Summary
Wilson Early College Academy (WECA) serves 268 students in grades 9–12 in Wilson, North Carolina, as part of Wilson County Schools, and it has established itself as one of the state’s top high schools, earning a 5-star rating every year and ranking #48 out of 662 North Carolina high schools in 2025–26. That puts WECA in the 93rd percentile statewide, well ahead of nearby traditional high schools such as Fike High, Beddingfield High, and James Hunt High, which all rank in the bottom quarter of schools statewide. Along with Wilson Academy of Applied Technology, WECA is a clear academic bright spot in a district where small, program-focused academies dramatically outperform the larger comprehensive high schools around them.
Academically, WECA’s results are close to universal. In 2025–26, 88.4% of students scored proficient in Biology, 97.9% in English II, 93.3% in Math I, and 100% in Math III — outperforming the state average by roughly 30–50 percentage points in every subject. The most dramatic gap is in Math I, a course where many students across North Carolina struggle: WECA’s 93.3% proficiency rate towers over the Wilson County Schools district average of 25.6%, as well as rates at Fike High (25.0%), Beddingfield High (26.8%), and James Hunt High (14.2%). WECA’s success is not limited to any single group of students either — its African American, Hispanic, low-income, and gifted students all rank at or above the 90th percentile when compared with similar students at other North Carolina high schools.
Attendance and efficiency reinforce the picture. WECA’s chronic absenteeism rate was just 11.9% in 2024–25, less than half the state average of 24.2% and far below the 25–39% rates seen at nearby traditional high schools. WECA also achieves these outcomes while spending less per student ($6,572) than other high schools in the area, which suggests that its strong results come from the early-college model, high expectations, and engaged students rather than extra staff or programs. For parents exploring options within Wilson County Schools, WECA stands out as a small academy that combines near-universal academic proficiency, outstanding attendance, and consistent success across all types of learners.
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