★★★★
2008	81.4	18 of 477	96.2%	★★★★★
2007	84.5	15 of 453	96.7%	★★★★★
2006	76.7	35 of 431	91.9%	★★★★★

African American

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	49.6	180 of 440	59.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	54.5	141 of 437	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	49.3	169 of 434	61.1%	★★★☆☆
2022	60.0	122 of 430	71.6%	★★★★☆
2021	72.1	39 of 364	89.3%	★★★★☆
2019	59.9	67 of 369	81.8%	★★★★☆
2018	61.3	82 of 359	77.2%	★★★★☆

Asian

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	73.4	36 of 106	66.0%	★★★☆☆
2024	73.6	29 of 101	71.3%	★★★★☆
2023	71.1	29 of 98	70.4%	★★★★☆
2022	60.0	40 of 91	56.0%	★★★☆☆
2021	60.3	40 of 83	51.8%	★★★☆☆
2019	74.9	24 of 89	73.0%	★★★★☆
2018	81.1	16 of 77	79.2%	★★★★☆

Disabled

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2022	63.9	66 of 330	80.0%	★★★★☆
2021	66.9	57 of 334	82.9%	★★★★☆
2019	74.2	41 of 364	88.7%	★★★★☆
2018	78.2	44 of 349	87.4%	★★★★☆

English Language Learner

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	77.1	24 of 273	91.2%	★★★★★
2024	81.4	20 of 262	92.4%	★★★★★
2023	66.8	36 of 226	84.1%	★★★★☆
2022	67.1	18 of 156	88.5%	★★★★☆
2019	54.0	48 of 173	72.3%	★★★★☆
2018	81.7	16 of 147	89.1%	★★★★☆

Female

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	73.7	148 of 610	75.7%	★★★★☆
2024	70.7	173 of 602	71.3%	★★★★☆
2023	69.7	165 of 588	71.9%	★★★★☆
2022	72.9	153 of 594	74.2%	★★★★☆
2021	70.7	81 of 475	82.9%	★★★★☆
2019	75.9	68 of 475	85.7%	★★★★☆
2018	84.2	43 of 449	90.4%	★★★★★

Gifted and Talented

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	71.0	133 of 412	67.7%	★★★☆☆
2024	70.0	109 of 403	73.0%	★★★★☆
2023	73.0	100 of 403	75.2%	★★★★☆
2022	75.3	79 of 398	80.2%	★★★★☆
2021	62.6	136 of 337	59.6%	★★★☆☆
2018	79.5	4 of 100	96.0%	★★★★★

Hispanic

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	43.1	232 of 462	49.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	46.1	209 of 454	54.0%	★★★☆☆
2023	40.7	247 of 449	45.0%	★★☆☆☆
2022	40.7	231 of 436	47.0%	★★☆☆☆
2021	29.1	254 of 370	31.4%	★★☆☆☆
2019	40.1	176 of 354	50.3%	★★★☆☆
2018	56.7	101 of 340	70.3%	★★★★☆

Low Socio Economic Status

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	34.7	387 of 606	36.1%	★★☆☆☆
2024	50.1	247 of 613	59.7%	★★★☆☆
2023	37.8	341 of 597	42.9%	★★☆☆☆
2022	44.9	248 of 544	54.4%	★★★☆☆
2021	35.5	224 of 432	48.1%	★★☆☆☆
2019	45.3	171 of 446	61.7%	★★★☆☆
2018	42.8	210 of 424	50.5%	★★★☆☆

Male

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	65.4	186 of 601	69.1%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.8	159 of 607	73.8%	★★★★☆
2023	71.2	164 of 602	72.8%	★★★★☆
2022	72.9	152 of 585	74.0%	★★★★☆
2021	71.3	73 of 481	84.8%	★★★★☆
2019	76.8	57 of 488	88.3%	★★★★☆
2018	83.1	49 of 463	89.4%	★★★★☆

Military Connected

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2024	23.8	42 of 49	14.3%	★☆☆☆☆
2023	55.4	20 of 48	58.3%	★★★☆☆
2022	55.8	20 of 47	57.4%	★★★☆☆

Multi-racial

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	58.5	94 of 253	62.8%	★★★☆☆
2024	84.1	26 of 261	90.0%	★★★★★
2023	62.7	75 of 249	69.9%	★★★★☆
2022	81.4	31 of 226	86.3%	★★★★☆
2021	83.8	21 of 199	89.4%	★★★★☆
2019	83.9	20 of 195	89.7%	★★★★★
2018	82.2	24 of 185	87.0%	★★★★☆

Special Education

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	75.5	32 of 352	90.9%	★★★★★
2024	80.1	24 of 349	93.1%	★★★★★

White

Year	Avg score	Statewide rank	North Carolina percentile	Rating
2025	67.4	187 of 542	65.5%	★★★☆☆
2024	72.5	158 of 553	71.4%	★★★★☆
2023	73.6	142 of 537	73.6%	★★★★☆
2022	77.5	126 of 534	76.4%	★★★★☆
2021	72.2	73 of 439	83.4%	★★★★☆
2019	72.8	74 of 444	83.3%	★★★★☆
2018	83.9	44 of 427	89.7%	★★★★☆

How student groups rank statewide ? (each group's percentile vs the same group at other schools — higher is better; the +/- beside each compares the group with this school's overall percentile)

English Language Learner (2025)91st percentile+19 vs school

Special Education (2025)91st percentile+18 vs school

Disabled (2022)80th percentile+5 vs school

Female (2025)76th percentile+3 vs school

Male (2025)69th percentile-4 vs school

Gifted and Talented (2025)68th percentile-5 vs school

Asian (2025)66th percentile-7 vs school

White (2025)65th percentile-7 vs school

Multi-racial (2025)63rd percentile-10 vs school

African American (2025)59th percentile-14 vs school

Hispanic (2025)50th percentile-23 vs school

Low Socio Economic Status (2025)36th percentile-37 vs school

Military Connected (2024)14th percentile-59 vs school

By subject vs North Carolina (2024-2025) ?

Math III79%+12 vs state

English II76%+16 vs state

Biology60%+11 vs state

Math I48%+13 vs state

2.2

5 ratings · 4 written reviews

5★1

4★0

3★1

2★0

1★3

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What people are saying

by a parent
Friday, May 24, 2019

Unfortunately, I cannot rate this school very high. My child attended Apex HS and had only a handful
of decent teachers. The main focus of this school is sports. If you aren’t an athlete, forget it. At the time my child attended the schools, drugs were pretty prevalent and the school did nothing about it. It was a sad situation. This may have improved over time, but the school is so huge, they don’t have time to deal with all the issues. I wish I could say something positive. I recommend touring the school and decide for yourself. Close Quote

by a parent on FaceBook
Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Many /most of the teachers at AHS have burn out and are not invested in teaching. They don't teach effectively and don't work with students or parents who want help and communication. I would only send my kid there if they are a self learner. Close Quote

by a citizen
Thursday, January 9, 2014

My family is moving to the Raleigh area and I WAS very interested in Apex high school mainly b/c I thought it "looked" good on paper. I called to ask if I could tour the school while I was in Raleigh. I was told by Student Services they do not give tours. I asked how do prospective students and parents get to see the school. I was told once you register your child at the school, then they come to a type of orientation if they are freshman and upper classman can come during the summer to walk around the building. She then informed me otherwise they would have people school shopping all the time. What a load of crap. No thanks. A school that doesn't give tours has something to HIDE!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Most schools love to brag about the facility, the students and their achievements as well as the faculty. Not this one. Close Quote

by a student
Monday, March 21, 2011

This is the best school ever absolutely love it. Although the best part is AOIT which i am a part of so we go on all these cool field trips Close Quote

Schools Near Apex High

Choose columns to see: Summary School Students/Teachers Ranking Test Scores Finance All

School													Students/Teachers											Ranking (2025)				Ranking (2024)				EOC Biology (2025)	EOC English II (2025)	EOC Math I (2025)	EOC Math III (2025)	Per Pupil Expenditures (2019)
Name	Type	Grades	Address	City	Zip	County	District	Is Charter	Is Magnet	Is Virtual	Is Title I	Phone	Enrollment	Full-time Teachers	Student/ Teacher Ratio	Free/Discounted Lunch Recipients	White	Black	Hispanic	Asian	American Indian	Pacific Islander	Two or More Races	Average Standard Score (2025)	Statewide Rank (2025)	State Percentile (2025)	SchoolDigger Rating (2025)	Average Standard Score (2024)	Statewide Rank (2024)	State Percentile (2024)	Rank Change from Previous Year	EOC Biology End of Course	EOC English II End of Course	EOC Math I End of Course	EOC Math III End of Course	Per Pupil Expenditures Total	Sub-total from Federal Funds	Sub-total from State/Local Funds
Apex High	Public	9-12	1501 Laura Duncan Road	Apex	27502	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 387-2208	2,449	123	19.9	22.5%	1,422 (58.1%)	230 (9.4%)	378 (15.4%)	311 (12.7%)	2 (0.1%)	8 (0.3%)	98 (4.0%)	69.9	175^th of 641 public high schools	72.7%		72.5	169^th of 640 public high schools	73.6%	6	59.7	75.9	47.8	78.9	$8,281	$390	$7,891
Green Level High	Public	9-12	7600 Roberts Rd	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8222	2,283	112	20.4	6.4%	820 (35.9%)	102 (4.5%)	135 (5.9%)	1,133 (49.6%)	8 (0.4%)	3 (0.1%)	82 (3.6%)	93.9	37^th of 641 public high schools	94.2%		92.7	52^nd of 640 public high schools	91.9%	15	89.6	93.2	72.5
Green Hope High	Public	9-12	2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 380-3700	2,304	112	20.5	12.5%	1,036 (45.0%)	149 (6.5%)	179 (7.8%)	852 (37.0%)	6 (0.3%)	5 (0.2%)	77 (3.3%)	87.6	93^rd of 641 public high schools	85.5%		89.1	88^th of 640 public high schools	86.3%	5	81.3	86.9	58.7	91.5	$7,421	$399	$7,021
Cary High	Public	9-12	638 Walnut St	Cary	27511	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 460-3549	2,044	117	17.4	38.6%	879 (43.0%)	352 (17.2%)	597 (29.2%)	114 (5.6%)	6 (0.3%)	2 (0.1%)	94 (4.6%)	62.1	218^th of 641 public high schools	66.0%		50.5	296^th of 640 public high schools	53.8%	78	63.4	70.2	31.4	73.9	$8,602	$403	$8,198
Apex Friendship High	Public	9-12	7801 Humie Olive Rd	Apex	27502	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-0500	2,748	131	21.0	11.2%	1,790 (65.1%)	188 (6.8%)	261 (9.5%)	390 (14.2%)	6 (0.2%)	3 (0.1%)	110 (4.0%)	85.6	106^th of 641 public high schools	83.5%		85.9	107^th of 640 public high schools	83.3%	1	78.9	85.2	59.7	87.3	$7,834	$322	$7,511
Wake STEM Early College High School	Public	9-12	2205 Walnut Street	Cary	27518	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8130	294	15	20.2	35.7%	98 (33.3%)	40 (13.6%)	84 (28.6%)	60 (20.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	12 (4.1%)	96.4	6^th of 641 public high schools	99.1%		93.9	43^rd of 640 public high schools	93.3%	37	93.4	98.6	90.9		$10,774	$232	$10,542
Crossroads FLEX	Public, Virtual	9-12	5651 Dillard Dr	Cary	27518	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	Yes	No	(919) 694-8515	139	6	23.4	5.8%	95 (68.3%)	9 (6.5%)	13 (9.4%)	13 (9.4%)	0 (0.0%)	0 (0.0%)	9 (6.5%)	92.5	56^th of 641 public high schools	91.3%		89.2	87^th of 640 public high schools	86.4%	31	73.3	100.0		99.9	$9,819	$232	$9,587
SCORE Academy	Public	9-12	5651 Dillard Dr	Cary	27518	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 694-8560	584	32	18.3	99.5%	164 (28.1%)	210 (36.0%)	174 (29.8%)	12 (2.1%)	0 (0.0%)	1 (0.2%)	23 (3.9%)	2.7	633^rd of 641 public high schools	1.2%		3.9	624^th of 640 public high schools	2.5%	9	5.3	17.1		18.8	$16,937	$337	$16,599
Panther Creek High	Public	9-12	6770 McCrimmon Parkway	Cary	27519	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 463-8656	2,609	128	20.3	14.8%	624 (23.9%)	396 (15.2%)	204 (7.8%)	1,251 (47.9%)	13 (0.5%)	2 (0.1%)	119 (4.6%)	85.1	110^th of 641 public high schools	82.8%		85.9	109^th of 640 public high schools	83.0%	1	78.9	86.1	51.0	89.7	$7,426	$339	$7,087
Middle Creek High	Public	9-12	123 Middle Creek Park Avenue	Apex	27539	Wake County	Wake County Schools	No	No	No	No	(919) 773-3838	1,587	87	18.2	29.6%	925 (58.3%)	198 (12.5%)	360 (22.7%)	44 (2.8%)	4 (0.3%)	4 (0.3%)	52 (3.3%)	62	219^th of 641 public high schools	65.8%		59.3	239^th of 640 public high schools	62.7%	20	61.8	75.3	27.9	71.7	$8,441	$392	$8,048

Frequently Asked Questions about Apex High

Is Apex High a good school?

Apex High ranks 175^th of 641 North Carolina high schools. SchoolDigger rates this school 4 stars out of 5.

What is the racial makeup of Apex High?

Students at Apex High are 58% White, 15% Hispanic, 13% Asian, 9% African American, 4% Two or more races.

What schools feed into Apex High?

Apex High is fed by the following schools:

Elementary : Baucom Elementary
Elementary : Salem Elementary
Middle : Lufkin Road Middle
Middle : Salem Middle

How many students attend Apex High?

In the 2024-25 school year, 2,449 students attended Apex High.

What district is Apex High in?

Wake County Schools

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SchoolDigger data sources: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, the U.S. Census Bureau and the North Carolina Dept of Public Instruction.

IMPORTANT DISCLAIMERS: Not all boundaries are included. We make every effort to ensure that boundaries are up-to-date. But it's important to note that these are approximations and are for general informational purposes only. To verify legal descriptions of boundaries or school locations, contact your local tax assessor's office and/or school district.