Wiley Elementary

Wiley Elementary is a Pre-K–5 public school in central Raleigh, NC, serving 429 students as part of Wake County Schools, a highly rated district with a 4-star overall rating. Wiley itself also earns 4 stars and ranks #400 out of 1,492 elementary schools statewide, placing it in the 73rd percentile—a solid result, though the school sits mid-pack within a notably competitive cluster of nearby schools. Hunter Elementary (88th percentile), Olds Elementary (86th), Underwood Elementary (85th), and Conn Elementary (81st) all rank above Wiley, while Partnership Elementary (70th) and Fuller Elementary (58th) trail it in the most recent year.

Reading is Wiley's clearest academic strength: proficiency rates top Wake County and North Carolina averages at every tested grade level. Math is closer to par—3rd graders match the district, but 4th and 5th graders trail by a few percentage points—and 5th grade science runs above the state average while lagging the county. The school has genuine momentum, jumping 140 spots in a single year with gains across nearly every grade and subject. Chronic absenteeism has fallen for four straight years to 18.5%, below both the district and state averages, and the 12.2 student-teacher ratio compares favorably with nearby Conn and Joyner elementary schools.

The biggest challenge is equity. While many Wiley students perform well—and African American, Hispanic, and special education students all posted substantial gains in the latest year—low-income students rank at the 27th percentile statewide, a wide gap from the school's overall standing. Gifted and Talented students rank at the 39th percentile, suggesting room to push the highest achievers further. In short, Wiley is an improving, reading-strong school in a demanding neighborhood. Sustaining the recent upward trend while narrowing the gap for low-income students would move it from the middle of this high-performing group toward the top.