Wake County welcomes over 100,000 students back to school with new campuses opening Monday

More than 100,000 public school students in Wake County are getting ready to head back to the classroom on Monday.

For some, a new school year will mean going to a new building.

Parent Cruz Camacho can see tennis courts, a high school football stadium, and a running track.

His quiet street will soon turn into an academic and athletic hub as students prepare to attend the newly-built Felton Grove High School for the first time on Monday. His daughter, Mia, is a rising tenth grader and is among the hundreds of students reassigned from their old high school to attend Felton Grove.

"She was kind of nervous about it, but once we get closer, I think she's excited. It's close to her home and a lot of her friends are going to the same school," Camacho said.

Crews were seen painting numbers into parking spaces on Sunday, hours before the first day of school. Felton Grove is among four new buildings the Wake County Public School System is opening in the 2025-2026 school year.

District officials say the plan aims to prevent overcrowding in the fast-growing area in the western and southern parts of Wake County.

Of the four new schools, Pleasant Plains and Rex Road elementary schools already opened in July on a year-round calendar.

More families will shift to new schools starting Monday as Bowling Road Elementary in Fuquay-Varina is also welcoming students for the first time.

On Sunday, families attended a back-to-school bash on Capital Boulevard in Raleigh for last-minute preparations and supply giveaways.

Marissa Morais is using the event as a final summer outing with her rising first-year highschooler before she expects added busses and cars on area roads.

"I have to give myself a lot more time. I work remotely, so leaving ahead of time so I can be there on time to pick her up," Morais said.

For Camacho, the new school year means a new building in the middle of his daughter's high school experience.

"They got a nice building built in record time, so I think they're ready. It should be ok," Camacho said.

WRAL News is your headquarters for back-to-school coverage. As students across the Triangle return to the classroom for the traditional school calendar on Monday, share your first day of school photos to WRAL News or a chance to be featured on WRAL, WRAZ or WNGT.