Enrollment
1,412
North Carolina · 2024-25 NCES data
Middle school (grades 6-8) · Apex, NC
Apex Friendship Middle
Federal NCES profile for Apex Friendship Middle, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 49/100.
2024-25 NCES dataMiddle school (grades 6-8)NCES 370472003470
👥 S:T ratio 26
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 29
📋 Attendance 69
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Apex Friendship Middle earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #3 of 5
- middle schools in Apex · Resource Index
- 49
- Resource Index · Higher
- 18.6:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 10.4%
- free-lunch eligible
Apex Friendship Middle has class sizes larger than 84% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Apex Friendship Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in Apex, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003470 Verify on NCES CCD record →
Teachers (FTE)
76.0
Federal CCD staff survey
Students per teacher
18.6:1
vs 15.8:1 North Carolina avg
+18% vs state
Free-lunch eligible
10.4%
vs 66.0% North Carolina avg
-84% vs state
Student-teacher ratio in context
How Apex Friendship Middle compares with North Carolina and U.S. medians
What stands out at Apex Friendship Middle
Apex Friendship Middle is a lower-poverty, large middle school in Apex, North Carolina, enrolling 1,412 students.
Class loads run somewhat heavier than typical: 18.6:1 puts it in the larger third of North Carolina schools by student-teacher ratio.
Comparatively few students face economic hardship here, 10.4% free-meal eligibility runs 84% below the North Carolina average.
By headcount it is one of the larger campuses in North Carolina, bigger than 95% of state schools at 1,412 students.
Its Resource Investment Index lands in the upper third of 2,698 scored North Carolina schools.
Against 56 statewide peers matched on enrollment and economic need, it ranks in the upper tier at #7.
Its student body is led by White (60%) and Asian (21%) (diversity index 58/100).
Counselor availability sits well past the ASCA benchmark, roughly 353 students sharing each counselor, though short of the most stretched campuses.
12.3% of students were chronically absent in the 2021-22 collection, in line with the post-pandemic national range.
Its district draws 16.6% of revenue from federal sources, an above-typical federal share that tends to track a higher-need student population.
Among Apex's middle schools, it stands alongside Salem Middle (1,057 students): Apex Friendship Middle is larger than that campus by headcount and runs heavier classes (18.6:1 vs 16.5:1).
Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students) and Enloe High (2,643 students) alongside Apex Friendship Middle.
Sourced from NCES CCD, CRDC, and F-33 (federal records, not a quality verdict). How we source and compute this.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics Common Core of Data + CRDC + F-33 · 2024-25
How Apex Friendship Middle compares
Apex Friendship Middle on the metrics families compare, against North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18.6:1 | ▲ 18% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 10.4% | ▼ 84% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,412 | top 5% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18.6:1
Leaner classes than 22% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,412
Bigger than 96% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators (what these measure)
Economic need
10.4%
free-lunch eligible
- 84% below the North Carolina average of 66.0%
Below the 40% Title I threshold, among the lower-need profiles in the state; federal aid targets individual qualifying students rather than schoolwide programs.
Staffing depth
18.6:1
students per teacher
- 18% above state mean
Top 84% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 16% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
12.3%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
In the 10-15% range, above the pre-pandemic national baseline but within the broader post-pandemic picture.
Funding equity
$11,859
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,017
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors4.0 FTE
Per 353 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
169
in-school suspensions + 44 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 12.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 15.1 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Overview
- Common Core of Data (June 2026): enrollment, staffing, and the student-teacher ratio above.
- Civil Rights Data Collection: discipline counts and program access (AP, gifted, special education).
- F-33 School District Finance Survey: the district-wide per-pupil spending figures below.
Three separate federal collections, each on its own reporting cadence - which is why this school's numbers line up on a consistent basis against every other school and state on this site, rather than mixing figures pulled from different survey years.
Student demographics
White 60.1%
Asian 21.4%
Hispanic or Latino 8.1%
African American 5.5%
Two or More 4.8%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.1%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 60.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 58.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 58.1, Apex Friendship Middle is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
Funding & spending
District-wide per-pupil expenditure for Wake County Schools, which includes Apex Friendship Middle.
$11,859
Per student
-1%
vs North Carolina
Avg $12,017
-29%
vs U.S.
Avg $16,593
Revenue mix
Local 28.9%
State 54.5%
Federal 16.6%
Source: NCES F-33 School District Finance Survey District-level finance · FY 2021-22 Per-pupil expenditure reflects the district-wide average. Individual school budgets are not reported at the federal level.
How Apex Friendship Middle Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Higher economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Apex Friendship Middle's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
- Enrollment
- 2,643
- Students per teacher
- 18.5:1
- Resource Index
- 41/100
- Enrollment
- 2,609
- Students per teacher
- 22.1:1
- Resource Index
- 43/100
- Enrollment
- 2,498
- Students per teacher
- 19.7:1
- Resource Index
- 34/100
- Enrollment
- 2,449
- Students per teacher
- 19.3:1
- Resource Index
- 42/100
Similar middle schools in Apex
4 comparable middle schools (grades 6-8) serving the same city.
Salem Middle
Standard public school
1,057 students 16.5:1 students per teacher
Lufkin Road Middle
Standard public school
1,035 students 16.4:1 students per teacher
Apex Middle
Standard public school
867 students 16.1:1 students per teacher
West Lake Middle
Standard public school
687 students 14.3:1 students per teacher
Similar middle schools statewide
Matched by enrollment size and by staffing ratio across all of North Carolina, not just this city - a different peer set than the local comparisons above.
Similar enrollment (~1,412 students)
Similar student-teacher ratio (~18.6:1)
Next steps
Verify locally before acting on Apex Friendship Middle's federal record.
- Compare Apex Friendship Middle against another school. Compare schools
- Wake County Schools's spending and staffing shape this school. District profile
- Confirm current enrollment and boundaries with the school. Choosing guide
Federal record (CCD 2024-25, CRDC 2021-22) - PlainSchools assigns no subjective rating; the composite quality score is a transparent, reproducible index computed from this cited federal data.
Frequently asked questions about Apex Friendship Middle
How many students attend Apex Friendship Middle?
Apex Friendship Middle has 1,412 students enrolled. It is a middle school in Apex, NC.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Apex Friendship Middle?
The student-teacher ratio at Apex Friendship Middle is 18.6:1, which is 18% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 18% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Apex Friendship Middle?
10.4% of students at Apex Friendship Middle are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Apex Friendship Middle?
The largest demographic group at Apex Friendship Middle is White at 60.1% of enrollment, in Apex, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 58.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Apex Friendship Middle?
Apex Friendship Middle has a Resource Investment Index of 49/100 (higher reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, counselor availability, attendance rates. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Apex Friendship Middle rank among middle schools in Apex?
By Resource Investment Index, Apex Friendship Middle ranks #3 of 5 middle schools in Apex, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all middle schools in Apex on the city page.
Is Apex Friendship Middle a good school?
Apex Friendship Middle earns 49/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 84% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina. This is a resource snapshot, not an academic rating; see the Resource Investment Index question above for what the number does and doesn't measure.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Apex Friendship Middle, Wake County Schools also operates Apex Friendship High (2,748 students), Enloe High (2,643 students), and Panther Creek High (2,609 students). See the Wake County Schools district page for the complete list.
Related tools
Every figure on PlainSchools is rendered directly from the source NCES, CRDC and F-33 federal records, no number is typed in by an editor. Each school's figures reflect its most recent NCES/CRDC submission on file. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error. Data current as of June 2026.