Four Apex schools are on the $680 million bond's project lists, with no new school or rebuild in town. The ballot puts the tax at $4.10 a year per $100,000 of value.
Four Apex schools are on the project lists for the $680 million school bond that Wake County voters decide on Tuesday, Nov. 3. None of the money in this round would build a new school or rebuild an existing one in Apex.
The Wake County Public School System posted what you need to know about the bond on Monday. Its School Bond 2026 page lists every school with a project, sorted by type.
The Apex projects
The district’s lists name these Apex schools:
| School | Projects on the bond list |
|---|---|
| Apex Elementary, Tingen Road | Elevator, fire alarm, parking |
| Salem Elementary, Old Jenks Road | Fire alarm |
| West Lake Middle, West Lake Road | Elevator |
| Lufkin Road Middle, Lufkin Road | HVAC (heating and cooling), intercom |
The district has not published a dollar figure for any of these. It says each one falls within the $98.7 million set aside for lifecycle projects across the county.
Every school would also get security upgrades. The district’s security list says funding “will be allocated for all schools.”
Where the big money goes
The largest sums go to named rebuilds and new schools elsewhere in the county. The renovation and replacement list has nine schools. The nearest to Apex is Cary High in Cary, about five miles northeast, at $85.6 million. The biggest is Ligon Magnet Middle in Raleigh at $133.4 million.
The new school list has three elementary schools:
- Marshburn Road Elementary, $70.3 million
- Poole Road Elementary, $65.9 million
- Little Creek Elementary, $7 million
The district says the amounts cover what the bond would fund over the next two fiscal years. They may not be the full cost of each project.
What the bond would cost
The ballot question asks voters to approve a county bond order adopted on July 6. The county’s sample ballot gives the official estimates:
- Principal: $680 million
- Estimated interest: $363,387,458
- Estimated total cost: $1,043,387,458, using the highest interest rate on similar debt over the last 20 years
- Property tax: an estimated $4.10 a year for each $100,000 of property value
By our arithmetic, that is about $20.50 a year on a home valued at $500,000 for tax purposes. Your own figure depends on your county assessed value, not the market price. Our property taxes guide explains how to look it up.
The district’s bond page says county commissioners have also agreed to spend $152.3 million in cash. With the bond, that makes $832,330,990 for the 2028 and 2029 fiscal years of the school building program.
The district says almost 41% of the program’s money would go to renovating or replacing existing buildings. Another 44% would go to items such as equipment replacement, security, mobile classrooms and accessibility.
A second bond on the same ballot
Wake County voters will also see a separate $149.1 million bond for Wake Technical Community College. The sample ballot puts its total estimated cost at $228,767,016, including $79,667,016 in interest. It estimates the tax effect at 90 cents a year for each $100,000 of value.
If the bond fails
The district says “the needs won’t go away.” The Board of Commissioners would still have to decide how to pay for the projects, it says on its bond page.
What it means for you
- Who votes: Apex residents who live in Wake County. The part of Apex in Chatham County votes in Chatham and does not see this question. The tax would be levied on property in Wake County.
- When: Early voting ends at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 31. The John M. Brown Community Center, 53 Hunter St., is an early voting site. Election Day is Tuesday, Nov. 3. Details are on our voting page.
- Your school: If your child’s school is not on a list, the district says it will still get security upgrades. Its interactive map shows projects school by school. Our Apex public schools guide has every school’s zone and report card.
Peak City News does not endorse a position on the bond. We will report the unofficial results from the Wake County Board of Elections on election night.
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