Getting Started in WCPSS
Schools
Student Handbook
Welcome to the Wake County Public School System! WCPSS schools offer a variety of academic and support programs to challenge your student to be prepared for the 21st century. If you cannot find an item or have further questions, please contact us.
As a newcomer to system, you need to:
Register your child for school - You can't do anything else until your child is registered with WCPSS. Instructions and forms for registering children of all ages are available.
Determine how your child will get to school - The Wake County Public School System provides bus transportation to students living more than one-and-a-half (1.5) miles from school and to students with special needs. If your child qualifies to ride a bus to school, you and your child need to understand the rules for school bus riders. You also need to understand how to petition for a different school bus stop if you are unsatisfied with your assigned one.
Familiarize yourself with the magnet program - WCPSS offers a wide variety of magnet school programs offering innovative approaches to learning (Creative Arts and Sciences, Gifted and Talented, Active Learning & Technology, International Baccalaureate, Leadership, Montessori, Museums, and Year-Round programs, for example). Entry into these programs is by lottery. You should familiarize yourself with the available programs to determine if there's one particularly suited to your child.
Familiarize yourself with our schools - WCPSS operates many elementary and middle schools on a multi-track or single-track year-round schedule. If you're not familiar with what a multi-track year-round schedule means, a short primer is available. Be sure to look at the application schools: Partnership Elementary, leadership academies and early colleges.
Understand how WCPSS assigns students to schools - WCPSS is North Carolina's largest school district. In recent years, Wake County's school population has grown by thousands of new students each year. As a result, WCPSS is constantly opening new schools and it has had a direct impact on where many children attend school. In the past, student assignment was a yearly decision aimed at filling new schools, reducing crowding at existing schools, minimizing bus rides and promoting diversity goals.
- For 2011-2012, current students and new students coming into Wake County Schools are assigned to a base school determined by their Wake County address. Families can use the 2011-12 Student Assignment Finder to determine the base school for their address.
- For 2012-2013, the Board of Education has approved a student assignment plan that provides proximity, stability, choice and achievement for Wake County families. This plan will give families access to at least 5 elementary schools, multiple middle schools, and multiple high schools determined by their address. Families can see their school choices here.
- All existing WCPSS students will be grandfathered at their current school. Families who wish to change schools for 2012-2013 can enter the choice process.
- All incoming Kindergarten students for 2012-2013, and all new students entering Wake County for 2012-2013 must enter into the choice plan to receive their school assignment.
Download the forms for athletic participation (Middle and High School Students) - If you are the parent of a middle school (grades 6-8) or high school (grades 9-12) student, you must fill out and submit the appropriate forms before your child can participate in WCPSS athletic programs.
Student services
Child Nutrition Services (CNS): CNS offers healthy breakfasts and lunches and a variety of payment options to take the worry out of remembering your child's lunch money. WCPSS participates in Federal and State Free-and-Reduced Price meal programs.
Special Education Services: The school system provides a continuum of service to meet the individual needs of learners. If you have a child who has been receiving special education services, contact Special Education Services, 110 Corning Road, Suite 2600, Cary, NC 27518, or call 919-858-3149 and provide them with documentation of your child's special needs (i.e., a copy of the student's Individualized Education Program).
English as a Second Language (ESL): The ESL programs teaches the English language to ESL students so they can gain access to the NC Standard Course of Study, graduate with a diploma, and participate fully in our community.
Athletics
Download the forms for athletic participation (Middle and High School Students) - If you are the parent of a middle school (grades 6-8) or high school (grades 9-12) student, you must fill out and submit the appropriate forms before your child can participate in WCPSS athletic programs.