Wake STEM Early College High, 2205 Walnut St.: grades 9-13, 285 students in 2024-25, an A (96) state grade.
Last checked Oct. 12, 2026. Sources: the school’s website; the Wake County Public School System’s enrollment and calendar pages; the N.C. Department of Public Instruction’s 2024-25 report card data and 2025-26 school assessment workbook; the federal NCES school directory; and the NCHSAA’s 2025-29 realignment.
Wake STEM Early College High School is a small Wake County Public School System school of choice at 2205 Walnut St., Cary, run jointly with NC State University, according to its about page. It has no attendance zone: students apply. It is a five-year program in which students earn a high school diploma while taking college courses at NC State, according to its magnet program overview, and the state lists its grades as 9 to 13. The about page says the school aims to serve students who are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and math, including students who would be the first in their families to go to college, and that engineering’s Grand Challenges run through its courses.
Who to call
- Front office: 919-694-8130, 2205 Walnut St.
- School website: stemec.wcpss.net
- Applying: WCPSS enrollment page; Magnet Programs 919-533-7295
- Buses: WCPSS Transportation 919-805-3030
| Address | 2205 Walnut St., Cary, NC 27518 |
| Phone | 919-694-8130 |
| Grades | 9 to 13 |
| District | Wake County Public School System |
| Calendar | Wake STEM Early College calendar |
| State school code | 920582 |
Principal
Principal Drew Ware, according to the school’s website.
Enrollment and teachers
- State count: an average daily membership of 285 students in the 2024-25 school year, up from 277 in 2023-24, according to the state’s report card data.
- Federal count: 282 students in the 2023-24 school year, with 14 full-time-equivalent teachers, according to the NCES directory. That is about 20 students per teacher.
State report card
North Carolina grades every public school A to F. The grade is based 80% on student achievement and 20% on academic growth, according to the state’s 2025-26 annual testing report. For a high school, achievement includes end-of-course tests, the ACT or WorkKeys, NC Math 3 and the four-year graduation rate.
| School year | Grade and score | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | A (96) | Exceeded |
| 2023-24 | A (94) | Exceeded |
The 2024-25 grade is the latest in the state’s downloadable report card data. From the state’s 2025-26 school assessment workbook:
- At grade level or above, all end-of-course tests: above 95% (statewide, all tests: 59.2%)
- College and career ready (Level 4 and above): 91.5%
- Growth: exceeded expected growth
- ACT composite of 17 or higher, 11th graders: above 95% (statewide: 54.5%)
- ACT or WorkKeys benchmark, 12th graders: above 95%
- Four-year graduation rate: above 95% (statewide: 89%); the state masks figures above 95%
The full report card, with class sizes, teacher data and school safety figures, is on the state’s NC School Report Cards site.
Admission
Wake STEM has no attendance zone. Students apply through the district: the application window for early college high schools for 2027-28 runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 11, 2026, and families are notified of results Feb. 18, 2027, according to the school’s enrollment page. The district’s enrollment page links to the early college application. Magnet Programs, 919-533-7295, answers questions.
Calendar and bell times
Wake STEM sets its own calendar, which the state lists as a modified calendar. Coming dates on the 2026-27 Wake STEM Early College calendar (PDF):
- Oct. 19-20: teacher workdays
- Tuesday, Nov. 3: teacher workday
- Wednesday, Nov. 11: holiday
- Nov. 25-27: Thanksgiving break
- Dec. 21 to Jan. 1: winter break (workdays, vacation days and holidays on the calendar)
Bell times: 7:25 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., according to the bell schedule posted on the school’s website.
Sports and activities
Wake STEM Early College is not on the NCHSAA’s 2025-29 realignment list, and its athletics page lists no teams of its own; it links to district athletics resources. Area high school results are on our scoreboard and in our Friday night football guide.
More
- The school’s own website and the district’s enrollment page
- Every public school in Cary, with zones and report cards
- Our Cary schools guide for district calendars, enrollment dates and the school board
Frequently asked questions
What grades does Wake STEM Early College serve?
It is a five-year early college program: students start in ninth grade and earn a high school diploma while taking college courses at NC State. The state lists its grades as 9 to 13.
What is Wake STEM Early College High’s school grade?
Wake STEM Early College High earned an A, with a score of 96, in North Carolina’s 2024-25 School Performance Grades. In 2025-26, above 95% of its state tests were at grade level or above and it exceeded its growth target.
What time does Wake STEM Early College High start?
The school day runs 7:25 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., according to the school’s website.
How do I apply to Wake STEM Early College?
Apply through the Wake County Public School System. The application window for early college high schools for 2027-28 runs Oct. 15 to Dec. 11, 2026, and families are notified Feb. 18, 2027.
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