Stagnant WCPSS student population

The school district's student population has leveled off or declined in recent years, in part because of the pandemic and in part because of higher enrollment in other types of schools. Leaders still expect steady growth to begin again in 2026.

The school system estimated enrollment for FY 2020-21 and FY 2021-22 by counting many students who had attendance violations and would not normally have been counted. School system leaders contend technology issues contributed to inflated violation numbers. The district's data differ from state data by several hundred students.
Chart: Emily Walkenhorst Source: Wake County Public School System Get the data