For the 2024-25 school year, there are 35 public schools serving 28,558 students in Cary, NC (there are 23 private schools, serving 3,131 private students). 90% of all K-12 students in Cary, NC are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%). Cary has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in North Carolina.
The top ranked public schools in Cary, NC are Green Hope High School, Green Hope Elementary School and Mills Park Middle School. Overall testing rank is based on a school's combined math and reading proficiency test score ranking.
Cary, NC public schools have an average math proficiency score of 75% (versus the North Carolina public school average of 51%), and reading proficiency score of 76% (versus the 50% statewide average). Schools in Cary have an average ranking of 10/10, which is in the top 5% of North Carolina public schools.
Minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Asian), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Cary, NC (2024-25)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Green Hope High School
Magnet School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2500 Carpenter Upchurch Road
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 380-3700
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 380-3700
Grades: 9-12
| 2,001 students
Rank: #22.
Green Hope Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 91% | Reading: 88%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2700 Louis Stephens Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 388-5270
Grades: PK-5
| 605 students
Rank: #33.
Mills Park Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 90% | Reading: 87%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
441 Mills Park Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1500
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1500
Grades: 6-8
| 1,630 students
Rank: #44.
Green Level High School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 90%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
7600 Roberts Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8222
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8222
Grades: 9-12
| 2,052 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Highcroft Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5415 Highcroft Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 460-3527
Grades: PK-5
| 721 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Mills Park Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 88% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
509 Mills Park Dr
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 466-1466
Grades: PK-5
| 702 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Davis Drive Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 86% | Reading: 85%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2151 Davis Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-2130
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-2130
Grades: K-5
| 825 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Davis Drive Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 89% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2101 Davis Drive
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-3033
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 387-3033
Grades: 6-8
| 959 students
Rank: #99.
Wake Stem Early College High School
Magnet School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: ≥95%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
2205 Walnut Street
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8130
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8130
Grades: 9-13
| 242 students
Rank: #1010.
Triangle Math And Science Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 82% | Reading: 86%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
312 Gregson Dr.
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 388-0077
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 388-0077
Grades: K-12
| 1,276 students
Rank: #1111.
Hortons Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 85% | Reading: 81%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
7615 O'kelly Chapel Rd
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8660
Grades: PK-5
| 720 students
Rank: #1212.
Panther Creek High School
Magnet School
(Math: 83% | Reading: 83%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
6770 Mccrimmon Parkway
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 463-8656
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 463-8656
Grades: 9-12
| 2,435 students
Rank: #1313.
Crossroads Flex
Magnet School
(Math: ≥80% | Reading: 80-89%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 5%10
5651 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8515
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8515
Grades: 9-12
| 148 students
Rank: #1414.
Alston Ridge Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 80% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
11555 Green Level Church Rd.
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 544-2474
Grades: PK-5
| 1,047 students
Rank: #1515.
Alston Ridge Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 77% | Reading: 78%)
Rank:
Rank:
10/
Top 10%10
7833 Fussell Avenue
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8044
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 694-8044
Grades: 6-8
| 1,459 students
Rank: #1616.
Briarcliff Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 74% | Reading: 73%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1220 Pond St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3443
Grades: PK-5
| 448 students
Rank: #1717.
Weatherstone Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Olde Weatherstone Way
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-6988
Grades: PK-5
| 693 students
Rank: #1818.
Carpenter Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 76% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
2100 Morrisville Parkway
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 462-6780
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 462-6780
Grades: PK-5
| 657 students
Rank: #1919.
Farmington Woods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 72% | Reading: 70%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1413 Hampton Valley Rd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3469
Grades: PK-5
| 623 students
Rank: #2020.
West Cary Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 71% | Reading: 71%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
1000 Evans Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3528
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3528
Grades: 6-8
| 860 students
Rank: #2121.
Northwoods Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 67% | Reading: 68%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
8850 Chapel Hill Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3491
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3491
Grades: PK-5
| 621 students
Rank: #2222.
Cary High School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 66%)
Rank:
Rank:
9/
Top 20%10
638 Walnut St
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3549
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3549
Grades: 9-12
| 2,145 students
Rank: #2323.
Cary Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 65%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
400 Kildaire Farm Road
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3455
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3455
Grades: PK-5
| 470 students
Rank: #2424.
Turner Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 65% | Reading: 62%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
6801 Turner Creek Road
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 363-1391
Cary, NC 27519
(919) 363-1391
Grades: PK-5
| 673 students
Rank: #2525.
Penny Road Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 64%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
10900 Penny Rd
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 387-2136
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 387-2136
Grades: K-5
| 495 students
Rank: #2626.
Reedy Creek Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 57% | Reading: 61%)
Rank:
Rank:
8/
Top 30%10
930 Reedy Creek Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3504
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3504
Grades: 6-8
| 768 students
Rank: #2727.
Cardinal Charter Academy
Magnet School
Charter School
Charter School
(Math: 54% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1020 St. Charles Place
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 653-5000
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 653-5000
Grades: K-8
| 700 students
Rank: #2828.
Adams Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 62% | Reading: 53%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
805 Cary Towne Blvd
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3431
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 460-3431
Grades: PK-5
| 525 students
Rank: #2929.
East Cary Middle School
Magnet School
(Math: 48% | Reading: 63%)
Rank:
Rank:
7/
Top 50%10
1111 Se Maynard Road
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 466-4377
Cary, NC 27511
(919) 466-4377
Grades: 6-8
| 627 students
Rank: #3030.
Kingswood Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 50-54% | Reading: 50-54%)
Rank:
Rank:
6/
Top 50%10
200 E. Johnson Street
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3481
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 460-3481
Grades: PK-5
| 399 students
Rank: #3131.
Reedy Creek Elementary School
Magnet School
(Math: 45% | Reading: 47%)
Rank:
Rank:
5/
Bottom 50%10
940 Reedy Creek Road
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-3660
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 380-3660
Grades: K-5
| 577 students
Rank: #3232.
Score Academy
Alternative School
Magnet School
Magnet School
(Math: 21% | Reading: 20-24%)
Rank:
Rank:
1/
Bottom 50%10
5651 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8560
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 694-8560
Grades: 9-12
| 455 students
Rank: n/an/a
5625 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
5625 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Rank: n/an/a
5625 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Cary, North Carolina Public Schools (Closed)
School
Location
Grades
Students
Cardinal Charter Academy West Campus (Closed 2023)
Charter School
1020 St. Charles Place
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 653-5000
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 653-5000
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Kaleidoscope Charter High School (Closed 2023)
Charter School
100 Airlie Court
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 694-7030
Cary, NC 27513
(919) 694-7030
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the top ranked public schools in Cary, NC?
The top ranked public schools in Cary, NC include Green Hope High School, Green Hope Elementary School and Mills Park Middle School. Cary has one of the highest concentrations of top ranked public schools in North Carolina.
How many public schools are located in Cary?
35 public schools are located in Cary.
What percentage of students in Cary go to public school?
90% of all K-12 students in Cary are educated in public schools (compared to the NC state average of 92%).
What is the racial composition of students in Cary?
Cary public schools minority enrollment is 63% of the student body (majority Asian), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 56% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Which public schools in Cary are often viewed compared to one another?
Popular comparisons of public schools in Cary include: Panther Creek High School vs. Green Hope High School, Green Hope High School vs. Panther Creek High School, Green Level High School vs. Green Hope High School
Recent Articles
College Application Requirement for High School Graduation? DC Weighs Possibility
The article discusses a proposal in Washington D.C. to make college applications a requirement for high school graduation. It examines the potential benefits and drawbacks of such a policy, including its impact on graduation rates and college attendance. The piece also considers similar initiatives in other states and the debate surrounding this approach
Bribing Students to Get Good Grades: The Debate
This piece explores the controversial practice of offering monetary rewards to students for good grades. It examines studies conducted in various cities, discussing the effectiveness of such programs and the ethical concerns they raise. The article presents arguments from both supporters and critics of this approach to student motivation.
September 27, 2024
Understanding RubricsThis 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.
