- Published on
- Mar 10th 2022
How to navigate the high school years and make your child stand out in college
Wondering how to navigate the high school years and make your child stand out in the college application process?
Does the child's high school matter for college admissions?
The high school a student comes from, and the school performance statistics, provides an important context to college admission officers as they interpret the student’s application.
The following data provides an insight into the current landscape of WCPSS high schools. Some of the indicators that describe the trends and performance of our public schools in Wake county are also shown below:
WCPSS schools with the highest average SAT scores (Class of 2021 Graduating Seniors):
| High School | Average SAT Score |
|---|---|
| Wake STEM Early College | 1332 |
| William G. Enloe | 1293 |
| Green Hope High | 1269 |
| Panther Creek High | 1269 |
| Apex High | 1224 |
Highest ranking WCPSS schools with graduates scoring unweighted GPA 3.0 or higher (2020):
| High School | Graduates with GPA 3 or Higher (%) |
|---|---|
| Wake STEM Early College | 89.1 |
| Wake Young Men’s Leadership Academy | 85.7 |
| Green Hope High | 77.5 |
| Panther Creek High | 74.5 |
| Apex Friendship High | 72.2 |
| WCPSS Mean | 57.1 |
Highest ranking WCPSS schools with AP Exams scoring 3 or higher (2021 AP Test Results):
| High School | AP Exams Scoring 3 or Higher (%) |
|---|---|
| William G. Enloe | 73.1 |
| Green Hope High | 73.1 |
| Panther Creek High | 69.1 |
| Green Level High | 63.8 |
| Cary High | 63.7 |
WCPSS Class of 2021 Senior Snapshot:
- 11,892 Seniors in 34 High Schools
- 90.5% Graduation Rate
- 69% Enrolled in College After Graduation
- 109 National Merit Semi-finalists and 15 National Merit Scholars
Landscape of public colleges/universities in North Carolina
The University of North Carolina System comprises 17 public institutions. This portal illustrates where all the campuses are located along with links to each university’s website.
Go to the admissions requirements page to find information about the UNC System’s minimum eligibility requirements. You will also find direct links to every institution’s admissions page.
The 82/18 Rule mandates that no more than 18% of out-of-state incoming first-year students may enroll at UNC system schools, ensuring room for 82% in-state enrollment.
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UNC Chapel Hill UNC System’s flagship university, UNC-Chapel Hill received 53,775 first-year applications for Fall 2021. The overall acceptance rate was 19.2 percent. Out of this, the acceptance for North Carolina applicants is 42.2% and 10.5 % for out-of-state applicants.
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North Carolina State University (NCSU) For Fall 2021, NCSU received 32,907 first-year applications and had a 47.4% acceptance rate. 15.6% of the incoming class (5011 first-year students) was from out-of-state.
Students who meet and maintain permanent residency requirements in North Carolina pay in-state tuition at public colleges, which is lower than what out-of-state and international students pay to attend a public state school.
In North Carolina, The Fixed Tuition Program holds the price of tuition constant for students who remain continuously enrolled and on track to graduate on schedule. Additionally, the NC Promise Tuition Plan lowers the cost of tuition at three UNC System institutions to just $500 a semester.
How much does going to college cost typically?
Public college
7K
Approximately cost per year in NC
Private college
40K
Approximate cost per year in NC (*costs vary widely)
| College/University | In-State Tuition | Out-of-State Tuition |
|---|---|---|
| Appalachian State University | $4,242 | $19,049 |
| East Carolina University | $3,620 | $11,758 |
| Elizabeth City State University | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Fayetteville State University | $2,982 | $14,590 |
| North Carolina A&T State University | $9,274 | $22,784 |
| North Carolina Central University | $3,728 | $16,435 |
| North Carolina State University | $9,100 | $29,220 |
| University of North Carolina Asheville | $4,122 | $20,845 |
| University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | $7,019 | $33,202 |
| University of North Carolina at Charlotte | $7,188 | $20,622 |
| University of North Carolina at Greensboro | $7,403 | $22,562 |
| University of North Carolina at Pembroke | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| University of North Carolina Wilmington | $4,510 | $19,063 |
| Western Carolina University | $1,000 | $5,000 |
| Winston-Salem State University | $3,401 | $13,148 |
| University of North Carolina School of the Arts | $6,497 | $23,731 |
Private colleges could be quite expensive. For example, Duke university costs about $58000 for undergrad per year. About 60% of students receive some form of grant. So students on average pay about $28,718
So where did the high school graduates of 2020-21 go after finishing school?
Public/community college in NC
62.7%
If a student did highschool in NC
Public/community college in NC
76.7%
If a student did highschool in Wake county
Here is a comparison of the future plans of High School graduates from WCPSS vs. North Carolina:
Summary of Future Plans of High School graduates in Wake County Schools:
| Future Plans | Percentage of Graduating Class (2020-21) |
|---|---|
| Public 4-year Institution in NC | 53.7 |
| Public 4-year Institution Out-of-State | 4.1 |
| Private 4-year Institution in NC | 3.5 |
| Private 4-year Institution Out-of-State | 3.3 |
| Community College in NC | 23.0 |
| Community College Out-of-State | 0.5 |
| Private 2-year College in NC | 0.2 |
| Private 2-year College Out-of-State | 0.0 |
| Trade Business in NC | 0.6 |
| Trade Business Out-of-State | 0.1 |
| Military | 1.9 |
| Employment | 6.8 |
| Other | 2.3 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Summary of Future Plans of High School graduates in the state of North Carolina:
| Future Plans | Percentage of Graduating Class (2020-21) |
|---|---|
| Public 4-year Institution in NC | 32.2 |
| Public 4-year Institution Out-of-State | 3.4 |
| Private 4-year Institution in NC | 4.7 |
| Private 4-year Institution Out-of-State | 2.4 |
| Community College in NC | 30.5 |
| Community College Out-of-State | 1.0 |
| Private 2-year College in NC | 0.2 |
| Private 2-year College Out-of-State | 0.1 |
| Trade Business in NC | 0.9 |
| Trade Business Out-of-State | 0.1 |
| Military | 3.1 |
| Employment | 18.6 |
| Other | 2.8 |
| TOTAL | 100 |
Summary
Most of the kids in NC are poised to get good education in our high schools and have a chance to get into top-tier institutions within the state.
For additional insights related to college planning and admissions, join Free Facebook Group, or Whatsapp group or email Preeti Bhatia, Founder and CEO of SoarHQ Admissions, at [email protected]. You can also reach her via WhatsApp
Content for this article is provided to us by Preeti Bhatia, Founder and CEO of SoarHQ Admissions. ChaiBuzz is only providing this as a content that benefits readers. This is not an endorsement of any views. There is no monetary compensation involved.
Tags: education
