by Kathryn Allen
We are fortunate to have strong public schools in Apex, so we can all celebrate when those schools get special acknowledgement from outside our community. Apex Friendship Middle School recently received such an acknowledgement as one of four schools across the state to be named the inaugural North Carolina Blue Ribbon schools for 2025.
The North Carolina Blue Ribbon award honors schools that perform at the highest levels in two academic categories: Exemplary High Performing and Achievement Gap Closing. Two middle schools in the Wake County Public School System (WCPSS) were honored with the Blue Ribbon award — Mills Park Middle School and Apex Friendship Middle School. Apex Friendship achieved success in both categories based on their 2023 – 2024 student performance.
“This recognition is a proud moment for our district,” says WCPSS Superintendent Robert P. Taylor. “These schools have set a high bar, not just for academic performance, but for how we support every student’s growth. Their success reflects strong leadership, engaged families, and a deep commitment to excellence. I commend the staff, students, and school communities for their extraordinary work.”
Opened in 2018, Apex Friendship Middle School (AFMS) serves approximately 1,400 students in grades 6, 7, and 8 with a full-time staff of 77. Principal David Cassady credits his entire school community with achieving this award. Cassady tells us, “We believe the pathway to this award started with the vision established when our doors opened in 2018. The vision is simple: uncovering brilliance by growing hearts and minds.”
He continues, “From the very beginning, our staff, students, and families [have] worked together to build a school that connected to the community. We also continue to believe that relationships, student engagement, and a sense of belonging are essential for academic success and setting students on a pathway to become productive citizens.”
Cassady acknowledges his staff, saying, “Our staff believe that when students feel known, supported, and engaged that their academic success will naturally follow. The NC Blue Ribbon recognition reflects the daily work, care, and commitment that occurs in the homes of our families and within the walls of our building to meet the needs of every individual student.”
When asked about how his community, students, and families help support AFMS’s culture of academic success, Cassady tells us, “As our students rise to the high expectations our faculty sets, families are consistently present and provide support and communication that help us meet our students’ needs. From our back-to-school open house in the fall to our 8th grade moving-up celebration in the spring, families, students, and staff come together throughout the year to support students and to celebrate their achievements both in and out of the classroom. Our families fill the building for events such as Charger Camp, Fine Arts Nights, theater productions, athletic competitions, open house, career showcases, and the Charger Games put on by our PTSA.
“Having a wide range of extracurricular activities and student-driven clubs creates these opportunities for partnership, helps students discover their strengths, and builds their confidence. Ultimately, our vision and goal are that students leave our school highly prepared for high school and success in any postsecondary, college, and career pathway they choose. The partnership we experience within the Friendship campuses and the wider community makes this possible.”
To celebrate students and recognize staff, Apex Friendship Middle held a Blue Ribbon Award pep rally in the gym in December. Teachers walked the blue carpet, students gave speeches, and the school’s cheerleaders performed. The school also welcomed guests including the mayor of Apex, Jacques Gilbert, and the Wake County school board representative for district 8, Dr. Jennifer Job. Seeing the entire student body come together to celebrate the award was truly a special moment for the school.
When asked, “What is the next goal for AFMS?” Cassady responded, “We continue to strive for our vision — uncovering brilliance by growing hearts and minds — every day. This means responding to the unique emotional and academic needs of every new student that comes through our doors and providing them with an excellent education. We are also committed to meeting our district’s goal of achieving 90% grade level proficiency for all students by 2028.”
Principal Cassady appreciates the support Apex Friendship Middle School receives from the Apex, North Carolina community. He shares, “At AFMS, we are incredibly fortunate to have unwavering family and community involvement and support.” He encourages residents to support Apex Friendship Middle and other local schools by volunteering, uplifting teachers and families, and partnering with schools to provide students with meaningful real-world experiences. Partnerships like these strengthen the community and help the next generation of students discover and achieve their academic and personal goals.
