Cary High School

638 Walnut St
Cary, NC 27511
(School attendance zone shown in map)
9/
10
Top 20%
Serving 2,145 students in grades 9-12, Cary High School ranks in the top 20% of all schools in North Carolina for overall test scores (math proficiency is top 30%, and reading proficiency is top 30%).
The percentage of students achieving proficiency in math is 65% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 51%). The percentage of students achieving proficiency in reading/language arts is 66% (which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 50%).
The student:teacher ratio of 18:1 is higher than the North Carolina state level of 15:1.
Minority enrollment is 57% of the student body (majority Hispanic), which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 2,145 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 57%
  • : 84% (Btm 50% in NC)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 65% (Top 30%)
  • : 66% (Top 20%)
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Top Rankings

Cary High School ranks among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina for:

School Overview

Cary High School's student population of 2,145 students has declined by 6% over five school years.
The teacher population of 122 teachers has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
School Type
Grades Offered
Grades 9-12
Total Students
2,145 students
This chart displays total students of Cary High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Gender %
This chart displays gender of Cary High School
Total Classroom Teachers
122 teachers
This chart displays the total teachers of Cary High School by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Students by Grade
This chart displays the students of Cary High School by grade.

School Rankings

Cary High School ranks within the top 20% of all 2,617 schools in North Carolina (based off of combined math and reading proficiency testing data).
The diversity score of Cary High School is 0.70, which is less than the diversity score at state average of 0.71. The school's diversity has stayed relatively flat over five school years.
This School
State Level (NC)
#511 out of 2617 schools
(Top 20%)
This chart displays the overall school rank of Cary High School, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
65%
51%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of Cary High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Math of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
66%
50%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of Cary High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Reading/Language Arts of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
47%
63%
This chart displays the percentage of students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of Cary High School and the percentage of public school students that scored at or above 'proficient' levels in Science of public schools in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Student : Teacher Ratio
18:1
15:1
This chart displays the student teacher ratio of Cary High School and the public school average student teacher ratio of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
American Indian
n/a
1%
This chart displays the percentage of American Indian students in Cary High School and percentage of American Indian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2019-20 school year data.
Asian
5%
4%
This chart displays the percentage of Asian students in Cary High School and the percentage of Asian public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hispanic
29%
20%
This chart displays the percentage of Hispanic students in Cary High School and the percentage of Hispanic public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Black
18%
25%
This chart displays the percentage of Black students in Cary High School and the percentage of Black public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
White
43%
44%
This chart displays the percentage of White students in Cary High School and the percentage of White public school students in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Hawaiian
n/a
n/a
Two or more races
5%
6%
This chart displays the percentage of students of two or more races in Cary High School and the percentage of public school students of two or more races in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
All Ethnic Groups
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of students of all ethnic groups in Cary High School.
This chart displays the percentage breakdown of public school students of all ethnic groups in North Carolina.
0.70
This chart displays the diversity score of Cary High School and the public school average diversity score of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
84%
86%
This chart displays graduation rate of Cary High School and public school graduation rate of North Carolina by year, with the latest 2021-22 school year data.
Participates in the National School Lunch Program (NSLP)
Yes
Eligible for Free Lunch
36%
57%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for free lunch in Cary High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for free lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Eligible for Reduced Lunch
3%
3%
This chart displays the percentage of students who is eligible for reduced lunch in Cary High School and the percentage of public school students who is eligible for reduced lunch in North Carolina by year, with the latest 2022-23 school year data.
Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cary High School's ranking?
Cary High School is ranked #511 out of 2,617 schools, which ranks it among the top 20% of public schools in North Carolina.
What schools are Cary High School often compared to?
Cary High Schoolis often viewed alongside schools like Apex High School by visitors of our site.
What percent of students have achieved state testing proficiency in math and reading?
65% of students have achieved math proficiency (compared to the 51% NC state average), while 66% of students have achieved reading proficiency (compared to the 50% NC state average).
What is the graduation rate of Cary High School?
The graduation rate of Cary High School is 84%, which is lower than the North Carolina state average of 86%.
How many students attend Cary High School?
2,145 students attend Cary High School.
What is the racial composition of the student body?
43% of Cary High School students are White, 29% of students are Hispanic, 18% of students are Black, 5% of students are Asian, and 5% of students are Two or more races.
What is the student:teacher ratio of Cary High School?
Cary High School has a student ration of 18:1, which is higher than the North Carolina state average of 15:1.
What grades does Cary High School offer ?
Cary High School offers enrollment in grades 9-12
What school district is Cary High School part of?
Cary High School is part of Wake County Schools School District.

School Reviews

5   2/25/2011
The faculty of this school consistently challenges and nurtures the students. The music and drama programs are beyond excellent, and the arts are supported by the administration and the school system.
- Posted by Parent - atara

Review Cary High School. Reviews should be a few sentences in length. Please include any comments on:

  • Quality of academic programs, teachers, and facilities
  • Availability of music, art, sports and other extracurricular activities
Rate this school:

Recent Articles

Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
Drug Testing Teachers: Testing Positive or Negative?
This article examines the ongoing debate about drug testing for teachers in public schools. It discusses the rationale behind such policies, privacy concerns, cost implications, and the relatively low prevalence of drug use among educators. The piece also explores future considerations for drug testing policies in educational settings.
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Head in the Clouds: Why Public Schools are Embracing Cloud Computing
Explore how public schools are integrating cloud computing into their educational frameworks. Understand the advantages such as enhanced collaboration, cost savings, and accessibility, as well as the challenges schools face in adopting this technology.
Understanding Rubrics
September 27, 2024
Understanding Rubrics
This article explores the fundamental principles of rubrics in education, focusing on their role as assessment tools. It breaks down the key components of rubrics, including criteria, performance levels, and descriptors. The piece also delves into the two main types of rubrics - holistic and analytic - providing authoritative definitions and explaining their unique applications in educational settings.

Quick Stats (2024-25)

  • School Type: Magnet School
  • Grades: 9-12
  • Enrollment: 2,145 students
  • Student:Teacher Ratio: 18:1
  • Minority Enrollment: 57%
  • : 84% (Btm 50%)
  • : Top 20%
  • : 65% (Top 30%)
  • : 66% (Top 20%)
  • : 47% (Btm 50%)
  • Source: National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), NC Dept. of Education

Related School Videos

Quick Links