- Enrollment
- 2,748
- Students per teacher
- 20.8:1
- Resource Index
- 45/100
High school (grades 9-12) · Cary, NC
Wake Stem Early College High School
Federal NCES profile for Wake Stem Early College High School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 56/100.
2024-25 NCES dataHigh school (grades 9-12)NCES 370472003192
👥 S:T ratio 22
🌟 Gifted program 70
🎓 Counselors 41
📋 Attendance 91
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Wake Stem Early College High School earns 56/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 89% of North Carolina schools.
- #1 of 7
- high schools in Cary · Resource Index
- 56
- Resource Index · Higher
- 19.6:1
- large classes for North Carolina
- 24.0%
- free-lunch eligible
Wake Stem Early College High School has class sizes larger than 89% of North Carolina schools. Computed live against every North Carolina school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Wake Stem Early College High School ranks #1 of 7 high schools in Cary, NC.
School address
District: Wake County Schools · North Carolina
NCES ID 370472003192 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+19 students YoY
Wake Stem Early College High School grew from 263 students in 2022-23 to 282 in 2023-24 (+7.2%).
Teacher FTE lost 15.2 → 14.5 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+19 students YoY 370472003192 · Cary, NC High · SMALL · TRAD
294 enr · 19.6:1 · 24.0% lunch · RII 56
Nearest enrollment peer: Apex Friendship High (2,748 students)
Wake Stem Early College High School grew from 263 students in 2022-23 to 282 in 2023-24 (+7.2%). Teacher FTE lost 15.2 → 14.5 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · North Carolina schools → · Find another →
Wake Stem Early College High School 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 294
Wake Stem Early College High School
294 students
What this shows Wake Stem Early College High School reports 294 students on the CCD universe file.
How Wake Stem Early College High School compares
Wake Stem Early College High School is a growing campus on CCD: 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 | 19.6:1 | ▲ 24% | 15.8:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Free-lunch eligible | 24.0% | ▼ 64% | 66.0% | 51.7% |
| Enrollment | 294 | top 78% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
19.6:1
Leaner classes than 17% of US schools, heavier class loads than most.
294
Bigger than 31% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Economic need
24.0%
free-lunch eligible
- 64% 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
19.6:1
students per teacher
- 24% above state mean
Top 89% in North Carolina - lower ratio than 11% of state schools
Between 16:1 and 20:1, squarely in the typical U.S. public-school staffing range.
Engagement
3.7%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
Below 5%, comfortably under the pre-pandemic national baseline for chronic absenteeism.
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
Counselors1.0 FTE
Per 294 students, the combined health-and-guidance staffing load for this school.
Discipline context
0
in-school suspensions + 2 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 0.0 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 0.7 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
White 33.3%
Hispanic or Latino 28.6%
Asian 20.4%
African American 13.6%
Two or More 4.1%
Largest group: White at 33.3% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 74.6/100
Simpson diversity index - at 74.6, Wake Stem Early College High School is more mixed than the North Carolina school average of 56.1.
Programs
AP courses offered 3
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 Wake Stem Early College High School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apex Friendship High | Larger | Lower economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Enloe High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Panther Creek High | Larger | Lower economic need | Higher S:T ratio |
| Millbrook High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
| Apex High | Larger | Similar economic need | Similar S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Wake Stem Early College High School'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 Cary
6 comparable high schools (grades 9-12) serving the same city.
Panther Creek High
Standard public school
2,609 students 22.1:1 students per teacher
Green Hope High
Standard public school
2,304 students 22.8:1 students per teacher
Green Level High
Standard public school
2,283 students 22.6:1 students per teacher
Cary High
Standard public school
2,044 students 16.8:1 students per teacher
Score Academy
Alternative education program
584 students 29.2:1 students per teacher
Crossroads Flex
Standard public school
139 students 23.2:1 students per teacher
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 (~294 students)
Frequently asked questions about Wake Stem Early College High School
How many students attend Wake Stem Early College High School?
Wake Stem Early College High School has 294 students enrolled. It is a high school in Cary, NC. CCD year-over-year: 263 (2022-23) → 282 (2023-24), up 19.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Wake Stem Early College High School?
The student-teacher ratio at Wake Stem Early College High School is 19.6:1, which is 24% higher than the North Carolina average of 15.8:1 and 25% higher than the national average of 15.7:1.
What percentage of students receive free lunch at Wake Stem Early College High School?
24.0% of students at Wake Stem Early College High School are eligible for free lunch, compared to the North Carolina average of 66.0%.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Wake Stem Early College High School?
The largest demographic group at Wake Stem Early College High School is White at 33.3% of enrollment, in Cary, NC. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 74.6/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Wake Stem Early College High School?
Wake Stem Early College High School has a Resource Investment Index of 56/100 (higher 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 Wake Stem Early College High School rank among high schools in Cary?
By Resource Investment Index, Wake Stem Early College High School ranks #1 of 7 high schools in Cary, 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 Cary on the city page.
What other schools are in Wake County Schools?
Besides Wake Stem Early College High School, 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.