Tuesday, Dec. 16: School Capacity + Water Policy + Wealth Trends
Tuesday, Dec. 16
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
🎧 Prefer to listen to the news?
Find Wake Up, Raleigh! on
Spotify,
Apple Podcasts,
YouTube,
or wherever you get your podcasts.
Wake may drop caps at five overcrowded schools.
Wake County Public Schools could soon reduce the number of schools under enrollment caps as district leaders respond to declining student numbers. Administrators will recommend removing caps from five schools and adding a new one at Zebulon Elementary, which is operating at nearly 119% capacity. If approved, the number of capped schools for 2026–27 would drop from 22 to 18. Raleigh schools that will remain capped include Abbotts Creek, Beaverdam, River Bend, and Rogers Lane Elementary Schools. The district is nearly 2,000 students below projections, reflecting a statewide trend. Changes would take effect July 1.
Fuquay-Varina water transfer plan faces regional opposition.
Fuquay-Varina’s plan to secure future water supplies by transferring over six million gallons per day from the Cape Fear River Basin is facing sharp criticism. At a public hearing in Raleigh, speakers from downstream counties warned that the proposed interbasin transfer—set to begin after 2031—could reduce water flow, harm infrastructure, and exacerbate contamination issues tied to industrial pollutants like PFAS. Critics say the town’s plan doesn’t adequately address downstream impacts or explore alternatives. The Environmental Management Commission will ultimately decide on the request.
Raleigh-Cary ranks No. 2 for wealthy millennials.
Raleigh-Cary is among the top metros drawing high-earning millennials, according to a new report from Trust & Will. The area ranked second nationwide based on factors like GDP growth, employment gains for ages 25–44, startup activity, and housing permits. Raleigh’s five-year GDP grew 46%, and 8.5% of tax filers were classified as high-income. Real estate permits were also up more than 22%. The study suggests the region’s appeal lies in its balanced economy and active development pipeline. Austin, Texas, took the top spot, while Charlotte also made the top ten.
Raleigh ZIP 27608 tops $1.1M average home price.
In Raleigh’s 27608 ZIP code — home to Five Points and Hayes Barton — average home prices topped $1.1 million in the third quarter of 2025, with 58 listings sold. It’s part of a broader trend across North Carolina, where luxury housing is surging. Lake Toxaway in the mountains ranked second nationally for upscale market activity, with homes averaging $2.4 million. Wrightsville Beach also made the list, averaging $2 million. Analysts cite rising wealth in cities like Raleigh and Charlotte as fueling high-end demand.
Nonprofit aims to plant 50,000 trees by 2050.
Raleigh’s rapid growth is threatening its nickname as the “City of Oaks,” with Wake County losing over 11,000 acres of tree canopy between 2010 and 2020. In response, the nonprofit Trees for the Triangle is aiming to plant 50,000 trees by 2050. Operating on a pay-what-you-can model, the group recently partnered with Wake County Public Schools to add shade to school grounds. Executive Director David Klemp says the goal is tree equity—ensuring underserved neighborhoods also benefit. The group is now urging city leaders to boost tree planting in the next budget.
* Subscription required.
✉️ Do your neighbor a favor — forward this newsletter or send them to our signup page.
