Wake schools outline $3B plan for growth, renovations through 2033

RALEIGH, N.C. (WTVD) -- North Carolina's largest school district is breaking down the billions of dollars needed to meet the growing needs of Wake County students in the coming years.

The Wake County Public School System shared its fiscal year 2027-33 Capital Improvement Program during a meeting Tuesday.

WCPSS Chief of Facilities and Operations Mark Strickland told Eyewitness News on Wednesday that consistent growth and public school popularity are driving changes in the district.

"We need to combine that growth rate with the age of our buildings as we plan additions, renovations and new schools," he said. "That growth component translates for us into facilities and new schools."

Anticipated costs total roughly $3 billion during the seven-year period - a price tag officials say is on par with past spending.

"Those funds will come from the bond referendum that the Wake County government will place on the ballot this fall that will fund two years of our building program," Strickland said.

District officials say roughly 3,500 more students are expected to attend Wake County schools in the next decade. There's also a greater need for new schools in the eastern and southern parts of the county.

Data from the district shows that more money could go toward existing buildings. The plan allocates about $418 million for new school construction, while more than $1.1 billion would go to existing schools.

"The available funding that we have for school construction - both new schools and additions and renovations - fully 70% of that available funding will go towards existing schools," Strickland said. "That's a huge change from where we've been in the past."

Jennifer Spencer said her son has had a great experience in Wake County schools.

"The public schools were a big reason that we moved here from Boston," she said.

She said existing buildings need more attention.

"To invest in infrastructure for the schools would be hugely important," she said. "When you look at a school like Ligon Middle School, which has been getting a lot of attention lately because it needs a lot of improvement - and there are so many schools very much like Ligon that aren't on the radar - that for sure are going to need some attention."

As part of the plan, roughly $1.3 billion could go to specific programs, including lifecycle equipment upgrades and educational equipment.

These costs could fluctuate based on future needs, and taxpayers could ultimately decide whether the district receives additional funding through a bond referendum vote.