Wake Schools Have Most Students in N.C.

Raleigh, N.C. — The Wake County school system is officially the largest in the state, officials said Thursday, announcing that enrollment has surged past 134,000 students.

The district reported 134,002 students enrolled on the 20th day of the 2007-08 school year, which is almost 6,000 more than last year. The growth pushed Wake County past Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools as the largest in North Carolina. The Charlotte district reported 20th day enrollment of 132,281.

The Wake County enrollment growth is the third-largest in the district's history. In 2005, enrollment grew by 7,568, and in 2004, it grew by 6,439.

Earlier projections called for an increase of 8,000 students this year. School district and Wake County planners who develop the projections will review the data and revise projections for the future, officials said.

Since the official 20th-day numbers were reported to the state, another 600 students have enrolled in area schools, with about two-thirds of them in year-round schools, officials said.

The district has 65,690 elementary school students, 29,975 middle school students and 38,347 high school students. Last year, the district had 62,395 students in elementary schools, 29,031 in middle schools and 36,646 in high schools.

The largest high schools are Wakefield High School, with 2,626 students, Enloe High School, with 2,583 students, and Leesville Road High School, with 2,493 students.

The largest middle schools are West Lake Middle School, with 1,362 students, Wakefield Middle School, with 1,336 students, Holly Ridge Middle School, with 1,232 students, Heritage Middle School, with 1,219 students, and Davis Drive Middle School, with 1,210 students. West Lake and Heritage are year-round schools, while the others are traditional-calendar schools.

The largest elementary schools are Durant Road Elementary School, with 1,091 students, Davis Drive Elementary School, with 1,035 students, West Lake Elementary School, with 1,031 students, and Wildwood Forest Elementary School, with 1,025 students. Durant Road and West Lake are year-round schools, while the others are traditional-calendar schools.

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Latest Comments

Babyboy is right -- while the federal government doesn't completely "run" the school system, they do participate in a large part of how it is run. ESL programs are run by the feds, as well as the Title I classes. Think about the lunches our little darlings eat -- yep -- the federal government decides that. And while most programs that the feds demand are paid for by them, the bilingual person at my front desk that I need on staff to speak with my spanish population is paid for by local funds. Stay if you like, but learn English.

AWakeMom
October 13, 2007 11:17 a.m.

Why does everything come down to color with you people? I don't understand it how the hell do you think you know it's 2007 not 1968 - stop fighting the civil war already - it's over move on people move on ... white and black people are just plain people no different just people as for Uncle Ruckus AMEN split this county up already 134,000 they can't even handle the problems on one family and one student but they can 134,000 I think not

wakep
October 12, 2007 2:45 p.m.

Steve,

According to the CDC, the illegitimacy rates of both blacks and whites have increased dramatically since the 1960s. However, black illegitimacy has always been a high multiple over that of whites. 1940's it was almost 5x (~14% vs ~3%) while in 1998 it was still almost 3x (~70% vs ~26%). There is a significant cultural factor in effect here.

While fertility rates and demographic ratios play a small part, the welfare system has had devastating effects on all families and the children raised under its care.

Harrison Bergeron
October 12, 2007 9:34 a.m.

To claudnc:

Went to Walnut Terrace once. Had my windshield blown out.

To Harrison:

Au contraire. Fifty years ago, 75 percent of al black children were born into a family with two parents. Now it is reversed.

Only 18 percent of black women married in the 1940s divorced. Now it is over 60 percent.

Harlem of the first half of last century was a cultural center of the United States. Now the only thing saving it is white gentrification.

Prior to 1960, Anacostia was a fine, stable community. Now you can't even go there in the daytime.

Dunbar, I submit, was the finest high school to ever exist in the US.

With some research, I could provide thousands of examples where the black community has self-destructed.

And all AFTER Little Rock, the Civil Rights Act, the abolition of redlining, and the Voting Rights Act. They rightfully demand freedom and equality. They got it. And they threw it away.

Steve Crisp
October 11, 2007 9:46 p.m.

I will enjoy a dinner with my friends, and former team members (notice that I will not dishonor them by calling them "my employees,") next week. They consist of two white females, one black female, and one black male (who is married to a white woman.) We meet, we kiss and hug, and truly love each other! I treasure all of them, as I did our entire group (over NC and SC.) We were 65% female/minority and the entire group would tell you, "no tokens." These people are the best! They,and I beleive in what Bill Cosby says about black "families." These black folks despise Jesse and Al, and call them an "embarassment." These good people want to just work and live a good life. I praise God for these great friends. The black male (ex-Marine) is an ardent consevative Repub, by the way. He, and the black female are conservative,BTW. They worked for what they have and cannot understand why others cannot do the same. Good friends, good people!

weasleyes
October 11, 2007 7:28 p.m.