- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Wake Forest, NC
Heritage High
Federal NCES profile for Heritage High, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 44/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370472003226
👥 S:T ratio 28
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 38
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Heritage High earns 44/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 81% of North Carolina schools. It is also one of the largest schools in North Carolina.
- #2 of 3
- high schools in Wake Forest · Resource Index
- 44
- Resource Index · Typical
- 18:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 22.1%
- free-lunch eligible
Heritage High has class sizes larger than 81% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Heritage High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Wake Forest, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003226 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+6 students YoY
Heritage High held near 1,817 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount).
Teacher FTE lost 99.9 → 97.6 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Steady CCD campus
+6 students YoY 370472003226 · Wake Forest, NC High · MID · TRAD
1,778 enr · 18:1 · 22.1% lunch · RII 44
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Heritage High held near 1,817 students from 2022-23 to 2023-24 (+6 headcount). Teacher FTE lost 99.9 → 97.6 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Heritage High in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Apex Friendshi
Apex Friendship High
2,748 students
- Enloe High
Enloe High
2,643 students
- Panther Creek
Panther Creek High
2,609 students
- Millbrook High
Millbrook High
2,498 students
- Apex High
Apex High
2,449 students
- This school
Heritage High
1,778 students
What this shows Heritage High reports 1,778 students on the CCD universe file.
How Heritage High compares
Heritage High held steady on CCD headcount: ratios and free-lunch share vs North Carolina and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs North Carolina | North Carolina avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 18:1 | ▲ 14% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 22.1% | ▼ 67% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 1,778 | top 3% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
18:1
Leaner classes than 24% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
1,778
Bigger than 97% of US schools by enrollment, a large campus nationally.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
22.1%
free-lunch eligible
- 67% 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
18:1
students per teacher
- 14% above state mean
Top 81% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 19% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
25.0%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$11,691
per pupil, district-wide
- below North Carolina avg of $12,294
Well below the U.S. average per-pupil spend, a notably leaner funding position that may affect programs, facilities, and staffing.
Support staff
Counselors6.0 FTE
Per 296 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
248
in-school suspensions + 102 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 13.9 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 19.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection. Includes 2 expulsions.
Student demographics
White 53.4%
Hispanic or Latino 23.5%
African American 14.5%
Asian 4.8%
Two or More 3.5%
American Indian / Alaska Native 0.2%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.1%
Largest group: White at 53.4% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 63.5/100
Simpson diversity index - at 63.5, Heritage High is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 21
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Wake County Schools reports $11,691 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Heritage High Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Heritage High's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- 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 high schools in Wake Forest
2 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Nationwide high schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~1,778 students)
Frequently asked questions about Heritage High
How many students attend Heritage High?
Heritage High has 1,778 students enrolled. It is a high school in Wake Forest, NC. CCD year-over-year: 1,811 (2022-23) → 1,817 (2023-24), nearly flat (+6).
What is the student-teacher ratio at Heritage High?
The student-teacher ratio at Heritage High is 18:1, which is 14% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 15% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Heritage High?
22.1% of students at Heritage High are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Heritage High?
The largest demographic group at Heritage High is White at 53.4% of enrollment, in Wake Forest, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 63.5/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Heritage High?
Heritage High has a Resource Investment Index of 44/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 4 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, counselor availability, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Heritage High rank among high schools in Wake Forest?
By Resource Investment Index, Heritage High ranks #2 of 3 high schools in Wake Forest, NC. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all high schools in Wake Forest on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Heritage High, 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.