RALEIGH - Wake County's school construction costs are in line with other school systems but can still be reduced, according to an independent audit released Wednesday.

The report prepared for the Wake County Citizens' Facilities Advisory Committee showed Wake's average costs to be comparable to seven other districts both inside and outside North Carolina. The findings challenge claims by critics that Wake is spending too much to build and renovate schools.

"I was confident it would be comparable," said Billie Redmond, co-chairwoman of the advisory committee. "We have an excellent school district. But this report gives us options we can look at further."

Redmond said the study, which is being paid for by the county commissioners, cost about $100,000.

The cost of building schools was an issue in last fall's $970 million school construction bond referendum. Fran DeLuca, director of the North Carolina chapter of Americans for Prosperity, a group which opposed the bonds, said he needed to review the report before commenting.

Wake was compared with Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools; Clark County, Nev., public schools; Fairfax County, Va., public schools; Guilford County Schools; Gwinnett County, Ga., public schools; Orange County, Fla., public schools; and Winston-Salem/ Forsyth County Schools.

The Johnston County school system was invited to take part, but Redmond said it declined. Wake school critics often cite Johnston as an example of how schools could be built more cheaply.

The study by DeJONG Inc. and Summit Consulting Services LLC found that Wake's elementary schools costs were 1 percent higher than the average cost of other elementary schools. While the average cost for Wake's high schools was 8 percent higher than the other districts, the cost of middle schools was 21 percent lower.

Carolyn Staskiewicz, vice president of DeJONG, said Wake's costs were also below or near the average of other districts in the amount of space set aside for many programs.

Staskiewicz suggested ways to cut costs, including:

* Build middle schools that combine the auditorium with the gym or the cafeteria. Unlike many school districts, Wake builds separate auditoriums in middle schools to support arts programs.

* Review the role of libraries to see whether space can be reduced considering how much information is now available electronically.

* Continue to place emphasis on buying land where multiple schools can be built to cut down on infrastructure costs.

* Continue to emphasize and encourage competition in the construction market.

* Look for ways to incorporate materials and equipment that would reduce costs.

The advisory committee was formed last summer by the commissioners and school board to review Wake's school construction practices. During the bond campaign, supporters tried to boost voter support by insisting the committee would be able to monitor the district's building program.

The committee will hold a public hearing Feb. 27 at the McKimmon Center at N.C. State University. The committee will make recommendations regarding school construction in June.