For the 2025 school year, there are 32 public schools serving 29,503 students in Cary, NC (there are 20 private schools, serving 2,914 private students). 91% 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 65% of the student body (majority Asian), which is more than the North Carolina public school average of 57% (majority Black and Hispanic).
Best Public Schools in Cary, NC (2025)
School
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
(Math and Reading Proficiency)
Location
Grades
Students
Rank: #11.
Green Hope High 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
| 2,126 students
Rank: #22.
Green Hope Elementary 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
| 603 students
Rank: #33.
Mills Park Middle 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
| 1,628 students
Rank: #44.
Green Level High 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
| 2,149 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Highcroft Elementary 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
| 699 students
Rank: #5 - 65. - 6.
Mills Park Elementary 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
| 645 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Davis Drive Elementary 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
| 820 students
Rank: #7 - 87. - 8.
Davis Drive Middle 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
| 997 students
Rank: #99.
Wake Stem Early College High 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
| 261 students
Rank: #1010.
Triangle Math And Science Academy
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
| 1,341 students
Rank: #1111.
Hortons Creek Elementary 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
| 694 students
Rank: #1212.
Panther Creek High 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
| 2,561 students
Rank: #1313.
Crossroads Flex
(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
| 146 students
Rank: #1414.
Alston Ridge Elementary 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
| 1,111 students
Rank: #1515.
Alston Ridge Middle 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
| 1,532 students
Rank: #1616.
Briarcliff Elementary 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
| 456 students
Rank: #1717.
Weatherstone Elementary 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
| 718 students
Rank: #1818.
Carpenter Elementary 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
| 680 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
| 652 students
Rank: #2020.
West Cary Middle 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
| 891 students
Rank: #2121.
Northwoods Elementary 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
| 618 students
Rank: #2222.
Cary High 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
| 2,136 students
Rank: #2323.
Cary Elementary 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
| 440 students
Rank: #2424.
Turner Creek Elementary 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
| 739 students
Rank: #2525.
Penny Road Elementary 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
| 488 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
| 805 students
Rank: #2727.
Cardinal Charter Academy
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
| 720 students
Rank: #2828.
Adams Elementary 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
| 616 students
Rank: #2929.
East Cary Middle 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
| 623 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
| 434 students
Rank: #3131.
Reedy Creek Elementary 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
| 593 students
Rank: #3232.
Score Academy
Alternative 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
| 581 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
5625 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
5625 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Grades: n/a
| n/a students
5625 Dillard Dr
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
Cary, NC 27518
(919) 431-7400
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?
32 public schools are located in Cary.
What percentage of students in Cary go to public school?
91% 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 65% of the student body (majority Asian), which is more than the North Carolina public schools average of 57% (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
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