Crossroads FLEX (9-12)

Crossroads FLEX, in partnership with North Carolina Virtual Public School, is a digital, hybrid/blended learning school that serves students whose outside interests and activities require considerable amounts of time during regular school hours known as “pursuits.”  Pursuits can include highly competitive and active students in the arts, sports, and entrepreneurship. The master schedule is designed to offer students a flexible schedule, so they have more time to pursue their interests. Core content courses are primarily taught in a face-to-face setting, while most electives are offered asynchronously.    

Creative Arts and Science (K-5)

This program has an emphasis on learning and expression through the integration of the arts in all areas. Arts teachers and science teachers are specialists who work with classroom teachers to help bring the arts into math, science, social studies, and language arts. With the addition of a science learning lab and a specialized science teacher, all students are provided expanded hands-on science instruction beyond that taught in the regular classroom.

Schools: Douglas Magnet Elementary and Wendell Magnet Elementary

Arts and Design (K-5)

Wildwood Forest Academy of Arts and Design Magnet Elementary School is the beginning of your child’s journey in a pathway of creative excellence.  Students will experience working within the design cycle process to imagine and make their own ideas real.  They will have opportunities to immerse themselves in a variety of arts mediums to demonstrate their learning and visualize their creations.
Through this theme at Wildwood Forest, your student may work with their peers to create an amusement park that is accessible to everyone by building models of the rides, for example.  Or, students may create a new way to communicate and then write and perform a play that will explain this new system to people in the future.  Pairing the design cycle with the arts is a powerful way for students to take control of their learning and develop creative skills and flexible thinking so necessary for success in our changing world.

School: Wildwood Forest

Museums (K-5)
Through extensive partnerships with local museums, arts centers, and government organizations, students interact with these community resources for an enhanced learning experience that transcends the classroom walls.  The Paideia Principles are applied throughout the day, which provides students the opportunities to create products that demonstrate their understanding of the Standards. Through these dynamic student interactions, the school is transformed into a museum of student work.

School: Brooks Magnet Elementary

Academy of Arts and Design (6-8)

Students at East Millbrook Magnet Middle School Academy of Arts and Design are designers, creators, makers, and performers. Using design thinking, learners will actively connect the creative opportunities our program provides to the critical skills needed to solve the problems of tomorrow. As students engage with their peers through the design process, they will stretch their understanding of core concepts, build creative curiosity, and explore an array of choices to express their understanding. Abundant elective choice is available, with nearly 100 electives in our course catalog, providing students the chance to explore novice creative interests, as well as established arts passions through leveled visual and performing arts electives. Theatre, Dance, Chorus, Band, Orchestra, Piano, and 2D & 3D Art, and design-focused CTE electives provide students with hands-on learning opportunities. Guest artists, field experiences, and student-created performances enhance the options for students to connect core learning to the real-world impact of design and arts in action. Students who are seeking additional creative challenge can take a double period of an arts Guild class. These daily 80-minute electives are offered in eight different arts disciplines. Unique to East Millbrook Magnet Middle School Academy of Arts and Design, Guild courses deepen students’ passions in developing their craft and offer deeper understandings of the art world. 

School: East Millbrook Magnet Middle

International Baccalaureate 
In the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), for grades 9 and 10, students learn through global contexts, key interdisciplinary concepts, and the application of social, thinking, research, communication, and self-management skills. A critical piece of student learning happens through action and service to the community.  Students benefit from a wide range of course offerings in the arts, world languages, technology, social studies, science, and physical education. During the fifth year of the MYP (10th grade), students complete a personal project that demonstrates initiative, organization, and creativity. The IB Diploma Years Programme (DP), for grades 11 and 12, not only offers intellectual rigor, but emphasizes ideals of international understanding, responsible citizenship, and service.  The IB DP students become critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners, and informed participants on local and world affairs, respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that make up the world. Students who choose to participate in the Diploma Programme can potentially earn an International Baccalaureate Diploma that is recognized by major universities worldwide.

The Gifted and Talented (GT) Pathway includes some of the district's oldest and most popular programs. It is rooted in the belief that every student has gifts and talents to be valued and nurtured. To that end, students on the GT pathway explore a wide variety of subjects through core subjects and an extensive menu of elective courses that develop strengths and interests. Students have the opportunity to customize their academic programs by choosing elective courses according to their academic needs and interests.

Gifted and Talented (K-12)
This magnet program is rooted in the belief that every student has gifts and talents that are valued and nurtured through this model. Students in GT schools explore an extensive menu of electives, all of which enhance the North Carolina Standard Course of Study, and all of which are designed to develop students’ strengths and interests. Through this structure, students have the opportunity to customize their academic programs by choosing elective courses according to their academic needs and interests. World Language instruction and expanded visual and performing arts opportunities are available K-12. 

Gifted and Talented/AIG Basics (K-8)
This magnet program is rooted in the belief that every student has gifts and talents that are valued and nurtured through this model. Students in GT schools explore an extensive menu of electives, all of which enhance the standard curriculum, and all of which are designed to develop students’ strengths and interests. Through this structure, students have the opportunity to customize their academic programs by choosing elective courses according to their academic needs and interests. World Language instruction and expanded visual and performing arts opportunities are available K-12.

Students in the AIG (Academically or Intellectually Gifted) Basics program are clustered with other AIG-identified students for language arts or math, according to their individual qualifications. All teachers participate in extensive AIG professional development. Schools that offer the AIG basics theme offer it in conjunction with the GT magnet theme.

Gifted and Talented/AIG Basics Middle School (6-8 modified calendar)
This magnet program is rooted in the belief that every student has gifts and talents that are valued and nurtured through this model. Students in GT schools explore an extensive menu of electives, all of which enhance the Common Core and Essential Standards, and all of which are designed to develop students’ strengths and interests. Through this structure, students have the opportunity to customize their academic programs by choosing elective courses according to their academic needs and interests. World Language instruction and expanded visual and performing arts opportunities are available K-12. 

Students in the AIG (Academically or Intellectually Gifted) Basics program are grouped with other AIG-identified students for language arts or math, according to their individual qualifications.  All schools that offer the AIG basics theme offer it in conjunction with the GT magnet theme. Local partnerships with state museums, government organizations, and cultural art centers provide students with enhanced learning experiences that transcend the classroom walls.

Gifted and Talented/IB Diploma Programme (9-12)
This magnet program is rooted in the belief that every student has gifts and talents that are valued and nurtured through this model. Students in GT schools explore an extensive menu of electives designed to develop their strengths and interests. They have the opportunity to customize their academic programs by choosing elective courses according to their academic needs and interests. 

Beyond intellectual rigor, a strong emphasis of the IB Diploma Programme (11th & 12th grades) is placed on the ideals of international understanding, responsible citizenship, and service. Students become critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners, and informed participants on local and world affairs, respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that make up the world. Students who choose to participate in the Diploma Programme can potentially earn an International Baccalaureate Diploma that is recognized by major universities worldwide.

The International Baccalaureate (IB) pathway is an internationally standardized program of study that is offered in about 160 countries and has garnered worldwide recognition for its rigor and high academic standards. IB students become increasingly knowledgeable and interested in international understandings, and actively work to effect positive change. The IB Organization offers three programs: the Primary Years Programme (grades K-5), the Middle Years Programme (grades 6-10), and the Diploma Programme (grades 11-12). Many colleges and universities give special admissions consideration to students who take IB classes and earn an IB Diploma.

IB Primary Years Programme (K-5)
The International Baccalaureate (IB) has four programmes that span from kindergarten through 12th grade.  In elementary, students participate in the Primary Years Programme (PYP).  The PYP develops the whole child as a responsible and contributing member of society.  Through the K-5 years, the community starts local and spans to a global understanding, all connected to empowering students to take action as they deem appropriate and necessary.   PYP students learn how to take control of and responsibility for their learning, therefore increasing their confidence and self-motivation. 

IB Middle Years Programme (6-8)
In the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), students learn through global contexts, key interdisciplinary concepts, and the application of social, thinking, research, communication, and self-management skills. Students benefit from a wide range of course offerings in the arts, world languages, technology, social studies, science, and physical education. Teachers ask "Essential Questions" that guide students in finding more than one right answer.  

The Creative Arts program has an emphasis on learning and expression through the integration of the arts.  Arts teachers are specialists who work with classroom teachers to help bring the arts into math, science, social studies, and language arts.

Schools: East Garner Magnet Middle and West Millbrook Magnet Middle

International Baccalaureate 
In the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), for grades 9 and 10, students learn through global contexts, key interdisciplinary concepts, and the application of social, thinking, research, communication, and self-management skills. A critical piece of student learning happens through action and service to the community.  Students benefit from a wide range of course offerings in the arts, world languages, technology, social studies, science, and physical education. During the fifth year of the MYP (10th grade), students complete a personal project that demonstrates initiative, organization, and creativity. The IB Diploma Years Programme (DP), for grades 11 and 12, not only offers intellectual rigor, but emphasizes ideals of international understanding, responsible citizenship, and service.  The IB DP students become critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners, and informed participants on local and world affairs, respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that make up the world. Students who choose to participate in the Diploma Programme can potentially earn an International Baccalaureate Diploma that is recognized by major universities worldwide.

This language immersion program offers students an opportunity to develop English acquisition as well as Mandarin Chinese language development. The NC Standard Curriculum is utilized throughout all of the language immersion programs. Students in grade Kindergarten through 2nd take their literacy, math, social studies, and science classes in Mandarin Chinese. Grades 3-5 take their math and Mandarin literacy classes in Mandarin. While students are together for their immersion experience, they have the opportunity to participate in globally-focused specials, taught in English, during other parts of the day. The immersion program begins in kindergarten and continues through 5th grade. Students seeking to join the program after kindergarten will be assessed to ensure their ability to speak, read and write in the target language appropriate for the grade level they are seeking to join. The program continues at middle and high school.

Elementary school: Stough

Global studies focus on preparing students to participate in a globally connected world. In the global studies program, students learn to investigate their world, recognize and weigh perspectives, communicate ideas, and take action. Global studies foster curiosity, respect for difference, and overall awareness of the world’s geography, cultures, world issues, and current events. Both core and elective courses integrate global topics and themes, such as the United Nations 17 Sustainable Development Goals, into their curriculums.

Language Immersion students begin their Mandarin or Spanish language journey at a pathway elementary school. In grades 6-8, students continue their immersion studies in their target language through core and elective courses. 

Global Studies/Language Immersion/IB Diploma Programme (9-12)
In the Global Studies program, students participate in a world language class and participate in a Global Studies course. This course will explore world religions, cultures, and global issues. The purpose is to give students an understanding, respect, and appreciation of multiple geographic regions and cultural areas in an effort to develop an understanding of various challenges that unite and divide the world. The Language Immersion program (Spanish and/or Mandarin Chinese) is designed for a cohort of students who arrive from a participating pathway middle school. Beyond intellectual rigor, a strong emphasis of the IB Diploma Programme (11th & 12th grades) is placed on the ideals of international understanding, responsible citizenship, and service. Students become critical and compassionate thinkers, lifelong learners, and informed participants on local and world affairs, respecting the variety of cultures and attitudes that make up the world. Students who choose to participate in the Diploma Programme can potentially earn an International Baccalaureate Diploma that is recognized by major universities worldwide.

The STEM magnet pathway affords all learners an enhanced, STEM-focused curriculum that aligns with the rapidly evolving individual, societal, and economic STEM landscape. The student-centered curriculum of this pathway equips students with the STEM mindset by nurturing inquiry (learning that aligns to natural student curiosities) and fostering the essential problem-solving skills necessary to participate in a dynamic world. Instructional and learning experiences will focus on employing interdisciplinary skills to solve authentic and complex problems. Unique business and community partnerships will enable learners to experience the seamless connection between curriculum and careers.

Entrepreneurial Design is the application of a mindset allowing students to be forward-thinking problem finders and solvers. As we prepare students for careers that do not exist, we need them to persevere, be creative, innovative, great communicators, and multi-talented. A CONNtreprenuer uses the content they learn to identify a problem in their school, community, or around the world, and creates a solution involving a good or service while learning from business and organizational partnerships. Students will hear from speakers, video conference with those experts further away, and participate in content-based excursions to see how the content they learn is applied in the real world.

School: Conn Magnet Elementary

Leadership (K-5)

School: A.B. Combs Magnet Elementary

Montessori/STEM (K-5)
The Montessori program offers a nurturing and supportive learning environment developing the whole child, including social, emotional, academic, and physical needs. Curriculum is delivered using Montessori philosophy, methods, and materials. Student-led Project-Based Learning allows students to gain knowledge and skills by investigating and responding to a complex question or challenge.

Environmental Connections (K-5)
The Environmental Connections program engages students in daily instruction in core content areas delivered through the lens of environmental and life sciences. Students at each grade level engage in multidisciplinary, project-based learning through the completion of Environmental Challenge Inquiry Units. The Environmental Challenge Inquiry Units focus on four broad themes: 1) living things, 2) earth science/solar system, 3) environmental/community connections, and 4) weather and climate. These units are grade-specific, standards-aligned, project/problem-based learning activities. Students also participate in Expeditions ~ multidisciplinary elective classes rooted in math and literacy content and process skills. All students have the option of taking these Expedition classes in theme-related areas that will extend what they are learning in the core subjects.

Schools: Lincoln Heights Magnet Elementary and Millbrook Magnet Elementary

iStem (K-5)

The iSTEM magnet program at Wake Forest brings together science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) in ways that make learning fun and authentic. iSTEM places a strong emphasis on the individual student and their learning styles and interests. 

The school and classroom spaces are designed to be student-centered and allow students to be engaged with hands-on learning experiences that foster inquiry, curiosity, confidence, problem-solving, collaboration, critical thinking, and communication.

Schools: Wake Forest Elementary

Leadership in Technology (6-8)

Leadership in Technology empowers student leaders to dream, learn, lead and innovate. Our Leadership in Technology theme is built around Dr. Stephen Covey’s Seven Habits for Highly Effective Teens. We couple these leadership skills with our 1:1 technology initiative and unique STEM opportunities in core and elective classrooms, ensuring that all students gain the leadership and technology skills in grades 6-8 to be resilient problem solvers, and successful in high school and beyond.

School: Carroll Magnet Middle

Center for Innovation (6-8)
This magnet program is part of the Project Synergy grant allowing them to deepen their relationship with valued partners at NC State University, bringing innovation as the magnet theme. Students will experience what it's like to design and create, look at challenges and consider possible solutions and make connections to the real world around them. Students will think deeper and innovate through the design thinking process. 

School: Centennial Magnet Middle

IB Middle Years Programme (6-8)
In the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP), students learn through global contexts, key interdisciplinary concepts, and the application of social, thinking, research, communication, and self-management skills. Students benefit from a wide range of course offerings in the arts, world languages, technology, social studies, science, and physical education. Teachers ask "Essential Questions" that guide students in finding more than one right answer.  

The Creative Arts program has an emphasis on learning and expression through the integration of the arts.  Arts teachers are specialists who work with classroom teachers to help bring the arts into math, science, social studies, and language arts.

School: West Millbrook Magnet Middle

University Connections: School of Design, Arts & Engineering (9-12)
University Connections: School of Design, Arts & Engineering leverages college-level expertise to inform the development of magnet course offerings and strengthens overall program rigor. Strong and visible partnerships with local colleges and universities as well as businesses provide invaluable resources. The transdisciplinary thematic curriculum allows students to select and focus on one of the following College and Career Pathways:

1. Design
2. Arts
3. Engineering, Math, and Sciences
4. Humanities and Social Sciences

On the year-round instructional calendar, students attend school 177 days but on a calendar that is divided into four 9-week quarters with a 3-week break between each quarter. Students are assigned to one of four tracks and attend school for approximately 45 days when they are "tracked-in" and are "tracked out" for 15 days.

Most year-round schools are multi-track, meaning students are divided into four groups known as tracks and attend school on a staggered schedule. For example:

• The school year starts in July with tracks 1, 2 and 3 attending. 
• When Track 3 students “track out” for their three-week break, Track 4 students “track in.” 
• A few weeks after that Track 2 tracks out and Track 3 tracks back in. 
• Finally, Track 1 tracks out when Track 2 tracks back in. 
• This pattern continues throughout the school year, which ends in late June.

This allows schools to accommodate 25% more students to help us and also helps us maximize the use of our school facilities in highly populated areas of our district. 

Track assignments are made by school administrators. They factor in parent preference as well as the size of the student population. Applicants to year-round schools will be able to rank their track preferences in their application. Students based at a year-round school should inquire at their base school to determine procedures for indicating track preference.

Many parents say the more frequent breaks offer a number of benefits, including keeping students rested and refreshed and allowing families to take vacations at different times of year. All students on the year-round calendar have the same holidays as all other calendars.

Elementary

• Adams 
• Alston Ridge 
• Ballentine
• Banks Road 
• Barwell Road (Track 4 only) 
• Brassfield 
• Brier Creek 
• Carpenter 
• Durant Road (Track 4 only) 
• Harris Creek 
• Herbert Akins Road 
• Heritage 
• Hodge Road Magnet (Track 4 only) 
• Holly Grove 
• Holly Springs 
• Jones Dairy 
• Lake Myra (Track 4 only) 
• Laurel Park 
• Lockhart (Track 4 only) 
• Middle Creek 
• Morrisville 
• North Forest Pines 
• Oak Grove 
• Olive Chapel 
• Parkside 
• Pleasant Union 
• Rand Road (Track 4 only)
• Salem
• Sanford Creek 
• Sycamore Creek 
• Timber Drive (Track 4 only) 
• Turner Creek 
• Vance (Track 4 only)
• Walnut Creek (Track 4 only) 
• West Lake 
• Wilburn (Track 4 only) 
• Willow Springs

Middle

• Alston Ridge
• Durant Road (Track 4 only)
• Herbert Akins Road
• Heritage
• Holly Grove 
• Lufkin Road 
• North Garner (Track 4 only) 
• Pine Hollow 
• Rolesville 
• Salem 
• West Lake

High
We do not have any high schools on the year-round calendar.

This school is a collaborative endeavor with Wake Technical Community College and Wake County Government. Students will be able to complete studies in one of five programs as part of their graduation credits. The school offers Culinary, Business Administration, IT/Tech Support, Early Childhood Education, and Emergency Medical Science. Through an academic foundation paired with career-informed courses and work-based learning experiences, graduates of North Wake CCA may continue to a four-year university, or apply their earned credits towards an AAS degree, certificate, or diploma program at Wake Technical Community College.

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Vernon Malone College and Career Academy is a collaborative endeavor between the Wake County Public School System, Wake Technical Community College, and Wake County Government. Students at Vernon Malone College and Career Academy complete studies in one of these Career & Technical Education (CTE) programs as part of their high school graduation credits. These include Biopharmaceutical Technology, Cosmetology, Multi-Trades Technology, Nurse Aide, Simulation and Game Development and Welding.

This school provides opportunities to explore careers in the health and sciences through partnerships with Wake Tech, and WakeMed Health and Hospital.  This four to five-year high school program allows students to earn their high school diploma and an Associate degree, college transfer credit, prerequisite courses to prepare for a health sciences degree, or certificate tuition-free. Students follow a rigorous high school program of honors classes for the first two years and are dual-enrolled in Wake Tech courses for the remaining years.

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The school will be housed at Wake Technical Community College’s new RTP campus. Students will take a blend of high school courses and Wake Tech courses, with a focus on Information Technology and Biotechnology. Students will graduate with a high school diploma and credits towards their Associate in Applied Sciences degree, with the potential to earn enough credits to graduate with an Applied Sciences degree. The school will also partner with RTP businesses to provide students with real-world work experience. Graduates will take courses and attain skills that will make them job-ready in two high-demand areas. Program offerings include Network Management, Computer Programming, Cybersecurity, and Biotechnology.

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The Wake STEM Early College High School is a small public school of choice; a joint project between the Wake County Public School System and North Carolina State University. STEM is the theme of the school’s program in addition to our identity as an early college.  Early college means students take college courses at NCSU as well as the courses required to earn a high school diploma over a five-year period.  STEM at our school does not just relate to four subject areas but instead permeates throughout the entire program as our students explore the "Grand Challenges for Engineering"

STEM has two components that we explore:

1. The world is bigger than our community, state, country, and nation. It is our responsibility to 'reach beyond our limits to achieve our dreams, even those not yet imagined'.
2. We can only solve the world's problems and truly realize our potential if we think with an engineering mindset.

At Wake STEM we follow the NCSU Engineering Design Process as our foundation to solve our problems and complete our projects.

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The Wake Young Men's and Women's Leadership Academies were established in 2012 to provide educational opportunities for young men and women in a rigorous single-gender academic program. The Wake Leadership Academy  is a 6-13, single-gender, early college, leadership academy within the Wake County Public School System. Grades 6-10 for the Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy are held in the Thompson School Building in downtown Raleigh. Grades 6-10 for the Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy is held on the Governor Morehead School for the Blind campus. Grades 11-13 are at Saint Augustine’s University located in the historic Oakwood neighborhood of Raleigh, NC. The schools emphasize leadership development, entrepreneurship, and community service. Each school serves approximately 50 students per grade level in grades 6 through 13.

Staffed by a team of educators who are dedicated to the academic and social progress of all children, they support, enrich, and empower each young man and woman to become learners and leaders in local and global environments. They prepare young men and women for life-long learning through rigorous instruction. They collaborate with students, parents, community members, and each other to create successful schools.

Wake Young Men's Leadership Academy website
Wake Young Women's Leadership Academy website

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