The Driver Education course in its entirety from classroom to in-car instruction takes approximately 5 months to complete fully. Families are encouraged to seek the driver education course as soon as students qualify. Students have to be 14.5 years old at the start date of the course to qualify for instruction. 

Registration for 2024-25 

BEHIND THE WHEEL TRAINING: We are currently contacting and driving students from FEBRUARY/MARCH 2024 course sections with the oldest students in the section receiving priority. The current wait time for Behind the Wheel instruction at Athens Drive HS is 18-22 weeks once a student completes the classroom portion of the course. Students and their parents/guardians may use a Private Driving School. If this is your decision, please visit https://jordandriving.com/in-and-out-transfers/ to start the process.

The goal of the Wake County Public School System and its driver education contractor, Jordan Driving School (JDS), is to provide a quality driver education program to all students in a safe and timely manner. The North Carolina Division of Motor Vehicles (DMV) requires 30 hours of classroom instruction and six hours of behind-the-wheel training. The average time to complete the Driver Education class, from registration through the classroom and driving phases, is four months. Students wanting their permits by age 15 must register on or before the age of 14 years, eight months. Students with extracurricular activities or jobs may take longer due to conflicts with scheduling driver education.

There are no academic requirements in order to take the driver education class. There are academic requirements in order to apply for a permit or license after finishing the driver education class.

Students should complete and submit a registration form. Once students are assigned to a class, they will be notified to pay the $65.00 fee in order to finalize their registration. Students that are dismissed from driver education class due to behavior or attendance problems will not be allowed to take driver education a second time through the Wake County Public School System.

Parents are highly encouraged to attend a parent-teen meeting, held on the last day of the classroom session for driver education students. This meeting will inform parents and students of behind-the-wheel procedures and provide best practices for parents teaching teens to drive.  Attending parents will receive a Parent-Teen Driver Training Manual and DVD designed to give parents proper driving techniques and lessons, to help themselves and their teen, during Phase 1 of graduated licensing.

Registration Information

You must be 14½ years of age by the first day of class for the required 30-hour classroom portion. Driver Education is offered through a private contractor, Jordan Driving School, after school hours, Saturdays, holiday breaks and during summer months. Driver Education is offered to each eligible student residing within Wake County, who pays a $65 fee to register for a class. A lead teacher at each of the WCPSS high schools is assigned to administer the Driver Education program. Register Here.

Additional Information

For additional information, a message may be left for the lead teacher, who will return the call as soon as possible. You may also visit the Jordan Driving School website: www.jordandriving.com. On the website you will find general information, email addresses for the lead teachers, specific classroom dates and a list of additional classes that might be available. For Behind the Wheel questions or information specific to your school, contact your lead teacher.

Additional Contact Information for Driver Education: