Residents of the Town of Garner are part of the Wake County Public School System. This system, now in its 26th year, is devoted to maintaining academic excellence for every child, offering parental choice through our magnet programs and keeping and retaining quality teachers.
Created through the merger of the former Wake County and Raleigh Public School Systems in July 1976, WCPSS serves the entire county including Apex, Cary, Fuquay-Varina, Garner, Holly Springs, Knightdale, Morrisville, Raleigh, Rolesville, Wake Forest, Wendell and Zebulon.
The school system serves more than 110,000 students from kindergarten through 12th grade in 83 elementary schools, 28 middle schools, 17 high schools, and six special/alternative schools. The system has a strong network of magnet schools that offers options for students and families, maximizes building capacity, and promotes racial diversity in all schools. The magnet program consists of 50 schools, offering a wide variety of programs including year-round, gifted and talented, international baccalaureate, Montessori, creative arts and science, global communication, accelerated studies and other models.
WCPSS and its school board are committed to providing the highest possible quality of education to Wake County students, while maintaining fiscal responsibility and accountability. The mission of the WCPSS is to educate all students to become productive citizens who can effectively manage future challenges. Student performance is the number one priority in all schools in WCPSS as evidenced by the goal adopted by the Board of Education in 2003:
By 2008, 95 percent of students tested will be at or above grade level as measured by North Carolina End-of-Grade testing at grades 3 through 12.
By meeting every child where they are and helping them move to the next level, Wake County's teachers help below grade level children move to grade level and challenge above grade level students to be even more successful.
Such success has made WCPSS one of the fastest growing districts in the nation. The school system has averaged an increased student enrollment of 4,000 students a year for the past several years. To keep up with rapid enrollment growth, WCPSS is building new schools and expanding existing schools. In October 2003, voters approved a bond referendum that will fund a new building program called PLAN 2004, an ambitious plan to meet the tremendous needs facing our system - a system that will house over 112,000 students by the end of 2004. With Wake County voters' approval of the referendum for $450 million in school bonds, WCPSS will build 13 new schools, one pre-kindergarten center, provide comprehensive renovations at 16 schools and re-roof or provide minor repairs to 61 campuses.
WCPSS is currently the second largest school district in the North Carolina, the 25th largest in the country and the third largest employer in the Raleigh-Durham area with 12,977 full-time employees in 2002-2003. A total of 665 WCPSS teachers currently hold a certification from the National Board of Professional Teaching Standards. WCPSS leads the state in the number of certified teachers.
School Assignment: In Wake County, most students are assigned to, and attend, their "base school"; that is, the school assigned based on the parent's or guardian's home address. In some instances, the base school may be a magnet or year-round school and these schools have a base population in addition to students allowed to attend by an application process. To determine your child's base school, contact a nearby school or call (919) 850-1931 or you may also visit the Wake County Public School's website and view information on base schools and school assignment. For information regarding special education programs for children with special needs, contact Special Programs at (919) 850-1921. You must first, however, know your base school.
Magnet Programs and Year-Round School: If you are interested in the magnet program or year-round schools, the application period for the next school year is in February. The specific application periods are announced and publicized. Applications should be available at all school and at the Wake County School's main office in December. You must register your child at the base school before applying for a magnet or year-round school. For more information on Magnet Programs visit the Wake County Public School website at: www.wcpss.net/magnet.
Kindergarten/First Grade Registration: In order to attend kindergarten, children must be 5 years old on or before Oct. 16 of the current school year. In accordance with state law, gifted children who are age 4 by April 16 also will be considered for admission. For specific admission guidelines, contact the Kindergarten Office at 850-1854.
Kindergarten enrollment usually begins in February of each year. Nearly all parents choose to enroll their 5-year-olds in kindergarten even though the state does not require children to be enrolled in school until the age of 7. Wake County offers a full-day program.
To register your child, please go to your child's base school. If you need information about the base school assignment, contact the Office of Student Assignment at (919) 850-1921. Your child does not have to be present to be registered, but you will need to take along the following:
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The child's Social Security card.
- Proof of residence in the form of a current electric, city gas or city water bill, signed lease agreement or closing statement
in the name of the parent(s) or court-appointed guardian with a closing date within 45 days (telephone, cable television bills
and driver's licenses don not qualify).
- A certified copy of the child's birth certificate, which can be obtained from the county or state health department where the child was born.
- An updated immunization record. Medical evidence of the following immunizations must be submitted:
- Five DPT doses (diphtheria, tetanus, and pertussis). If the fourth dose (booster) is given on or after the fourth birthday, the fifth dose is not required.
- Four oral polio vaccine doses (OPV), one of which must be a booster given on or after the fourth birthday. If the third dose is given on or after the fourth birthday, the fourth dose is not required.
- Two MMR (measles, mumps, rubella) doses with the first dose given on or after the first birthday and a second dose given before entering school.
- At least one dose of Haemophilus influenzae, b (HbOC, or PRP-OMP), given on or after the first birthday and before five years of age.
- North Carolina law requires that a kindergarten health assessment be completed on or before the first day of school before a child can enter kindergarten. The health assessment must be completed no more than months prior to the date of entry. Physical examination forms are available at Wake County schools, area doctors' offices or at the Wake County Health Department. Parents whose children do not have a regular physician can get health assessments and immunizations through the Wake County Health Department. First-time appointments should call (919) 250-4571.
Please note that schools are staffed all year and throughout the summer. Please register your child as early as possible so the school will be prepared for your child. A special registration day for entering kindergartners is held
in February for the following school year, but newcomers arriving after that date can register any time.
2nd Grade - 12th Grade: Newcomers and those who have moved to a new school attendance area in Wake County should bring the following items when registering a child:
- A certified copy of the student's birth certificate.
- Proof of residence in the form of a current electric, city gas or city water bill, signed lease agreement or closing statement in the name of the parent(s) or court-appointed guardian with a closing date within 45 days (telephone, cable television bills and driver's licenses do not qualify).
- Immunization records.
- If coming from another school system, a completed Discipline Status Enrollment form is required. A copy of the child's latest report card and the previous year's achievement test results are helpful.
- If bringing the child's records is a problem, the new school will contact the child's previous school and request the records.
- If you and your family are residing in the home of relatives/friends, you need to call 919-850-1921, to determine the proper documentation needed.
- Please call the school to make an appointment to register your child. While not required, this can save you a lot of time.
To determine where you need to go to register your child, or to ask questions about the required documentation, call 919-850-1921. You may also visit the Wake County Public School's website at www.wcpss.net/newcomer.
Transportation: Transportation is provided for students living at least one and a half miles from the base school. For the magnet program, the same guidelines applies if the child is accepted into the program (except for extended day magnets-parents provide transportation to those schools). For more information visit www.wcpss.net/transportation.
Before & After School Care: WCPSS before and after-school programs provide a safe, stimulating environment for students whose family situations require student supervision before and/or after the school day. Most before-school programs begin at 7a.m. and end when the school day begins. After-school programs begin immediately following dismissal and end at 6 p.m. at each school. If school is closed early, the After-School Program will begin immediately following dismissal, weather permitting. Fees for before- and after-school programs are based on the hours of operation at the individual school site. Student Enrollment Forms, Parent Information Sheets, and Payment Schedules are available at each site where there is a WCPSS Before- and After-School Program. Questions about fees should be directed to the individual school offering the programs, and more information can be found at the website www.wcpss.net/before-after-school
Wake County Public Schools' Web Site
Student Assignment - Find Your Assigned School
What's For Lunch Today?
Frequently Asked Questions about Wake County Schools
Wake County Schools' Academic Achievement & Testing Results
Garner Educational Foundation: The Garner Educational Foundation seeks to improve educational achievement among all students attending Garner-area public schools through activities that encourage communication and involvement among students, parents, school staff, and business and community leaders and that support students and teachers in achieving success and recognition.
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