Best High Schools in Zip Code 27502

ZIP code 27502 (Apex, NC) is home to two public high schools—Apex Friendship High and Apex High—that serve grades 9–12 and are part of Wake County Schools, a district ranked 60th out of 246 North Carolina districts with a 4-star rating.

Both schools are well above North Carolina averages, but Apex Friendship High is the clear academic leader in ZIP code 27502. For 2025–2026, Apex Friendship ranks 105th out of 662 North Carolina high schools (84th percentile), while Apex High ranks 190th (71st percentile). Apex Friendship has outperformed Apex High in every tested subject in both 2024–2025 and 2025–2026; for example, Biology proficiency is 90.3% at Apex Friendship versus 76.4% at Apex High, and English II proficiency is 91.1% versus 85.9%. The biggest gap is in Math I, where only 38.8% of Apex High students are proficient—actually below the state average of 42.1%—compared to 59.5% at Apex Friendship. Their trajectories also differ: Apex Friendship’s state rank has improved from 107 to 105 over three years, while Apex High’s has slipped from 169 to 190.

Attendance and student needs also separate the two schools. Apex Friendship has a 12.4% chronic absenteeism rate, much lower than Apex High’s 18.9%, though both are better than the district (20.5%) and state (24.2%). Free/reduced lunch eligibility is 11.24% at Apex Friendship and 22.54% at Apex High, indicating a notable difference in the economic makeup of the student bodies. Apex High does maintain a strong 93.5% graduation rate and spends more per student ($8,281 vs. $7,834), with a slightly lower student-teacher ratio. Still, Apex Friendship stands out as the flagship high school in this ZIP code, combining elite test scores, stronger attendance, and a rising state ranking in a district that is already highly regarded statewide.