Apex Friendship High School

Apex Friendship High School, often referred to as AFHS, is a public high school located in the southwestern corner of Apex, North Carolina near the small community of Friendship, North Carolina.[3] The school was founded in 2015 and remains part of the Wake County Public School System.

Apex Friendship High School
Address
7801 Humie Olive Road

Apex
,
North Carolina
27502

United States
Information
TypePublic
Established2015 (2015)
CEEB code340088
PrincipalMatthew Wight
Grades9–12
Enrollment2,614 (2019–20)[1]
Color(s)Red and blue[2]
  
MascotPatriots
Feeder schoolsApex Friendship Middle School, Apex Middle School, Lufkin Road Middle School, Salem Middle School, Holly Ridge Middle School
WebsiteApex Friendship High School

History

Naming controversy

The naming of Apex Friendship High School was highly controversial before its opening in 2015. The school board had initially planned to call the school West Apex High School after a vote in 2011, but local Friendship residents, many of whom are minorities, wanted the school to pay tribute to the area's history by including the word ‘Friendship’ in its name. In 2013, the Wake County School Board retracted its 2011 decision, in favor of the current name Apex Friendship High School, to accommodate these residents’ wishes.

After the naming decision, the school board received criticism from many of the incoming students, parents, and staff. Some thought the name 'West Apex' would help students feel more connected, rather than the name Friendship. Others in favor of the name of 'Friendship' thought it would help acknowledge what the communities roots are. There were two online petitions with hundreds of signatures for each, but the ultimate decision by the school board set in place the name Apex Friendship High School.[4][5]

Early years

It opened for the 2015–2016 school year to 9th and 10th graders only. During the 2016–2017 school year it added 11th graders, and the following year expanded to add 12th graders. The class of 2018 was the first to graduate. The class of 2019 was the first to graduate after being there all four years. It operates on a 4x4 block schedule.

References
  1. Wight, Matthew. "AFHS School Profile" (PDF). WCPSS. Retrieved 14 September 2019.
  2. By. "New Apex Friendship High opens Monday, bringing 3 schools together". newsobserver. Retrieved 2019-06-28.
  3. "These Are The 10 Richest Cities In North Carolina". HomeSnacks. 2019-06-06. Retrieved 2019-10-11.
  4. New Wake County school will be named Apex Friendship High School. abc11.com. Retrieved December 18, 2020.
  5. Doran, Will. "New Apex Friendship High opens Monday, bringing 3 schools together". The News & Observer. Retrieved 2019-10-15.

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