How we determine socioeconomic status for magnet application priorities

To determine the socioeconomic status of a school or the area where a student resides, we use the Wake County Economic Health Index (EHI). The Wake County EHI compares the conditions within each community to better understand what type of financial constraints residents within that community may be facing. The variables for this index are based on census block group data that include median household income, food stamp eligibility, gross rent as a percentage of household income, mortgage status by owner cost as a percentage of household income, and federal poverty level ratios. The index values are based on the most current 5-year average estimates of the United States Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, and are not subject to appeal.

To determine the socioeconomic status of a school, the district averages the total EHI of all students assigned to the school. To determine the socioeconomic status of the area where a student resides, the district assigns the EHI value for the census block group to all the addresses in that block group.

For more information on this index, please visit https://www.wake.gov/departments-government/planning-development-inspections/planning/social-equity-atlas.