Summary:
SchoolDigger data for zip code 27523 in Apex, NC, shows four high-performing public schools in Wake County Schools — including three elementary schools serving grades K-5 and one middle school serving grades 6-8 — with no high schools located within the zip code itself. All four schools hold 4- or 5-star ratings, and the district ranks 60th out of 246 districts statewide. Combined enrollment is 3,370 students. Every school in the zip code exceeds state averages in nearly all subjects, making this one of the strongest school clusters in North Carolina.
White Oak Elementary is the standout: ranked #2 in North Carolina among 1,492 elementary schools, it posts proficiency rates in the mid-to-high 90s, including 98.6% in 3rd grade math, and has the lowest free/reduced lunch rate (3.56%). Salem Middle is the strongest secondary option, ranking #61 of 778 middle schools (92nd percentile) with 81.4% math proficiency. Laurel Park Elementary is a rising star at #102, with the lowest chronic absenteeism rate (7.9%) and strong science results (87%). Salem Elementary is the relative weak spot, ranked #242 (84th percentile, 4 stars), but it still beats state averages across most subjects and serves the highest-need population in the zip code at 25.4% free/reduced lunch.
Key takeaways: weighted free/reduced lunch is 15.4%, and chronic absenteeism is only 10.6% — far below Wake County's 20.5% and the state's 24.2%. Interestingly, Salem Elementary receives the most per-pupil funding ($10,097) and the lowest student-teacher ratio (13.6), yet posts the lowest test scores, reflecting how additional resources support a higher-need student population rather than any school deficiency. A notable concern is a sharp drop in Salem Elementary's 4th grade scores from 2024-2025 to 2025-2026, suggesting a cohort-specific challenge. Students advancing past 8th grade leave the zip code for high school.
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